One of the key elements of cost-effective fleet management is ensuring vehicles are fit for purpose and Kia Motors South Africa is now filling a gap in the market with a repurposed Picanto as a small delivery unit.

The Kia 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 also offers a practical alternative to service providers that do not 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,” says Stephen Crosse, Sales Director, Kia Motors South Africa.

The notion of changing a small passenger vehicle into a delivery vehicle is not new – indeed, General Motors did it quite successfully before upping their stakes and leaving the country.

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 350 kg.

“The Kia Picanto Runner has been created to be a safe and comfortable urban business partner,” adds Crosse. “As such, we have have paid equal attention to capability, efficiency, comfort and running costs.”

The Picanto Runner is powered by a 1,0-litre in-line three-cylinder, 12-valve DOHC petrol engine, paired to a five-spead manual transmission offering 49 kW of power and 95 Nm of torque.  

It is equipped with driver and front passenger crash bags, central locking, anti-lock brakes and Data Dot, while standard comfort and convenience include steering wheel controls, air-conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity, an AUX / USB connection and Radio/MP3/RDS. The seats and steering can also be adjusted to suit individual preferences.

The Picanto Runner has the same unlimited kilometre, five-year warranty that is standard on all Kia vehicles, but also includes a 2-year/ 30 000 km service plan. In addition, the Runner is also covered by Kia’s Corporate Fleet Care Package, designed specifically for ‘working’ 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 tyre assistance, battery jump-start and towing, to name only a few – invaluable benefits to a business that relies on fast and efficient deliveries.

The Kia Picanto Runner is available on order from all Kia Motors South Africa dealerships and is priced at R198 995.