Launched in 2017, the third generation Kia Picanto is on the final legs of its model lifecycle, but an all-new generation model is still nowhere in sight. To keep the company’s entry A-segment model competitive, a new facelifted 2023 Kia Picanto has been announced for Korea.

The redesigned front-end design now shares a lot of similarity with the Kia Niro. There’s a new pair of LED headlights, now connected via a horizontal strip.

Behind, the LED tail lamps get a similarly matching styling, with a horizontal light bar bridging the edges.

Driving assistance features have been beefed up, now adding adaptive cruise control and automatic high beam.

The powertrain remains the same, a 1.0-litre naturally aspirated 4-cylinder petrol engine that makes 76 PS at 6,200 rpm and 95 Nm at 3,750 rpm, paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission. Other markets may receive a bigger 1.2-litre unit, also naturally aspirated.

Prices start from 13.15 million Won to 16.55 million Won (~RM 47.2k to ~RM 59.3k).

Closer to home, the Kia Picanto has been dropped in Malaysia since 2020 and new distributor Dinamikjaya Motors has no plans to re-enter the budget car segment.

With heavily tax-incentivized Proton and Perodua models keeping a chokehold on the entry A- and B-segments, Dinamikjaya Motors prefers to focus on higher-end Kia models like the Carnival and Sorento.