The UAE car market is poised to be more competitive as Chinese car manufacturers are gearing up to challenge the status quo. Additionally, the demand for low-cost compact cars is bound to grow as customers have begun to value practicality over style.
The key regions like Dubai are already dominated by Japanese cars followed by European, American and Korean cars respectively. Korean car makers like Kia and Hyundai makeup 9% of the total market and hence it is critical for these companies to beef up their offerings for sustaining their growth in Dubai.
Taking cues from the market, Kia is trying to capture greater market share by relying on its low-cost car model. The lowest priced car model from Kia is the Picanto and it competes with the likes of Ford Figo and Hyundai Grand i10. The 2018 Kia Picanto is not only competitively priced at AED 38,900 but also spruced up to attract the younger generation. Additionally, it has also been equipped with safety features that were absent in the previous versions.
Safety Features
The earlier model was criticized for lacking some basic features like Autonomous Emergency Braking System (ABS) and hence the all-new Kia Picanto has several features that make it the safest car on the road. The car also has features like HAC (Hill-start Assist Control) and ESC (Electronic Stability Control). Moreover, the car’s body is mostly made up of Advanced High-Strength Steel (AHSS) that improves the cabin protection.
Sporty Look
The car is sportier than its previous version. The car’s design and the colors are bold and assertive because the vehicle is mainly positioned to attract the young and confident customers. This indicates that the 2018 Kia Picanto will also compete with small cars like Fiat 500 and Volkswagen Polo.
The front of the vehicle has projection headlamps that have e LED Daytime Running Lights in addition to LED turn indicators. At the rear, the car features a dual chrome-tipped exhaust. The new Kia Picanto is more spacious and comfortable than its predecessor.
The Engine
The new Kia Picanto gets 84 hp from a 1.2-liter dual-CVVT MPI engine that is paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission system. The engine is smooth and quite due to the piston-cooling jets and the efficient transmission system. We might expect a GT version of the Kia Picanto soon because a GT-line grade version of the car was showcased at the 2017 Dubai Motor Show.
