DON’T be fooled or assume that as a result of small vehicles are, nicely small, that they don’t have area, angle or are horrible to drive. Compact vehicles dominate the world, and Kia’s pint-sized Picanto is correct within the thick of it.
The Kia Picanto is a special kind of small automotive, and is available in two flavours for 2021; the S variant examined right here is the entry stage, and the opposite mannequin, nicely it’s the highest canine, within the type of the GT-Line. The X-Line providing disappears, as does the GT.
In a bid to maintain the little Picanto related, and stave off the competitors because it edges nearer and nearer to the nation’s primary micro automotive, Kia has given the brand new mannequin a clean up in addition to rationalising options. It’s now an excellent automotive, made higher.
The Picanto S options an onslaught of security and expertise as commonplace, together with six airbags, metropolis autonomous emergency braking with ahead collision warning, digital stability management, automobile stability administration, hill begin help and emergency cease sign.
It’s a novel trying automobile, with a method all of its personal. Through the years we’ve grown to love it, nope, make that find it irresistible, and the 2021 mannequin raises the bar once more. Contained in the Picanto S stays nicely completed and options strong construct high quality.
Certain, there are some arduous plastics all through, however they nonetheless feel and appear good. On this variant you don’t get the leather-based seats such as you do within the GT-Line, however the fabric inside continues to be good and comfy.
The seats are a little bit slim, however stay supportive. The driving place is nicely thought out and every little thing is at your fingertips. Even for this creator, with a dimension 12 boot, the pedal place stays unchanged, so there’s no must shoehorn that in.
And we’re the primary to admin, if you happen to’re searching for a household automotive to strap a couple of youngsters seats into and tour round outdoors of town, this isn’t the automotive for you. However the Picanto nonetheless does supply nice inside area and storage for brief metropolis dwelling drives.
We did handle to suit a fairly giant little one seat into the again with loads of area and luxury. The one draw back, the passenger entrance seat finally ends up buried within the sprint. However we’ve seen this occur in bigger SUVs, so it’s all relative.
Leg area nonetheless stays a slight challenge within the again seat, with rear leg room just about non-existent, except you’re a very small little one, or the motive force sits on prime of the steering wheel. However you’ve acquired to keep in mind that this can be a compact/micro automotive in spite of everything.
There’s loads of expertise too. Even the bottom vary scores electrical home windows. None of that wind up garbage. So, nicely carried out Kia for that. Cruise management with pace limiter and a reverse digicam have additionally been thrown in on the S for good measure.
You’ll additionally discover a good air-con, Bluetooth multi-connection permitting you to attach two smartphones on the similar time, an 8.0-inch vivid color touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 16-inch alloy wheels, and halogen daytime working lights.
It’s fairly jam full of goodies. Below the hood stays unchanged from earlier generations, a 1.2-litre 4 cylinder petrol engine, which makes 62kW and 122Nm. 0-100km/h is about 11.6 seconds.
Sure, we all know it may do with a little bit extra stand up and go, however don’t be scared off by the facility figures, because the Picanto stays a enjoyable little automotive to drive, particularly in handbook type, round city.
Our Picanto S was coupled with a 5-speed handbook transmission, and sure, it does require a little bit encouragement to maneuver it an extended, however it’s an ideal mixture for metropolis dwelling. A 6-speed stick shift can be good for the motorway although.
In case you don’t desire a handbook, you’ll be able to go for a 4-speed automated, if you happen to really feel that method inclined, however we extremely advocate the motive force managed possibility. On the street, it’s planted to the bottom, with responsive steering and a balanced chassis.
Weighing in at simply 993kg, it has a little bit of a go kart really feel. Gasoline consumption is a claimed 5.0-litre/100km, which is sweet, however not stunning contemplating the scale and the modest energy supply. In the actual world we averaged 6.2-litres/100km.
Put the Picanto on the freeway and you will note 7.5 to eight.0-litres/100km. Wind noise at pace on the motorway is certainly noticeable, and you may really feel the little Picanto getting pushed round by the wind, just like being in a mosh-pit at a heavy steel concern.
Round city although, it’s quiet and concentrated. Must you be out there for a automotive that’s small but fairly spacious (at the very least up entrance), good to drive, low cost to run and appears a little bit harder than common, the 2021 Kia Picanto S may simply match the invoice.
Pricing for the 2021 Kia Picanto S begins from $16,990 (drive away), with Kia’s 7-year limitless kilometre guarantee, roadside help and capped value servicing.
This little Kia represents unimaginable worth, and is offered in Astro Gray, Aurora Black Pearl, Clear White and Sign Pink.
Our check automobile was provided by Kia Australia. To search out out extra in regards to the 2021 Kia Picanto S, contact your native Kia supplier.
