KIA PICANTO X-LINE 1,2
What a fun few weeks it has been with the little Kia. Including running my weekly errands, which encompasses a single return trip to Cape Town of roughly 70 km (it used to be my daily commute), the Kia has done a sterling job in all scenarios.
The fuel consumption has not dropped as much as I would have hoped though. The best single tank has been 6,12 L/100 km and the worst 6,95 L/100 km. These are still impressive figures and I do
try to drive as frugally as possible. Although, sometimes I do get the urge to drive a bit faster and take a few corners with enthusiasm. It’s easy in the piquant Picanto.
I am still thoroughly impressed by the modest engine. On the highway, a sixth gear might be useful, but generally the available power and torque combined with the five-speed gearbox equates to an ideal driving experience.
More importantly, we recently headed to Riebeeck-kasteel for a quick weekend getaway. Although there is no significant stretch of highway driving there or back, the Kia coped well with the open provincial roads. With the limited boot space, some of our luggage had to go on to the rear seats, but other than that, the trip was a huge success. Even the cabin was well insulated at higher speeds and road and engine noise was never an issue; a rarity when it comes to compact city cars.
I came to appreciate just how well specced the Kia is, too. The reverse camera with a distance sensor makes parking easy, the seats are comfortable and the leather-wrapped steering adds that quality touch to the cabin.
Several people have commented on the X-line’s appearance and nobody has had anything negative to say. They are clearly popular cars, especially older models that are now on the second-hand market. Assisting a friend in buying a used one a couple of weeks ago, we visited a local Kia dealer, only to be told that the moment a 2016-’18 Picanto comes onto the floor, it sells almost immediately. Now I understand why.
One final mention of how impressed I am by its handling qualities. As a road tester, perhaps I drive these cars in a way they were not necessarily designed for. If the car remains composed and stable, you know it’s a quality, well-engineered product. Most important are the brakes. The brake pedal modulation is good and, when needed, it quickly lowers the speed of the sub-tonne car. Sadly, there’s just one month left with this runabout before it must go back to the manufacturer.