Until very recently, the South African budget car buyer had a very simple choice to make CitiGolf, Tazz or Corsa? Based on proven previous-generation vehicles and therefore offering a great deal of peace of mind, this trio has achieved enormous sales success. But their reign may be coming to an end. The CitiGolf cant go on forever, no matter what Volkswagen says, and the Tazz is starting to feel as old as it looks. One senses the opportunity exists more than ever before for those superminis so loved by other countries, to finally take root in South Africa. But if you were expecting the established brands to take a lead with this, you may have to think again. Based on its new Kia Picanto, Korean brand Kia may have just sprung a big surprise.
Ultra-modern looks for Kia Picanto
The Kia Picanto is all-new and not based on anything that has come before. As a result it boasts the latest in small-car packaging and design, two things that should stand it in good stead against its geriatric competitors. Its quite a square-cut little car with large, near-rectangular front lights and big, black bumpers. And it really is rather compact, measuring less than 3,5 metres in length and weighing in at below a tonne. The quality of the paintwork and the fit and finish is really impressive all-round.
The spaciousness of the cabin (in front at least), comes as a big surprise. Theres ample head-, shoulder- and legroom, and the facia design is anything but basic, creating the sensation that youre sitting in a vehicle from a class above. The neatly cloth-upholstered seats boast substantial width and provide good comfort levels during general driving, but lack some lateral support. The steering wheel is not adjustable but the driving position should suit most visibility out of the vehicle is excellent. Kia has to be applauded for the style and fit and finish of the interior. All the controls work with the type of precision and slickness weve come to expect from Japanese vehicles. The designers have also managed to find space for a number of clever storage spaces, even above the drivers legs.
With a wheelbase of only 2 370 mm rear legroom is predictably not great, but probably still better than most will expect. With some compromise from those seated in front, adults can be accommodated in the rear, but note that there are no rear headrests. The boot is, sadly, very small. Perhaps worse from a South African usage perspective is the lack of a luggage cover and spare wheel. The rear seats are split and can fold down to improve cargo carrying ability when needed.
At the price one cant expect too many features, and the Kia Picanto LX comes without power steering, air-conditioning, a sound system and ABS. What it does have, however, is a drivers airbag, which is not that common at this price level. Central locking is also included as are height-adjustable headlights and rear foglamps. It needs to be emphasised that although the Kia Picanto LX is sparsely equipped, it doesnt look like that from behind the steering wheel, which is quite an achievement. This car looks more expensive than it actually is
Good driveability
The Kia Picanto LX is powered by a 1,1-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine that pumps out a meagre 47 kW and 99 Nm of torque. Thankfully the car is not heavy, and performance feels far nippier than youd expect looking at those figures. In reality it is quite a zippy little car to drive around town, with the lack of power only really becoming an irritation when you hit the highway or need to overtake at near the national speed limit. The engine is mated with a five-speed transmission that delivers light, uneventful gearshifts. The fuel consumption is not unreasonable the little engine has to work hard, of course. A consumption figure of 8,4 litres/100 km is achievable with some careful driving. This is just as well, seeing as the fuel tank holds only 35 litres.
Easily one of the Picantos best attributes is its ride quality. The little car absorbs bumps very effectively and yet it doesnt feel particularly floaty. Even the unassisted steering is quite good if you thought it would be a wrestling match to park, youre wrong. The only real concern is in the braking department. Be mindful that theres no ABS, because the wheels lock up quite easily under hard braking. The car is unlikely to be bought by boy racers, and Kia knows this. Driving enthusiasts will have to look elsewhere for their kicks, as the Kia Picanto LX doesnt have enough power to chirp its wheels or get (almost) into trouble. Predictable understeer is the name of the game.
Kia Picanto – Verdict
The Kia Picanto is a breath of fresh air in the entry-level new car market. Modern-looking on the outside, surprising classy (and spacious) inside and with an excellent performance/economy mix it sets a new benchmark in this segment. The only real downside is that, for some people, it will simply not offer enough rear passenger and boot space. Judged by this impressive new contender, Kia is certainly a brand to keep an eye on.
We like:
- Cute looks
- Standard drivers airbag
- Front-seat comfort
- Fuel economy
- Ride comfort
We dont like:
- Small boot
- No spare wheel
- No ABS
Fast facts
Engine: 1,1-litre, four-cylinder, petrol
Power: 47 kW @ 5 500 rpm
Torque: 99 Nm @ 3 000 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Wheels: 14-inch steel
Top speed: 155 km/h
0-100 km/h: 15,6 seconds
Fuel economy: 8,4 litres/100 km
Source: www.um.co.za
Also consider:
- Daihatsu Charade CX: As always, the Daihatsu is a quirky choice but its unlikely to give you any trouble. Sadly, in CX trim, it doesnt give you much of anything in the way of standard features either. Rear legroom is superb, though, as is economy.
- Hyundai Atos Prime: Past its er, prime. This Hyundai doesnt offer a lot of standard features and also cant match the power/economy balance of some newer rivals.
- Chevrolet Spark LS: It may be a modern-day reincarnation of the Daewoo Matiz, but the Spark comes closest to matching the Picantos appeal. Offers decent specification but is significantly down on power.
