THE LITTLE CAR THAT COULD
The Picanto packs in — and sells — more than any rival in the micro class
The cheap seats in the car business are better value than ever. Consider this: Kia’s new Picanto, Australia’s top selling small — as in amoeba-sized — car, can be had for $15,690 driveaway, with an automatic transmission. That’s just 10 new iPhone Xs. Unlike Apple, Kia will back your purchase with a seven-year warranty. A Kia is also waterproof, it won’t be obsolete and worthless in 12 months, its operating software won’t flatten the battery every few hours and it won’t shatter if you accidentally sit on it. VALUE The Picanto isn’t exactly loaded with tizz, bling and widgets, which is to be expected at the price. It does, however, include the stuff you need to be comfortable, connected and content.
You get an automatic for almost manual money. Airconditioning, cruise control, rear parking sensors, rear camera with fixed and moving guidelines, power windows, automatic headlights, alarm and remote central locking/ boot release are also standard — at this price point, the Picanto is much more comprehensively equipped than its rivals.
Infotainment includes must-have Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, so you can do just about everything by voice with your phone, including navigation, on the seven-inch touchscreen. It’s tablet-style, high on the dash and a snap to operate — you don’t have to rely on touch for frequently accessed features.
Control buttons and audio knobs surround the screen. Steering wheel controls cover basic audio and phone functions. Bluetooth with audio streaming is seamless and reliable. There’s no stand-alone voice control, so call dialling is via a large keypad on the touchscreen. There are USB, 12V and aux sockets. COMFORT You sit on rather than in the driver’s seat. There’s plenty of seat travel but no wheel reach adjustment, so tall drivers are cramped for legroom.
Still, with its high roof and big windows, the Picanto feels more spacious than it is and vision is clear all around the car.
Typical of the class, the rear seat has limited legroom and is only wide enough for two. That said, four average sized adults will be happy — for a while. The firm, elevated bench is comfortable, access is good via wide opening doors and it’s also well suited to kids.
Two Isofix and three restraint anchors are provided, plus seat belt reminders for all positions, but no rear vents.
It takes 30 seconds to find your way around the Picanto’s simple, stylish dash.
Open storage includes a handy phoneshaped tray but there’s no covered storage apart from the glovebox, much of which is taken up by the War and Peace-sized owner’s manual. Instruments are bright and easy to read, though a digital speedo would be useful.
A deep 255L boot is the biggest in the class and can be extended to 1010L, with a stepped floor, via the 60-40 split-folding rear seat backs. SAFETY The Picanto missed out on five stars from ANCAP, recording some weak and marginal crash protection test results for child and adult rear seat passengers, and pedestrians. Automatic emergency braking (to a stop from up to 80km/h; partial from above 80km/h) is standard. The Picanto is the most affordable car on the market, and the only model in its class, with this feature. DRIVING The 1.25-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder with four-speed auto does the job OK around town, albeit at a leisurely pace.
An extra ratio or two, or a constantly variable transmission, would improve responsiveness, refinement and fuel efficiency in traffic, but the featherweight Kia gets off the line smartly. In most situations the engine can pull the higher gears at modest revs.
On the highway it cruises smoothly and quietly at 100km/h. You won’t be doing much overtaking. When you hit a hill, flicking the lever across to third gives the Kia the legs to maintain momentum.
Wherever and however you drive, you’ll get 6L-8L/100km, on regular unleaded. That’s a tad thirsty by class standards but we’re talking only droplets of difference.
Testing the dynamic limits of a small car can be one of the more exciting aspects of this job but the Kia always feels confident and secure, mainly because local suspension tuning favours control over comfort — perhaps to too great an extent given Picanto’s non-enthusiast, urbanbased brief.
The ride is absorbent from 80km/h and up, though the front end lacks low-speed compliance, so bumps and potholes on city streets give it a jolt.
Steering is suitably light around town, becoming overassisted and slightly imprecise at highway speeds, while the brakes (discs all around) are adequate. HEART SAYS I see beauty and happiness in small things. Why pay for more car than I need? HEAD SAYS