The small, budget-friendly city car category has not vanished entirely from the European automotive market. One such example is the Kia Picanto, a compact Korean vehicle chosen as a realistic alternative.
What a pleasure to be an automotive journalist, traveling across Europe in high-performance vehicles. However, occasionally, it’s time to get back to the basics: accessible, affordable cars for all. A breath of fresh air is in order. The Kia Picanto is perfectly suited for this purpose. There’s no depreciation involved; small, efficient cars are just as impressive as their more technologically advanced counterparts. With great enthusiasm, I took the keys to the city car in its sleek GT Line for a week-long test drive on various routes throughout Belgium.
Techno
From the moment you start, the 8-inch central touchscreen is a true showstopper. Kia has clearly grasped the fact that the city car market encompasses many young drivers. This may be the first new vehicle they can purchase. Hence, the styling is just one aspect, and the interior is also considered, reflecting the tastes of the current era. The Korean features navigation, which is further compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, enhanced by the use of a suitable USB-C plug. The display behind the steering wheel is just as digital. Controls on the steering wheel are present along with a row of physical buttons, notably for the climate control, which is always more ergonomic than navigating 1,000 menus on a screen. And that is particularly suited for another part of the target demographic: the elderly.
Good leverage
As soon as you start driving, one small drawback becomes immediately apparent. The cruise control is somewhat impractical since you can’t see the speed limit displayed on the dashboard. I searched, but I couldn’t find a way to display the set speed on the dashboard – a major drawback. It wouldn’t be too bad on a long motorway drive, though. The traditional handbrake between the seats, increasingly being replaced by an electric parking brake, has a somewhat nostalgic feel to it. There are, however, a couple of benefits – it’s cost-effective and it would actually allow you to make tight turns on snowy roads with winter tires. Similarly, the 5-speed manual transmission, which some older folks might be familiar with, is also a cost-efficient option. It’s worth noting, however, that Kia hasn’t forgotten about consumers looking for a car that’s easy to drive – they indeed can upgrade to an automatic transmission, even for the 62hp entry-level engine.
A breath of fresh air
It’s a 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder normally-aspirated engine delivering 79 bhp and 113 Nm. Not exactly built for speed. 0 to 100 km/h takes around 13 seconds, with the pedal pressed firmly to the floor with each gear shift activated by a spirited left foot. The lack of turbocharging means you need to rev the engine to achieve the minimum power output. Overtaking demands good anticipation and smooth gear changes, even if that means downshifting into a lower gear to avoid staying on the wrong side of the road for too long. Once you exit the 30 and 50 km/h zones, you have to carefully balance speed and momentum to maintain control. And that’s where we manage to keep fuel consumption within environmentally-friendly limits: 5.6 litres per 100 km.
Well
Overall, the car is very pleasant to drive. Particularly in town, it’s docile and easy to handle, with good steering that is precise and expertly assisted. Not very wide, it navigates through the urban jungle with ease. It also turns corners with equal ease. In underground parking lots, one doesn’t feel cramped. The Picanto is equipped with the standard driving aids, and for a moderate price, you can enhance the advanced driving assistance systems (as driving aids are known in the trade) with an optional package. On the other hand, a reversing camera is standard. Another plus for parking. Despite its 3.60m length, the Kia is officially a 5-door, 5-seat vehicle. At 4, it’s suitable, at 5 it’s over capacity. The cargo area is in line with the size of the car: small. As a result, some of the weekly store shopping has ended up in the back seat. Which folds down.
Nothing goes right
Today’s pollution standards and safety requirements for new cars don’t adequately address the primary concern for the average buyer in 2024: affordability. The Kia Picanto, despite its pleasant features, demands at least a budget of €16,000 with its 58hp engine, and nearly €20,000 for the 79hp engine in our test vehicle. In Belgium, the GT-Line exceeds €21,000, while in Switzerland it reaches CHF25,000. However, in France, it remains under €20,000. The good news is that there are minimal configuration options, and the package featuring a sunroof and all driving aids costs €900 in Belgium and France, while the optional automatic gearbox adds €1,000. Fortunately, tax is still applicable. Additionally, Kia provides a 7-year warranty on the Picanto. Overall, the car offers a simple yet comfortable and enjoyable driving experience that appeals to both young and older drivers.
(Meeting with Olivier Duquesne – Source: Kia – Photo: Olivier Duquesne)
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