KIA Picanto

Design & Quality

Despite a budget hatch, the Picanto has a pretty sleek interior, and this is a good strategy by Kia to attract senior buyers to its entry-level car. You’ll notice the surprisingly high quality of materials, like the soft-touch surfaces and glossy black accents, make the dashboard and centre console quite attractive. The artificial leather upholstery available on the Luxury trim is something that gives you a premium feel. Here the Picanto scores better than its rivals, which are also pricey. The design elements are defined by several key features, including an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and the 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster (luxury trim) is seen as intuitive, bright and clear. The physical controls for climate and audio are something simple yet user-friendly, and to operate them is super easy, which a lot of customers will love for sure. Despite compact size, the design is plush, and storage compartments are also well placed within the cockpit, and the cabin looks uncluttered with a special focus on simplification and practicality. So, the Picanto’s interior is indeed impressive, and will make a huge impact on buying decisions as there is style, technology, and functionality.

Front Seat

The front seats are quite comfortable for a compact car; notwithstanding the compactness of the car, you feel ample headroom and shoulder space for average-sized drivers. The high driving position, a large windshield and slim A-pillars give superior visibility in busy UAE traffic. The driver’s seat is manually adjustable; however, the top variant, Luxury, gets 8-way power, and the supportive cushioning plays a role in reducing fatigue, especially visible, if you drive for Standardtended periods. Also, the artificial leather upholstery and a tilt-adjustable steering wheel (Luxury trim) are some features that make the front seat and driving a place to be in.

Parking Brake

The Picanto does not offer an electronic parking brake but uses a traditional handbrake, which is simple and reliable for urban use. Hill-start assist, standard across trims, helps in stop-and-go traffic or on slight inclines, easing driving efforts in city conditions.

Rear Seat

The second-row bench seat is good enough for three adults with decent legroom and headroom, thanks to the Picanto’s tall, boxy structure. The 60:40 split-folding seats are a good feature for to carry bigger cargo. The ISOFIX anchors are another feature that is useful for families when travelling with kids. cater to families with young children. Rear air vents (Luxury trim) take care of the comfort, especially when the temperature shoots up considerably, and it does in the UAE; however, lack of a folding armrest could be a little inconvenient during long trips.

AC Vents

The Picanto’s automatic climate control system (standard on Luxury, manual on Standard) is not bad; it is quite effective to tackle the UAE’s Standardtreme temperatures, with front and rear AC vents (Luxury trim) which do quick cooling.

Storage Options

You’ll be surprised, just like we did, when the storage space and overall openness of the cabin.  It is quite clear Kia has designed the cabin keeping in mind the needs of the passenger today, and what they prefer is practicality, and to do that, there are enough storage spaces, despite the compact size. Like a centre console for small items like phones or keys, door-mounted cubbies, and 1-litre bottle holders in each door. A pocket behind the passenger seat and a concealed storage compartment under the cargo floor improve overall storage, and something the customers would like about the car.

Armrest

The driver’s armrest (Luxury trim) is padded for comfort and doubles as a storage compartment for small items. Its proper size and placement are good for a relaxed driving position.

Charging Options

Like you Standardpect in today’s car, the Picanto offers USB-C ports in both front and rear rows (Luxury trim), a 12V socket, offering connectivity for smartphones and devices. The charging options minimize cable clutter, which essentially makes the cabin quite functional, especially for tech-savvy car drivers, owners, and families.

Boot Space

The Picanto gets 255 litres of cargo space with all seats up, which should suffice the everyday needs of families these days. By folding the 60:40 split rear seats, Standardtra cargo space opens up, which goes up to 1,010 litres,  more than enough for weekend trips or family road trips. Compared to rivals like the Suzuki Swift or Hyundai Grand i10, the Picanto’s boot space is competitive, and adds Standardtra strength to the car’s already compelling elements.

• Dual front, side airbags

• ISOFIX child seat anchors
• Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
• Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Traction Control System (TCS)
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) (available in safety pack or higher trims)
• Lane Following Assist (LFA)
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Driver Attention Warning (DAW)
• Rear parking sensors
• Rearview camera

• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Child safety locks
• Engine immobilizer
• Alarm system
• Hill-start assist

Kia has given this compact hatch quite a modern and contemporary look in this third-gen avatar, highlighting a superb look attractive, stylish and very distinctive.  It is easy to judge this compact car with these rather smaller dimensions comprising 3,595 mm length, 1,595 mm width, 1,495 mm height), which has its advantage in the city. Firstly, parking becomes quick and hassle-free; the enduring congestion, narrow lanes or traffic is quite effortless, which is something special about the car. Also, the high 156 mm ground clearance is perfect as it enables city handling quite smoothly and also takes on all kinds of tough roading conditions with ease, or occasional light off-road conditions, like sandy outskirts common in the region.

What is most attractive about the Picanto’s exterior styling, which is based on Kia’s Opposites United philosophy, showcases sharp, dynamic lines and a sporty posture, which also means the Picanto appears a youthful, vibrant character. Small details like premium Standardterior accents elevate the car’s appeal beyond typical budget hatchbacks, making it a top choice of young, style-conscious urban drivers seeking both practicality and flair.

Front

The major standout feature of Picanto’s front is Kia’s signature tiger-nose grille, flanked by shiny LED headlights which are blended with Daytime Running Lights (DRLs), to ensure not just style but ensure superior visibility during night drive or in dusty conditions quite common in the UAE. Similarly, the standard fog lamps boost safety in low-visibility scenarios, such as early morning fog. Also, not to be missed is the bold bumper design provides a touch of sophistication, all of which makes Picanto’s front attractive and appealing

Side

From the side, the Picanto’s sleek body language and clean lines focus on its compact yet sporty character. The Body-colored door handles and power-adjustable side mirrors with integrated turn signals give the hatch a premium appeal. The Black cladding along the lower body protects against minor urban scrapes, while roof rails add to the overall style and functionality.

Alloy Wheels

The Picanto comes with 14-inch steel wheels with covers on the base Standard trim and 14-inch or 16-inch alloy wheels on the Luxury trim, on the 175/65R14 or 185/55R16 tires. All the wheels fit perfectly to the car, and you get a nice balance driving with good grip, ensuring reliable performance in the city and highway, along with adding some stylish elements too. The alloy wheel designs, especially on the Luxury trim, enhance the car’s sporty aesthetic, complementing its urban-friendly proportions.

Rear

The rear design is functional and stylish, the vertical LED tail lights make the car look distinctive and also quite contemporary. A rear spoiler reinforces the sporty flair, while the bumper’s diffuser-style design (GT-Line inspired on higher trims) adds sophistication. The rear wiper and washer are helpful for clear visibility in dusty or rainy conditions.

Colors

The Kia Picanto is available in eight colour options in the UAE, including Clear White, Sparkling Silver, Titanium Silver, Aurora Black, Smoky Blue, Signal Red, Milky Beige, and Honey Bee Yellow.

City Performance

We drove the Picanto in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to get a flavour of its city driving, and the hatch impressed us as a top city car thanks to its agile and responsive drivetrain. The 1.2L four-cylinder engine paired with a smooth 4-speed automatic transmission is peppy and smooth, and the car feels eager when darting through crowded streets and stop-and-go traffic. The light steering and compact 4.7-meter turning radius mean taking U-turns is easy, tight parking, and buzzing through narrow roads is indeed effortless, something most owners will like about the car. —an advantage urban drivers genuinely appreciate. This combination of MacPherson strut front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension is tuned perfectly that absorb most city road imperfections, including occasional potholes and speed bumps, for the utmost comfort for occupants. Then features like rear parking sensors and a sharp rearview camera come into play in city driving, which is convenient and also makes driving a lot easier, especially in heavy traffic or congested roads. What is also notable is the high economy, something a key USP, close to 17.2 km/L, absolutely great for city users, and that makes the car quite compelling, reducing running costs significantly, and the hatch is indeed a perfect city car. 

Highway Performance

Although not a highway car, if you wish to take it occasionally, the Picanto won’t disappoint you, as we found it delivers sufficient and predictable cruising performance considering the segment. The 1.2L engine’s 84 hp is kind of fine for maintaining highway speeds, although highway overtakes require a bit more planning due to modest acceleration reserves. Stability at speed is highlighted as nothing to complain about, which is rather a pleasant surprise. The MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension again play a key role in making sure the ride is composed with minimal float or nervousness. On the highway, the cabin insulation is great, reducing wind and tyre noise at speeds, which is improved a lot by Kia, as compared to earlier models. The mileage is another plus, even on the highway.

Ride Comfort

Picanto successfully strikes a great balance between comfort and control, and hence, this is a perfect daily driver on UAE road conditions.  The suspension is well tuned to improve ride quality by taking on the rough patches of the roads, at the same time remaining firm enough to prevent excessive body roll when cornering. On particularly rough or broken surfaces, the ride can feel a bit firm and slightly jittery, though this is not unusual for compact hatchbacks in this price bracket. But this is compensated by the refined, quiet cabin and responsive engine, which helps maintain a comfortable and relaxed ambience, and we liked the quiet cabin, insulated from much of the surrounding hustle and bustle we encountered during our drive, especially during long commutes.

Handling

Handling remains one of the Picanto’s standout qualities for simple reasons: its compact size, peppy engine and lower turning radius. The car’s light steering and smaller size make it super nimble in city driving, enabling quick lane changes and rather effortless navigation through urban congestion. The brakes are quite good, inspiring confidence, which also boosts the safety credentials during bumper-to-bumper city traffic or abrupt urban stops. Grip levels are perfect for normal paved roads, and the Picanto feels planted and predictable during high-speed driving, but don’t forget it is not a sports car, and so speed and rash driving is strictly avoided for the safety of everyone. Overall, the Picanto’s stable and user-friendly character is delightful for everyday comfort and control, and it gets a thumbs up from our drive experience as a smart hatchback in the UAE right now.

• LED rear lamps

• Bulb rear lamps
• Electric outside mirrors
• Sunroof

• High-mounted stop lamp
• Body-colour outside handles
• Heated front seats
• Metallic pedals
• Audio remote controls
• Sun visor illumination lamps
• Auto light control
• Monochrome cluster
• Manual temperature control
• 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

• 10.25-inch digital driver display 

• LED headlights with DRLs (Luxury trim)
• LED tail lights (Luxury trim)
• Front fog lamps
• Power-adjustable side mirrors with turn signals
• Roof rails (Luxury trim)
• Artificial leather upholstery (Luxury trim)
• Automatic climate control (Luxury trim)
• Six-speaker audio system
• Keyless entry

• Push-button start
• Rear wiper and washer
• 16-inch alloy wheels

• Hill-start assist
• Cruise control
• Rear parking sensors and camera

• Rearview camera
• Kia Connect services (Luxury trim)

The Picanto is available in two variants in the UAE:

• Picanto 1.2L Standard (AED 42,429): A base variant comes with the same powertrain, but the features list is rather low, which includes 14-inch steel wheels, an 8-inch touchscreen, manual climate control, and basic safety features like ABS and airbags. If you want to buy this hatchback but don’t want to spend more, then go for this extremely affordable price tag. 

• Picanto 1.2L Luxury (AED 65,000): Top-spec variant has some high-end features, and you get a fully-loaded car with 16-inch alloy wheels, artificial leather upholstery, automatic climate control, LED headlights, and advanced safety includes like FCA, LDW, and TPMS. If you won’t mind spending that extra money to get everything to make your car luxurious and feature-rich, this is your choice.

Sayarabay Recommends: Our recommendation is the Picanto Luxury variant, which should serve well for most of the buyers in the segment. While the powertrain is the same between both variants, the Luxury variant gets several important features, and you don’t miss out on anything.

The price gap between the variants seems big; however, if you’re buying your first car or want a reliable daily driver, then you can think of paying for the Luxury variant and get a fully loaded hatchback that serves you well for years. Besides the powertrain, this variant gets the 8-inch touchscreen, artificial leather upholstery, automatic climate control, and advanced safety systems (FCA, LDW, LFA), which are quite worthy of that price tag. Overally, the Picanto is a perfect city car, highly practical with its compact size, nimble handling, and great mileage too, which qualifies it as an everyday commuting car, which is well-equipped, and you own it at a relatively affordable price point.

The 2025 Kia Picanto, through its key strengths, rank as the segment leader in the UAE’s compact hatchback market. Its excellent blend of affordability, modern features, and urban-friendly design, sleek exterior and compact size make it most ideal for today’s highly populated cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The car’s ease of handling and light steering offer great relief with a superb driving experience, making it an attractive proposition.

We were also impressed by the cabin, which is relatively spacious given the size of the car and packed with quality materials, feels upmarket, segment above. The car is offered with a standard 5-year/150,000 km warranty, so you’re assured of hassle-free ownership and also exceptional reliability. If pitted against its well-known rivals like the Suzuki Swift and Hyundai Grand i10, the Picanto shines with its unique combination of style, practicality, and value, making it a top choice.

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