Naza Kia will be introducing two additional variants of the Kia Picanto, the pair being the entry-level Picanto KX and the long-awaited X-Line. It’s priced at RM44,888 and RM57,888 respectively – the latter, interestingly, is priced identically as the Picanto GT-Line. We’re told that both the KX and X-Line are available in limited numbers, and included in the price is a five-year unlimited mileage warranty package.
Let’s start with the KX. On the outside, the entry-level model gets reflector headlights and fog lamps, a set of 14-inch steel wheels with five-spoke covers (shod with 175/65 rubbers), fender mounted turn indicators, bee-sting style antenna, halogen tail lights, as well as a KX badge on the tailgate. The reverse camera has also been omitted.
Inside, drivers get the traditional turn-key ignition and a three-spoke urethane steering wheel with multifunction controls. The gear knob tip, dashboard and door card trims are unpainted (EX and above get gloss black trims), whereas the centre-mounted double-DIN head unit takes over multimedia duties. There’s no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, of course, but at least there’s still Bluetooth pairing.
Elsewhere, the side mirrors are manually adjustable, the rear windows are labour-powered, the fabric seats feature a plainer-looking design, and the rear doors lose out on the gloss black trim. That about wraps up the kit list for the Picanto KX. Crucially, it still comes with ESP and six airbags, which makes it the cheapest car in Malaysia to be so equipped.
Next, the X-Line. At RM57,888, this one gets all the bling. Exterior kit include a new front bumper with lime green highlights on the grille and the repositioned fog lamps. There are also larger corner “inlets” with a small intake just below the grille.
If you’re wondering why there are “skid plates” at the front and rear, as well as black plastic cladding on the sides, that’s because the X-Line’s design is inspired by Kia’s range of SUVs. A nice set of 16-inch alloy wheels (same size as GT-Line, but different design) with 195/45 profile tyres and a powered sunroof complete the X-Line’s exterior kit.
Inside, it gets a new flat-bottom steering wheel (also found on the GT-Line), a single-zone automatic air-conditioning system, and leather seats. Naza Kia has yet to release detailed specifications of the X-Line, but in terms of safety, expect it to be identically specced as the GT-Line. That means six airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, stability control, hill start assist, ISOFIX rear child seat anchors, and autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
Mechanically, both the KX and X-Line share the same 1.2 litre Kappa II naturally-aspirated four-cylinder unit. The petrol engine makes 84 PS at 6,000 rpm and 122 Nm at 4,000 rpm, and is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheels. No five-speed manual this time, folks.