The Picanto subcompact hatchback could be nearing its curtain call as Kia plans to discontinue it after its current generation model. The decision to axe the Picanto is reportedly due to its size limitations, as adding hybrid technology to the subcompact hatch is said to be no longer possible, according to a report by Auto Express.
Kia executives reportedly said that “there is simply no way to fit hybrid tech” in the Picanto, which is essentially a hint that the end of the road is approaching for the Korean subcompact hatchback. Kia Executive Vice President and Global Operations Head Ted Lee noted that there is not enough space inside the Picanto to accommodate electric motors and other hybrid-related hardware.
Simply put, for the Picanto to continue its model life cycle, Kia should fit a hybrid tech into it at the very least. This is necessary because the European market is preparing for stricter emissions and electrification rules in the coming years. In the United Kingdom, the current regulations require all new combustion-powered vehicles sold after 2030 to have hybrid tech assistance. Then, by 2035, all newly sold cars are expected to be fully electric.
As such, Kia could be forced to kill or discontinue the Picanto in the UK by 2029, since it reportedly claims that it can’t accommodate hybrid tech to be integrated into the subcompact hatch. The Picanto’s fate could differ should there be a regulations change or if Kia decides to replace it with a new generation model. With the uncertainty surrounding the Picanto, Kia did say that it plans to keep the Picanto alive for as long as possible.
Now, Kia has previously unveiled the EV2 at the 2026 Brussels Motor Show, making the global premiere of a small electric SUV aimed at broadening access to electrified mobility. The EV2 is also Kia’s smallest electric vehicle to date. But, the EV2 might not be Kia’s smallest EV yet, as the Korean automaker is reportedly working on the possibility of launching the EV1.
Autocar UK reports that David Hilbert, who was then Kia’s Marketing Chief and is now the brand’s Sales Director, said that the EV1 could join the Picanto in the small city car segment. This also suggests that the EV1 could be the “electric” successor of the Picanto.
Meanwhile, the Kia Picanto has been discontinued in the Philippine market since 2023, and with the current reports surrounding the subcompact hatch, it might not be able to make its comeback in the local market.
Autocar’s Take
The Kia Picanto could be on its way to parking permanently at Kia’s garage since the Korean automaker has no plans to make a hybrid version of it. Kia reportedly doesn’t want to develop a new generation Picanto model that could come with at least a hybrid tech. This decision might not be the easiest for Kia, as the Picanto is one of its most popular models globally. But, due to stricter regulations, killing the Picanto could be the last among the options considered by Kia. Although Kia shared that it plans to keep the Picanto alive for as long as possible.
