| Production years | since 2008 |
| Displacement, cc | 1248 |
| Fuel system | distributed injection |
| Power output, hp | 78 (1st gen.) 85 (2nd gen.) |
| Torque output, Nm | 118 (1st gen.) 121 (2nd gen.) |
| Cylinder block | aluminum R4 |
| Block head | aluminum 16v |
| Cylinder bore, mm | 71 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 78.8 |
| Compression ratio | 10.5 |
| Hydraulic lifters | yes |
| Timing drive | chain |
| Phase regulator | no (1st gen.) Dual CVVT (2nd gen.) |
| Turbocharging | no |
| Recommended engine oil | 5W-30, 5W-40 |
| Engine oil capacity, liter | 4.2 |
| Fuel type | 95 |
| Euro standards | EURO 4 (1st gen.) EURO 5 (2nd gen.) |
| Fuel consumption, L/100 km (for Kia Picanto 2012) - city - highway - combined | 6.7 4.5 5.3 |
| Engine lifespan, km | ~300 000 |
| Weight, kg | 82 (without attachments) |