Small, inexpensive urban vehicles still haven’t vanished from the European automotive landscape. One example is the Kia Picanto, a charming little Korean car examined as a solution for urban real-world usability.
It’s a fantastic career for a motoring journalist, allowing me to drive across Europe in a series of increasingly luxurious and powerful cars. However, sometimes it’s time to return to the basics: affordable vehicles that are within everyone’s reach. What’s needed is a reset. The Kia Picanto perfectly fills the bill. Let me be clear, I’m not looking to compromise or downplay its capabilities, as it’s just as respectable to be efficient and versatile as it is to be cutting-edge and flashy. Filled with curiosity, I took the keys to the car’s GT Line trim for a week-long test drive on roads of all types in Belgium.
Techno
From the outset, the 8-inch central touchscreen is a standout feature. Kia has wisely considered that the city car market consists of many young drivers. This may be their first new vehicle they can afford, so neither the design nor the interior is neglected. The system is modern and connected to the world. The model features navigation, and is compatible with Android Auto and Apple Car Play, via the versatile USB-C port. The infotainment display behind the steering wheel is just as modern. There are controls on the steering wheel and a row of physical buttons, particularly for climate control, always more intuitive than a thousand menu options on a screen. And that’s designed to appeal to an older demographic – elderly drivers.
Good leverage
As soon as you start driving, you’ll notice one minor drawback. The cruise control becomes irrelevant when you can’t see the set speed. I looked, but couldn’t find a way to display the activated limit on the dashboard. As a result, it’s not particularly practical. Although it may be useful on a long highway journey. The manual handbrake between the seats, which is increasingly being replaced by an automatic electric device, has a vintage feel. Apart from the fact that it allows you to make sharp turns on snowy roads with winter tires, this older component is primarily economical. It’s also relevant! The same applies to the 5-speed manual transmission. However, Kia hasn’t forgotten its customers who prefer an easy-to-drive car. So the Picanto can also be equipped with an automatic transmission, even with the 62hp base engine.
A sense of refreshing calm
This 1.2-liter 4-cylinder naturally-aspirated engine produces 79 horsepower and 113 Nm of torque. The acceleration from 0 to 100 kph takes around 13 seconds, requiring quick and energetic gear changes, as turbochargers are absent. This means you need to rev the engine to achieve optimal performance, and mastering the gear shifts is critical, particularly during overtaking maneuvers, as a smooth transition to a lower gear, such as 5-3, is necessary to navigate through the road safely. Once you leave the designated speed zones, maintaining momentum becomes a challenge, but strategic driving techniques can help keep fuel efficiency within environmentally friendly limits, achieving an impressive 5.6 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers.
Well
Overall, the car is a joy to drive. Specifically in urban areas, it’s calm and easy to maneuver, with a precise steering system that provides the right amount of assistance. Its compact width makes it easy to navigate through tight city streets. It’s also easy to turn in a small space. When parking in underground garages, you won’t feel like you’re squeezing in. The Picanto comes standard with the usual driving aids, and you can add advanced safety features at an affordable price. A reversing camera is also included, which is a plus when parking. Although the Kia is officially a 5-door, 5-seater, with a length of 3.60m, it’s best suited for four passengers. If you do manage to fit five, the space will feel cramped. The trunk, accordingly, is small. Hence, larger grocery items might end up in the back seat. The seat does fold down for added versatility.
Nothing goes right
Today’s standards and laws aimed at reducing pollution and ensuring the safety of new cars are not sufficient to address the main issue for the average buyer in 2024: cost. The Kia Picanto, despite being a pleasant vehicle, demands a budget of at least €16,000 considering the 58hp option, and nearly €20,000 to have the 79hp engine, as seen in our test. The GT-Line model even surpasses the €21,000 mark in Belgium and reaches CHF25,000 in Switzerland. However, in France, the most stylish version still comes in under €20,000. Nevertheless, the Kia Picanto offers a limited number of options, and the package featuring a sunroof and all the advanced driving assistance systems is priced at €900 in Belgium and France. An automatic transmission costs €1,000 more. Fortunately, the buyer is not responsible for the tax. Additionally, Kia provides a 7-year warranty on the Picanto. In the end, the car has the ability to please both young people and the elderly alike, striking a balance between simplicity, comfort, and enjoyment of the driving experience.
Meet MH with Olivier Duquesne – Source: Kia – Photo: Courtesy of Olivier Duquesne.
To receive our complete coverage on MSN, consider subscribing to our content. Click the ‘follow’ option located next to our logo above.
