Kia Picanto GT-Line now with Kia’s 1.0 T-GDI three-cylinder engine

The Kia Picanto GT-Line, launched last years with a 1.25 petrol engine, now comes with a more powerful three-cylinder 1.0 T-GDI – the most powerful Picanto to date.

Last year we reviewed the Kia Picanto GT-Line soon after Kia launched their latest Picanto, and we found it a decent little car. But we thought it could do with a bit more power.

Kia must have been listening, because the 1.25 litre petrol engine in the Picanto GT-Line S we tested last year has now been usurped by the most powerful engine Kia has ever fitted to a Picanto.

Before you get carried away with thoughts of a barking mad Picanto roaming city streets blowing away everything in sight, the ‘most powerful engine ever in a Picanto’ is Kia’s 1.0 litre T-GDI petrol with 99bhp. But that is up almost 20 per cent on the Picanto’s previous 1.25.

The extra get up and go means the Picanto GT-Line can now get to 62mph in 9.8 seconds (a big improvement on the 1.25’s 12.0 seconds) – not quite Up GT performance, but getting there – and official economy comes in at 55.4mpg. But you’ll probably get around 40mpg.

The arrival of the new 1.0 litre three pot has also spurred Kia in to adding a bit more for the price, so you now get a 7″ touchscreen with DAB and compatible with Android Auto and CarPlay instead of the old 3.8″ black and white display.

The new Kia Picanto GT-Line and GT-Line S cost from £13,320.