The Kia Picanto has street-cred by the bucket-load. Ask any youngster to name their favourite entry-level cars, and the Kia Picanto is likely to feature right near the top of that list.
The reason is that the Picanto has style to go with its small nippy dimensions and a build quality that puts it right up there with the best in class. What’s more, it ticks most of the boxes that parents will be looking at when deciding which new small car to buy for their children about to leave the family nest.
See new and used Kia Picanto's for sale here
Affordability
The Kia Picanto is well-priced, there is no doubt about that. The base model kicks off the range at R158 995, although pricing does rise substantially if you want the top model, to R228 995 for the 1.2 Smart Automatic.
Safety
When the re-designed third-generation Kia Picanto was announced in the second half of 2017, Kia also made note of the fact that the new car now also contained plenty of high strength steel. This is a bit of a no-brainer for Kia and its sister brand Hyundai, as the Korean parent company in fact manufactures its own steel that it uses for car production. The new Picanto now features a body shell comprised of 44 per cent high-strength steel, and this has resulted in a 32 per cent increase in torsional stiffness over the previous model.
It goes without saying that the stiffer the body shell, the safer the car is in the case of an accident. This also has secondary benefits, in that a stiffer body shell makes a car handle much better and more comfortably, as softer spring rates can be used to prevent body roll.
But the lower-priced models still lack ABS
However, for a new driver, there is probably no greater safety assistance feature than ABS braking. ABS braking enables a driver to jump as hard as possible on the brake pedal without the wheels locking up and skidding. So a car with ABS stops quicker and in a more controllable fashion.
Kia, for reasons of cost, persisted in offering its entry-level Picanto models here with no ABS braking and only one airbag, but this is no longer the case. If you are looking at a used Kia Picanto in 'Start' trim, make a point of checking whether it is a later model with 2 airbags and ABS.
Fuel economy and performance
The Kia Picanto is an economical little car. It is available with a 1,0-litre three-cylinder engine which should offer consumption of around 5,6-litres/100 km, and a 1,2-litre four-cylinder engine, with consumption of 6,2 litres/100 km. The more expensive 1,2-litre models offer better performance and better overtaking acceleration, which is a factor for inexperienced drivers. The Picanto also comes in automatic form with both engine options. We would probably choose one of the manual models for younger drivers, as we believe it is important for young drivers to learn how to operate a manual transmission car.
Kia doesn’t quote acceleration figures for its range, but the 1,2-lite model will accelerate to 100 km/h in well under 12 seconds, which is more than adequate for a novice driver.
Controls
The Kia is a small light car with excellent visibility, good power assistance for the steering, a light clutch and a light, slick gear shift. It is an effortless little car to operate.
Space
The Kia Picanto offers good space utilisation, providing easy accommodation for four adult people and an occasional fifth person. The boot on the latest model is not large, but is bigger than it was on earlier Picanto models, and now measures 255 litres. The rear seats can be folded to increase loading capacity.
Warranty and service plan
The Kia Picanto comes with a 2-year/30 000 km service plan and a 5-year/unlimited distance warranty, which says much about Kia’s confidence in its product.
Re-sale
Re-sale values of Kia Picantos are excellent. The Picanto regularly sells at the rate of over 600 units a month, making it one of the top entry-level sellers in South Africa. And if a car is popular on the new car sales floor, that demand is reflected in strong second-hand prices.
Verdict
If you avoid the non-ABS models with a single airbag, you can’t go wrong in buying a Kia Picanto for a new, inexperienced driver.
Additional reading
Hyundai Grand i10 vs Kia Picanto vs Suzuki Swift: here's our winner.
What is covered under Kia Picanto manufacturer warranty?
New vs old KIA Picanto: what are top 3 differences?
