2020 Kia Cerato and Picanto top variants get manual transmission

The South-Korean automaker Kia has recently added manual transmission to top of the line variants of Cerato and Picanto for the 2020 model year.

The manual transmission comes with Cerato Sport and Picanto GT-Line. It offers stick-shift versions of each grade for the first time and the prices will be slashed as compared to the automatic variants.

If we talk about the Cerato Sports manual price, it holds the tag of $22,990 before on-road costs which is $2600 cheaper from the same six-speed automatic variant. Though, the automaker is currently advertising the variant with a drive-away deal of $22,490.

The Cerato Sports manual specs include following standard equipment:

• Autonomous emergency braking with a forward collision warning
• Lane keep assist
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Rear-view camera
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• 8.0-inch touchscreen navigation system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity

The Cerato Sports manual engine bay gets a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated petrol unit producing 152 PS of power at 6200 rpm and 192 Nm at 4000 rpm, with drive sent exclusively to the front wheels.

The manual variant also comes with the same $1000 Safety Pack 1 as the automatic variant. The pack includes pedestrian and cyclist detection to the AEB system by adding a radar sensor, electric folding exterior mirrors and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Though, the adaptive cruise control function is missed in this one.

Moving to the Picanto GT-Line manual price starts from $15,690 before on-road costs. The standard equipment of manual and auto variants are identical. which include:

• Autonomous emergency braking with a forward collision warning
• 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Rear-view camera with dynamic guidelines
• 16-inch alloys
• LED daytime running lights
• Leatherette seats
• Alloy sports pedals

 

The Picanto GT-Line engine is backed by a 1.25-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine making 84 PS of power at 6000 rpm and 122 Nm at 4000 rpm.

Kia Australia has taken the move of adding manual variants when the other automakers are shifting from three-pedal models. In the segment, Ford Focus, Holden Astra, and Volkswagen Golf have recently ditched their manual variants.

Also read: Kia electric cars- E-Niro and E-Soul, delayed to 2021