Jacob Moshokoa provides a detailed review of the base 1.0 LX manual derivative of the 3rd iteration (2nd facelift) of the 3rd-gen Kia Picanto, priced at R260 995 (June 2024)
The recently updated Kia Picanto features a more upmarket cabin, plus more up-to-date technology. The problem is that the price increase of adding those features has raised the price of the budget car…
Kia South Africa has also brought the revised JA-series Picanto’s trim-level naming strategy in line with much of the rest of the Kia range, ditching the old Start, Street and Style grades in favour of the LX, EX and EX+ trim levels (suffixes similar to those used on the 2nd-gen Picanto).
Each grade comes in your choice of a 5-speed manual gearbox or 4-speed automatic transmission, paired with (in LX derivatives) a 1.0-litre inline-3-cylinder petrol engine (it produces 49 kW and 95 Nm) or, in the EX and EX Plus, a 1.2-litre inline-4-cylinder petrol motor (with outputs of 62 kW and 122 Nm).
The 1.0 LX derivatives are fitted with dual front airbags, ABS (all cars should have them though), ISOfix points, keyless entry, all-round electric windows (with auto up/down function for the driver), electrically adjustable and -heated side mirrors, remote central locking, alarm and immobiliser, plus (manual) aircon.
Perhaps the Picanto’s now-maturer price point (between R260k and R325k) sees it being priced out of the “student-car zone”, but despite inflation, the Korean city car remains universally desirable across all age and cultural demographics (even if the majority of its buyers are between the ages of 26 and 32).
In his review of the Kia Picanto, Jacob Moshokoa discusses the 1.0 LX manual’s price, ride/handling, performance/efficiency, build quality, and practicality, as well as its warranty and service plan. He also compares the Korean brand’s model with the bestseller in the segment, the outgoing Suzuki Swift.
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