Kia has updated its Picanto city car with a major new redesign and enhanced features, bolstering its appeal in a declining segment.

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It’s the latest facelift for the brand’s littlest car and delivers an eye-catching design inspired by the forthcoming EV9 flagship electric SUV. This incorporates new front and rear light signatures, updated bumpers and a new tailgate, giving the Picanto increased road presence and big-car design.

The interior remains more in line with the current model but adds in new natured-inspired interior colour packs, all with customised artificial leather seats and door armrests – supporting the brand’s plans to phase out the use of leather and adopt bio-based materials – plus coloured details for the air vents and gear selector. Boot space provides up to 1,010 litres of storage.

Engine line-up ditches the former 100hp 1.0-litre T-GDi turbo petrol and focuses on the 1.0-litre and 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engines, which now feature improved exhaust gas recirculation lines and optimised intake valve timing. They come with a five-speed manual transmission as standard or an optional automated manual transmission. Both engines are said to maximise efficiency and lower CO2 emissions; official data will be released closer to launch.

Trim levels have been streamlined to a choice of Baseline and GT-Line. The former comes with 14-inch wheels as standard, which can be upgraded to new 14-, 15-or 16-inch alloys, plus a 4.2-inch driver’s digital display cluster and a new 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with Bluetooth multi-connection, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Kia Connect gives rise to a range of features including live traffic information and parking details and drivers can also access an accompanying Kia Connect App.

The GT-Line gets bespoke 16-inch diamond-cut wheels, bolder grille and a rear diffuser.

The new Picanto also comes with a wide range of new driver assistance system, safety and convenience technologies. The GT-Line comes with forward collision-avoidance assist with vehicle, cyclist and pedestrian detection, plus junction turning safety assistance.

Other features available include blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, lane keeping assist, driver attention warning and leading vehicle departure warning, intelligent speed limit assist, hill start assist and lane following assist. The new Picanto also comes with emergency stop signal, which automatically flashes the hazard warning lights to alert the car behind if the driver brakes suddenly.

The updated Picanto also features vehicle stability management, cornering brake control and straight-line stability systems as standard, plus up to six airbags throughout the cabin. It also comes with Kia’s seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty as standard.

The changes will also reinforce the model’s appeal as manufacturers continue to exit both the city car segment and the larger supermini class – the Picanto is one of Kia’s best-selling models in several regions worldwide and the brand says it remains a particular favourite among European A-segment drivers who value short journeys and access to limited parking space. Its low cost and fuel efficiency are other key attractions.

“From urban commuters and working professionals, to young adults buying their first car, part of the Kia Picanto’s enduring success is its mass appeal,” said Sjoerd Knipping, vice president product & marketing of Kia Europe. “In a time when societies are struggling with rising prices and debates about urban space and quality of life are growing louder, the new Picanto allows customers to enjoy the freedom that movement brings.”