Kia has come up with a small but very handy and well equipped city car that pleases with its pleasing performance, fantastic fuel economy and also a 7-year warranty.
The Kia Picanto currently boasts an excellent market position as it is a small and affordable car and is one of the cheapest despite Kia’s recent move to slightly increased prices, which is in line with the trend across the automotive industry, not just in the UK. Previously, the Kia Picanto was priced at less than €10,000, while it now ranges from €11,690.
There are four trim levels available for the Kia Picanto in the Slovak market – Silver, Gold, GT-Line and X-Line. In addition, there is also a choice of three types of motorisation, and customers can choose between manual or automatic transmission. The weakest motorisation with automatic transmission is available at a price starting from €12,690, while the version with the 1.0 T-GDi engine comes out at €17,390, and is only available with the highest GT-Line and X-Line trim levels. The most powerful engine can’t be mated to an automatic gearbox, but the manual gearbox and Kia clutch are excellent to work with and their sheer stamina.
The Kia Picanto offers manual climate control as standard equipment, an on-board computer with a 2.6″ (for manual transmission) or 4.2″ (for automatic transmission) LCD display, a height-adjustable steering wheel, daytime running lights with traditional bulbs, a light sensor for automatic switching between daytime and low-beam headlights, 14-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, radio with Bluetooth, AM/FM/DAB and two speakers, hill start assist and remote control central locking.
The Gold trim level provides significantly more features compared to the base trim, and the X-Line is already a respectably equipped car. In addition to features like manual climate control, an on-board computer, and remote central locking, it also includes advanced features like active lane-keeping assist, a driver attention monitoring system, and automatic emergency braking that can detect both cars and pedestrians.
The X-Line trim level also includes cruise control with speed limiter, rear disc brakes, LED daytime running lights, LED tail and fog lights, 16-inch alloy wheels, a rear parking camera with dynamic guidance, rear parking sensors, automatic climate control, keyless entry and push-button start. Included in this trim we find a navigation system with an 8″ LCD touchscreen, USB-A input, 6 speakers, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a wireless cell phone charger.
The X-Line trim level resembles the GT-Line trim level in many ways, but also has its own aesthetic touches, such as the decorative chrome trim under the windows, a sporty leather steering wheel and shifter head, aluminum pedals, and exterior chrome door handles.
As well as the exterior, the interior will also please. Although small and simple, the ergonomics are well thought out and the materials used on the surfaces are of high quality. Details are precise and the overall impression is sympathetic. The designers may not have tried to create luxury, but the interior gives the impression that it will last in good condition even after many years of use.
The seating in the rear of the car is one of the simplest on the market and offers no storage or comfort features. However, the power window controls are sure to please. Space is limited, but there’s still enough room in the back to comfortably seat two people for a comfortable ride. A minor drawback may be the fact that the backrest of the middle seat cannot be folded into the armrest.
The Picanto’s driving characteristics are a very pleasant surprise. The steering, powertrain and chassis are precisely set up, making it a fun and agile little car. The Picanto excels by making the most of its small size and light weight. With a 74kW petrol engine, you feel as if the engine has a lot more power. But it’s not just the power, it’s also the torque, which is available from low revs , that contributes to its impressive driving characteristics. The engine already provides plenty of power at start-up.
The Picanto’s gear shifting is very good. There are almost never jerks when you release the clutch, and you can cruise smoothly in third without too much trouble in the 30 to 70 km/h range, which covers almost the entire urban spectrum. If you take to the motorway, at 100 km/h and with fifth gear engaged, the engine operates at an optimum level of 2100 rpm and you can drive and overtake safely and clearly.
In my test, I found the Kia Picanto’s driving characteristics to be very good considering its small size and light weight. The 74 kW engine has enough power and torque to handle both urban and inter-urban driving without problems. The gearbox allows smooth gear shifting, making the ride comfortable and safe.
However, the car has a tendency to understeer when going faster, so it’s important to be cautious and adjust your driving to accommodate this shortcoming when driving with passengers. In my testing, I recorded an average petrol consumption of 6.0 l/100 km. In an attempt to achieve the lowest possible consumption, I was able to drive an average of 5.3 litres per 100 kilometres in the city. I think it is possible to drive a little more economically,
I’m a bit disappointed with the headlights, which are weak, both low beam and high beam. The daytime running lights are nice in design though and use LED technology, but the other lights are classic incandescents. As an opponent of the start stop system, I was bothered by the engine shutting off at inopportune moments and causing me delays.
After a week’s experience with the Kia Picanto 1.0 T-GDi X-Line, I can consider myself a fan of this little stinger. Although its design didn’t suit me at first, after its many positives, I can identify with its looks as well. If you are planning to buy a small car, you should consider buying a Kia Picanto, especially since the future of these vehicles does not look very promising in the coming years and their development is not paying off for car companies. In addition, a strong argument in favor of buying it is the vehicle warranty lasting up to 7 years or 150,000 km, the paint warranty for 5 years, the rust warranty for 12 years and the map update for 7 years. The Kia Picanto manages to balance its slight shortcomings with positive features that definitely outweigh the negatives.
Kia Picanto 1.0 T-GDi specifications
Engine supercharger. Petrol R3, 998 cc
Power 74 kW (100 hp) at 6,000 rpm
Torque 172 Nm at 1,500 – 4,000 rpm
Powertrain and chassis: 5-st. manual transmission, front-wheel drive, MacPherson front, torsion bar rear.
