Suspension & Running gear

European-style ride and handling

The Kia Picanto is fitted with independent suspension designed to deliver both agile handling and a supple, comfortable ride on European roads.

At the front, a subframe beneath the engine bay supports the lower arms of the McPherson Strut suspension, and optimises wheel alignment and steering geometry. Following industry ´best practice´, the co-axial coil springs are offset for smooth operation. The shock absorber strut incorporates the anti-roll bar attachment point, to provide handling stability and improved ride without sacrificing mounting rigidity. A zero camber angle for the front wheels allows the Picanto to steer and maneuver with minimal effort and low tyre scrub.

At the rear, the Picanto suspension employs twin trailing A-frame arms, linked by a transverse subframe beam. The suspension geometry is set to maximize tyre grip and handling stability. Mounted alongside each other, the coil springs and shock absorbers make a compact and effective ride-enhancing package. Tall and slender, the design of the rear suspension ensures minimum intrusion into the trunk space.

A factory-fitted ´High Suspension´ option is available for customers living in countries or regions with a preponderance of rough or unpaved roads. This option raises the suspension by 10 mm for increased wheel travel, while retaining the original spring and damper characteristics. The standard suspension set-up has a 19 mm anti-roll bar at the front. Every Picanto model utilizes the same steering design . The power-assisted rack and pinion system has a 14.0:1 ratio, and requires 2.8 turns of the 370 mm diameter steering wheel lock-to-lock. The turning circle of the Picanto is just 4.6 meters between kerbs.

In most European countries, the standard wheel and tyre package for Picanto is a 14 inch diameter, 5.0 inch wide steel wheel, with 165/60 R14 radial tyres. For 1.0-litre models, low-rolling resistance tyres with Silica may be fitted for even greater fuel economy.

To suit customer preference, larger wheels in a variety of styles and wider, lower profile tyres are available, and may be adopted as the ´standard´ fit in some countries. A choice of 14 x 5.0 inch steel or alloy and 15 x 5.5 inch alloy wheels are offered shod with 165/60 R14 or 175/50 R15 tyres. In some countries, entry-model Picantos will be available with 13 x 4.5 inch steel wheels and 155/70 R13 tyres.

In Europe Picantos are not equipped with a spare wheel, but are provided with an easy-to-use temporary tyre repair kit that gives owners up to 200 kilometres of mobility before the need to visit a service or tyre repair centre.

Editors´ note
Please note that technical and equipment specifications and options availability for the Picanto LX and EX models, may vary country by country. Please check with your local Kia Distributor for final details and prices.