KIA Motors South Africa has expanded its Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) offering with the introduction of the new KIA Picanto Runner.
This new addition is a compact and cost-effective urban delivery vehicle offering all the comfort, convenience and safety features associated with the Picanto, combined with the practicality of a functional load bay.
Whatever the package, the Picanto Runner is a cost-efficient option for deliveries to be done. The Picanto Runner is designed specifically for businesses that need to deliver a large number of packages quicker and more cost-effectively. The new Picanto Runner offers a practical alternative to service providers that don’t necessarily require the bigger space of traditional delivery vehicles.
“When you consider the rise of e-commerce, small businesses and services-on-demand, especially under the ‘new normal’ brought about by the global Covid-19 pandemic, there is a clear need for a compact delivery vehicle that can deliver goods practically, quickly and at a more manageable cost,” said Stephen Crosse, Sales Director, KIA Motors South Africa.
The KIA Picanto offers the perfect base for such a vehicle with its edgy styling, excellent fuel efficiency, low maintenance costs and high levels of driver comfort and safety, especially when compared to traditional delivery vehicles.
Based on the KIA Picanto START, the Picanto Runner loses the rear seat bench to create a flat loading area. Sturdy metal cargo dividers are added to keep cargo in place while in transit, while the rear windows are laminated to keep whatever load is being transported secure and out of sight.
Depending on the need, a business can therefore brand the Picanto Runner either with contravision on the windows, or do a full wrap, both at a much more affordable cost thanks to the car’s compact dimensions. The Picanto Runner offers approximately 820 litres of practical space, with a payload of up to 350kg.
The Picanto Runner is based on the Picanto 1.0 START, which is powered by a 1,0-litre in-line three-cylinder, 12-valve DOHC petrol engine and paired to a five-spead manual transmission. With 49kW of power and 95Nm of torque, the Picanto Runner is nimble enough to the challenges of the urban jungle with its nippy performance and stingy fuel efficiency.
The KIA Picanto Runner also pays close attention to driver comfort and safety. Equipped with driver and front passenger airbags, central locking, ABS and Data Dot, amongst others, the Runner offers top-notch safety specifications in its segment.
As far as standard comfort and convenience features go, the Runner offers steering wheel controls, air-conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity, an AUX and USB connection and Radio/MP3/RDS. The seats and steering can also be adjusted to suit individual preferences.
Regardless the scale of the business or the size of its fleet, a business needs peace of mind that things will be taken care of quickly and efficiently when things go wrong. As such, a warranty and service plan that covers all bases is paramount, as is after sales support.
The Picanto Runner is offered with the same unlimited kilometre, five-year warranty that is standard on all KIA vehicles, but also includes a two-year or 30 000km service plan. In addition, the Runner is also covered by KIA’s Corporate Fleet Care Package, designed specifically for working fleet vehicles.
The Fleet Care package includes access to the KIA 1-hour Express Service, courtesy vehicle rental, and Premium Roadside Assistance, which includes minor mechanical assistance, emergency fuel delivery, flat tire assistance, battery jump-start, and towing, to name only a few. This will invaluably benefit businesses that rely on fast and efficient deliveries.
