Small, but Perfectly Formed
Kia has never won the South African Car of the Year award, but the buzz inside the industry is that the Picanto is their best chance yet. In fact, a Korean brand is yet to win the local industry’s biggest prize and I’m convinced that the drought will end with the current round; which means either the Elantra (featured last week) or the Picanto (featured here) will be the chart-topper come March 15.
To be specific it is the 1.2 EX under scrutiny, and at R118 995 it represents a whole lot of car, at a price which will be relatively easy for the judges to assimilate.
Kia describes it as ‘a small car, grown up’ and it is hard to argue, especially compared to its humble (though likeable) predecessor. But in the same way that the new Elantra is a whole new ballgame so too is the Picanto, albeit in a different class.
This is an A-segment challenger, and that’s where the action is going to continue to be in the next few years as improved quality, safety and refinement take city cars to a higher level. Not to mention their economy and low emissions, and that all adds up to value in anyone’s language.
Over the last three years the Kia product family has undergone a complete design metamorphosis, driven by the genius of Peter Schreyer, who has rapidly turned the brand into one with global appeal. The Picanto is still ‘cute’ and ‘friendly’ but now combines that with an element of maturity. It is almost handsome – not something easily achieved in cars where the overall length and overall height are out of all proportion.
It has great stance, conveying a sense of stability. Picanto shares the same signature ‘tiger nose’ grille with other recent Kia offerings, with the headlamps forming the eyes. Overall, it makes a strong, well-balanced and cohesive design statement which combines a contemporary fashionable feel with rational functionality.
Unlike old Picanto this car is pretty roomy on the inside, and it’ll carry four adults with ease, but the luggage compartment is still a little miserly. There are loads of storage solutions to take care of the clutter though, and a pleasingly upmarket ambience in terms of both look and feel will win it many fans.
The engine is both lively and smooth and while the Picanto carries a bit of extra mass thanks to its specification it is still willing and responsive. With 120 Nm it copes well with a load, and its everyday driveability - especially when laden - benefits from this extra lugging power.
Short car equals short wheelbase equals choppy ride, yet the suspension is quite plush without the car feeling mushy when in a hurry. The possible Achilles Heel of the package is steering feel, and a number of motoring writers have already commented on the overly light and slightly unnatural feel to the helm. That was certainly our experience when we had it for AA Traveller evaluation last year. However, Kia says because the steering is electrically-assisted the weighting can be adjusted and it is just a case of setting it via ‘plug and play’ technology available at all dealers.
Let’s hope they do this on their three COTY examples, with the judges due to put them and the other contenders, through their paces next week. Everything else about Kia’s Picanto is largely above reproach, and being comfortably the most affordable (but not cheap) car in the competition is certainly going to help too.
