The 2021 Kia Picanto gets a refreshed new look and a couple of upgrades

Kia has given its subcompact hatchback the Picanto a facelift for the 2021 model year. The South Korean hatchback also called the Kia Morning in its home country has been given a more modern look thanks to a revamp in its exterior. It now also comes with improved engine options, better technology, and more advanced safety features.

The updates done to the small hatchback include redesigned front and rear bumpers, new side skirt garnishes, new grille, and a new set of alloy wheels. The Picanto now comes with a new set of LED lighting elements as the vehicle now comes with the brand’s signature four-dot running lights in its headlight housing. It also features a projector halogen headlight to mix in with the LED elements. Lighting at the back has also been revised for the 2021 model year featuring the same shape as the previous generation but with an LED bar contours to the shape of the tail lighting housing.

The interior still retains the same layout as the pre-updated model but it does get a couple of upgrades in the form of a new color LCD multi-information display along with a new and larger 8-inch infotainment system that comes with Android Auto and Apple Carplay capabilities. The higher-end trim in the Korean market also gets Kakao voice recognition software and a sunroof. Due to its home country’s climate, the small hatchback comes with the option of a heated steering wheel. An automatic climate control system is also now available in the vehicle.

Powering the new Picanto is a revised version of its current model’s 1.0-liter power plant. The small  3-cylinder Motor now produces 78hp and 95 Nm of torque thanks to its sister company Hyundai’s Smartstream technology. Transmission options are still the same for the small hatchback as it still comes with either a 4-speed automatic and a 5-speed manual.

Safety has been upgraded as well for the new Kia Picanto in its home country. It now comes with lane-keeping assist, lane following, driver attention warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. While these features are a common sight in much more premium vehicles it's nice to see that it has trickled down into the entry-level hatchback.

While Kia Philippines has no official statement yet with regards to when the facelift is coming to a local launch can be expected towards the end of 2020 or by the start of 2021. The automotive industry still needs some time to recover from the pandemic and as such the refresh could take longer than expected to get here.