Is the 2024 Kia Picanto Sold in the U.S.?
Kia is a popular South Korean automaker that sells many cars worldwide. However, just like any other automaker, Kia is starting to focus on the SUV segment due to its role as an extremely popular segment in the American auto market. One of Kia’s smaller SUV options that few Americans have heard of is the Picanto, which sits in the subcompact SUV category. Here’s a look at the 2024 Kia Picanto and if the affordable small SUV is being sold in the U.S.Â
Can Americans buy a 2024 Kia Picanto?
Kia introduced the Picanto in the 2004 model year, and it’s still going strong, according to AutoTrends. During the 20 years that the Picanto has been on the market, Kia has sold the car in many markets. Since the company is from South Korea, that’s certainly a market where the Picanto has continued to succeed. It’s a similar story for other countries in Asia, such as Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.Â
However, the Picanto didn’t just stay in Asia. Kia also sold the Picanto in the European market, as well as most other major car markets around the world. For example, the automaker sold the Picanto in Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador, and it was also sold in New Zealand and Pakistan, among other places. Unfortunately, though, the Picanto never made the leap into North America and, therefore, was never sold in the U.S. or Canada.Â
That continues to be true for the 2024 model year. Fans of the car may try to import one over, but that will likely be a difficult and expensive process. Off the bat, there’s a law that allows importing cars once they’re 25 years old. Since the Picanto has only been around for 20 years, prospective owners will probably have to wait a few more years before legally getting their hands on a first-generation Picanto.
How much is a Picanto model in the U.S.?
Drivers not deterred by those import laws won’t have to spend too much to own a Kia Picanto, though. CarsGuide says that, in Australia, the 2024 version of the Picanto starts at about $16,300 AUD. That translates to just over $10,400 USD, making the small SUV one of the cheapest new cars on the American market.
Kia offers several trim levels, too, including some sporty options that should be attractive to certain shoppers. The GT-Line trim starts at about $17,740 AUD, equal to about $11,300 USD. The S trim costs about the same as that, too. The GT Turbo trim is the top trim, getting a more powerful turbocharged engine. However, that bumps the SUV’s price tag to about $20,790 AUD, calculated at $13,200 USD.Â
How big is the 2024 Kia Picanto?
Since the Kia Picanto is a subcompact SUV, its physical dimensions aren’t very large, both on the exterior and interior. The car is just under 12 feet long, a tad over 5 feet wide, and just under 5 feet tall. There are two rows of seats, allowing owners to seat up to five people. That said, due to the car’s small size, the seats may not be too comfortable for taller passengers.
As far as cargo capacity goes, the Picanto also doesn’t have much there. With the seats up, there’s about 9 cu. ft. of space available. With the rear seats folded down, that number jumps to about 35 cu. ft. These specs are much worse than the popular SUVs in America, but that’s to be expected since the Picanto is supposed to be a small and affordable SUV.
