This is the new Kia Picanto, the Korean brand’s A-segment supermini. Back for its second generation, the new Picanto wears the current Kia styling courtesy of Peter Schreyer's design team. The Kia Picanto is available in three- and five-door body styles, and comes with a choice of three petrol engines: a pair of three-cylinder engines, one of which can run on LPG or petrol, and the 1.25-litre four cylinder. We’re driving the four-pot and the non-LPG triple.
In the cabin the Picanto sports a dark cloth interior with a height adjustable driver’s chair. It’s well bolstered and comfortable but could prove too narrow for those with broader backs during longer journeys. In the back seat leg room is limited but no more than you’d expect in an A-segment car and with correct front seat adjustment two adults could ride in relative comfort. The Picanto’s four-door body shape makes it easy to get in and out of the rear seat.
Instrumentation is large and easy-to-read and the controls are laid out with the stereo and climate controls separated, but all switchgear is close at hand. The Picanto’s leather-trimmed steering wheel is a particular highlight in a two-spoke design and featuring various control buttons. Other standard equipment includes cupholders, passenger under seat storage tray, air-conditioning, CD stereo with Ipod and USB connectivity, electric windows all-round, trip computer and Bluetooth hands free. The top-spec EX Picanto gets extra fruit like a 6-speaker stereo system, reverse parking sensors and electric folding side mirrors with LED indicators. Overall, it’s a very livable cabin, the materials used aren’t particularly hard or plasticky and everything feels well screwed together. It’s very small but the available space is used smartly with helpful touches like seat back pockets, bottle-holding door bins and a 60:40 split rear seat.
In terms of exterior styling the new Picanto is a sharp-looker, it’s suitably cute but with a broad, sure-footed stance. Design features include a rising character line, corporate Kia ‘tiger-nose’ grille and uniquely shaped, vertical tailights. There’s a subtle hatch spoiler, front fog lights and daytime running lamps (with LED strips on the EX variant).Standard wheel fitment is 8-spoke 14-inch alloys on the LX and sporty 15-inch multi-spoke alloys on the EX.
Dimensionally it’s a very small car but the Picanto has seen a size increase of 60mm to 3.6 metres in length and a 15mm increase to its wheelbase. Luggage capacity has also grown to 200-litres in total capacity and there has been no change to the Picanto’s height or width compared to its predecessor.
Under the bonnet the Picanto’s new engine is larger than before. It’s a 4-cylinder 1248cc powerplant from Kia’s Kappa family of motors. Power output is rated at 64kW with 123Nm of torque. The LX base-model features a 5-Speed manual box while there’s a four-stage auto for both LX and EX variants. The Picanto is no pocket rocket, but has enough pep to keep up with traffic, it’s best suited for around town blasts but once up to speed its well settled. Off the line the lightweight 850kg Picanto takes 11 seconds to reach 100km/h with the manual transmission, in auto form that stretches out to 12.9 seconds. It needs to be worked hard to get any real performance but as a city car the powertrain is certainly capable.
The Picanto drives very well, especially in four-cylinder trim. The engine zings eagerly, the gear change and steering are both light and easy, and engaging too, and the ride felt pretty good on our car’s 14-inch steel rims – a gentle loping rhythm with only a few secondary imperfections spoiling the show. It’s even refined at motorway speeds, and little bursts of acceleration are always on tap. It just feels right and instinctively in tune with itself.
source:www.carmagazine.co.uk,www.carandsuv.co.nz
