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Compact cars introduced many of us to the world of driving. Many people started their motoring chapters behind the wheel of a simple and practical runaround, and there are plenty of options in this category. However, the Kia Picanto has proved to be one of the more popular options in the compact hatch segment. Kia's rather recent mindset shift has made the Picanto more mature than previous models and provides a decent choice for anyone searching for a small car with plenty of bells and whistles.
So what is the Kia Picanto? To start, it is Kia's entry-level vehicle, which was designed to enable more affordable motoring. Although the Picanto is the most affordable option in the Kia line, it continues to retain the quality and design language similar to other models that push into the premium segment while maintaining an affordable package. Being a compact hatch, it's small, meaning it will naturally come with a few shortfalls, but I found every day ease-of-use to be a breeze and actually quite fun.
The Picanto's interior reflects Kia's premium positioning in a more affordable package. The fabric seats are comfortable and stylish, and the 8-inch infotainment screen is simple to use and provides a more modern aesthetic to the dash. It supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making accessing your navigation and pumping your favourite tunes a treat.
With the addition of a digital driver's display with clear information makes your day-to-day driving that much more pleasant. Overall, the cabin experience is stylish and modern, and with good build quality, there isn't much to dislike on the inside, well, besides the lack of legroom in the back and the smaller boot space.
Kia’s Picanto has you covered on a safety front, too, with ABS, EBD, and dual front airbags. There are also Isofix anchors for your child seats in the cabin, in case you were wondering.
The Kia Picanto comes with two engine options: the larger option being the EX and EX+ which sports a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder motor that produces 62kW and 120Nm. The unit I put to the test was the entry-level LX that offers a 1.0-litre naturally aspirated 3-cylinder option, which produces 49kW and 95Nm. It's frugal too, lightly sipping away with an average consumption of 5.1l/100km.
Now, although these figures seem minute, the small and light nature of the Picanto allows for adequate power for around-town driving while offering the ability to reach and maintain highway speeds without revving the motor into an early retirement. The way Kia has managed to create a driving experience that feels larger and more present than similar-sized vehicles is impressive. The 5-speed manual transmission is smooth and provides light throws between changes, adding to the pleasantly simple driving experience that I grew fond of.
The ride quality is also good, offering a smooth drive that is a little playful in the corners. Once you squeeze three passengers inside, the lack of power does become present, but it retains an adequate ability to keep up with traffic.
The Kia Picanto comes in three trim levels, the base model being the LX, which is the unit I spent some time with and comes in at R260,995 for the manual and R278,995 with the 4-speed automatic transmission. The next trim level is the EX, and provides the 1.2-litre 4-cylinder motor option with 14-inch alloys, hill-start assist and ESC, automatic headlights, an upgraded instrument cluster, and extra tweeters to improve sound quality.
The EX comes in at R284,995 for the manual and R302,995 for the automatic. Lastly, the EX+ is the top spec for the Picanto. The EX+, equipped with the same 1.2-litre engine, is priced at R307,995 for the manual and R325,995 for the auto. The EX+ further enhances the cabin experience, offering leather seats, smart key functionality with a start-stop button, 15-inch alloys, a gloss finish in the cabin, and automatic air-conditioning controls.
The Picanto is a competitor to the Hyundai Grand i10, which does offer a less expensive alternative to the Kia, coming in at R224,900, and although offering a similar package to the Picanto, the Kia does offer a slightly more plush experience and a larger character feel. It also offers a 2-year/30,000-kilometre service plan and a 5-year unlimited-kilometre warranty.
The Kia Picanto brings a new feel to the compact hatch segment. Although it's small in size, it offers a driving experience that feels more sizable while maintaining the benefits of a small car. It's comfortable, stylish, and lively. Yes, it's far from exciting, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call it boring. So if you are looking for a frugal runaround or a cool first car, I wouldn't look much further than the Kia Picanto.
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