Hyundai Atos vs Kia Picanto vs Datsun Go: which one is the best value for money?
One of the few market segments which show sustained growth in these challenging economic times is the very bottom end of the new-car market. Some buyers look for something small and inexpensive, while others just want to get into a new car as cheaply as possible. In this comparison, we’ll consider the value proposition on offer from Hyundai’s reborn Atos, in relation to two similarly-priced, established opponents.
The value battle intensifies.
With the Atos nameplate carrying a surprising amount of loyalty in the local marketplace, it’s no wonder that Hyundai decided to resurrect this badge for their latest entry-level contender. Until very recently, this slot was filled by the Hyundai i10 (not the “Grand” one, the normal one), but with that model having been discontinued in 2017, a gap opened up in Hyundai’s bargain basement, located beneath the larger and more expensive Grand i10.
Enter the reborn Atos: based on a platform developed specifically for emerging markets and powered by an engine familiar from the old Atos (and the first-generation Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10), it’s altogether roomier and more sophisticated than its ancestors, and majors on (relative) refinement and comprehensive equipment (for an entry-level car).
Related: Our launch report about the new Hyundai Atos tells you more about this value leader.
But the Atos is up against some stiff opposition, thanks to the proliferation of equally-contemporary opponents in this burgeoning segment. We decided to compare the new Atos to an established favourite from its sister company, the Kia Picanto, and threw the recently-updated Datsun Go into the mix for a wider perspective.
Seeing as there’s only one Atos trim level on the price list, we selected Picanto- and Go variants with similar pricetags – in this case meaning the least-expensive derivatives of each of their ranges. Less than R 4000 separates them, and two of them even slip in below the R 160 000 psychological barrier, but which one offers the best value for money?
Facts and figures:
First, let’s look at the key numbers:
|
Hyundai Atos 1.1 Motion |
Kia Picanto 1.0 Start |
Datsun Go 1.2 Mid |
|
|
Engine size (cyl/size) |
4-cyl, 1.1-litre petrol |
3-cyl, 1.0-litre petrol |
3-cyl, 1.2-litre petrol |
|
Power/Torque |
50 kW/99 Nm |
49 kW/95 Nm |
50 kW/104 Nm |
|
Kerb Weight |
866 kg |
952 kg |
779 kg |
|
Length (mm) |
3 610 |
3 595 |
3 788 |
|
Airbag count |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
Load Volume * |
235 litres |
255 litres |
265 |
|
Top Speed (km/h) ** |
155 |
155 |
161 |
|
Ave Consumption ** |
5.7 ℓ/100 km |
5.0 ℓ/100 km |
5.5 ℓ/100 km |
|
Warranty |
5 yr/150 000 km (vehicle) and 7yr/200 000 km (drivetrain) |
5 yr/Unlimited km |
6 yr/150 000 km |
|
Price |
R 159 900 |
R 162 995 |
R 159 100 |
*With all seats in use
**Manufacturer's official claimed figures.
Analysis
Power, performance, and drivetrains
Very small engines are par for the course in this value-focused segment, as are their consequently modest power outputs. All three contenders send 50-ish kW to their front wheels through 5-speed manual gearboxes, although (pricier) automatic options are available for the Datsun and the Kia.
The Kia and Datsun both use 3-cylinder engines with 4 valves per cylinder (of 1.0-litre and 1.2-litre displacements, respectively), while the Hyundai uses a 1.1-litre 4-cylinder engine with 3 valves per cylinder. Forget about turbocharging or direct injection in any of these bargain bins – conventional engineering is employed all round, so their engines are about as simple as today’s legal requirements will allow.
The Datsun has a mild upper hand on performance, though. Not only does its slightly larger engine produce a little bit more torque (albeit with similar top-end power to the others), but it’s also the lightest car here, and by quite a margin. The Kia Picanto 1.0 is the heaviest car in this group (weighing 173 kg more than the Go, and 86 kg more than the Atos) and has the least power and torque, which pushes it down to the last place in the performance stakes. The Hyundai Atos thus ends up in second place among this trio, being middling in both weight and power output.
Related: Find more details about the updated Datsun Go in our 2018 launch report.
Economy
Fuel efficiency is a very important consideration for budget-constrained shoppers, and all three cars here perform well in this regard. According to their official claimed average consumption figures, the Kia should be the most parsimonious at 5.0 ℓ/100 km, followed by the Datsun’s 5.5 ℓ/100 km and the Hyundai’s 5.7 ℓ/100 km. In regular mixed-cycle driving, there should be very little difference in their real-world consumption, which should hover below the 6.0 ℓ/100 km mark in all cases. The Datsun’s lighter weight and torquier engine may make it more frugal than the other two when the cars are asked to carry a full load, however.
Related: Stuart Johnston offers an alternative view regarding city cars.
Practicality
With a significant size advantage in this company, the Datsun Go manages to offer the largest boot as well as the most cabin space, especially for rear-seat passengers. There isn’t a huge deviation in luggage space, with only 30 litres separating the most capacious boot (Go) from the smallest (Atos). This may actually be too small a difference to really matter to buyers, especially seeing as none of them offer massive boots by any measure.
Total utility space honours will also swing in the Go’s direction, however, thanks to its larger overall body allowing for more loading volume when the rear seats are folded down. It is impressive that the Picanto runs the Go so close, though, especially when the size of its shadow (the smallest here) is taken into account. This leaves the practicality rankings with the Datsun Go in first place, the Kia Picanto in second, and the Hyundai Atos in third place.
Equipment and safety
This is a key consideration for budget shoppers: which car gives them the most for their money? This presents the first serious hurdle for the Picanto in “Start” trim, because it makes do without a touchscreen infotainment system, electric windows or even central locking. Like the others, the Picanto Start does at least come standard with power steering, air conditioning, and a Bluetooth/USB-enabled audio system. None of them have alloy wheels or front fog lamps as standard, though.
But both the Atos and Go comprehensively outclass the cheapest Picanto in the standard equipment list, with their central locking, electric windows (front only in the Atos, all round in the Go), and fancier infotainment systems (with smartphone monitoring) representing a significant step up in standard trim from the least-expensive Kia.
In mitigation, the Kia does offer a basic service plan in exchange for these shortcomings, with cover provided for 2 years or 30 000 km. The Hyundai’s service plan is literally valid for one service or one year, but the Datsun can only get a service- or maintenance plan as an extra-cost option. The Hyundai has the best warranty of the lot, though, with the drivetrain being covered for 7 years or 200 000 km (and the rest of the car for 5 years or 150 000 km). The Datsun offers all-round cover for 6 years or 150 000 km, and the Kia for 5 years with no distance limit.
As far as safety credentials go, none of these cars are exactly setting any benchmarks. At least the Datsun and Hyundai both offer 2 airbags and ABS, while the Kia has to make do with only 1 airbag and no ABS. Meanwhile, the Hyundai and Kia both feature ISOFIX rear child seat anchors, which the Datsun lacks, while none have stability control at this price point.
And then we get to crash safety, where the Atos scored only 2 stars in Global NCAP testing and the pre-facelift Go’s poor performance has lent it a measure of infamy. The updated Go has been reinforced in a number of areas (and gained airbags along the way), however, so the latest version should perform a whole lot better than the first ones managed. It’s difficult to guess how well the Picanto Start will perform in these tests, because the only available crash test data pertain to derivatives with many more airbags, and the Start definitely won’t offer the same level of (4-star) protection.
Seen in this light, we’d hazard giving the Atos and Go a shared first position on safety spec, with the de-contented Picanto Start coming in third, purely based on its lack of basic safety equipment. Wise buyers (with larger budgets) would be well-advised to rather consider a more-expensive Picanto trim level, because those at least get more airbags and ABS (as well as a bunch of convenience features) for the extra money.
Related: We investigated the Kia Picanto, to determine if it's good for new drivers.
Verdict
The first car to be eliminated from this trio has to be the Kia Picanto 1.0 Start. It falls short of the others when it comes to performance, standard equipment, and safety features, and only manages a middling showing in all other respects except economy. Higher-trim variants offer much more solid value propositions (thanks to improved equipment and better safety features), but in this price bracket, it’s soundly trounced by both the Datsun Go and the Hyundai Atos. Its only real strength in this company is the service plan, but whether that alone is worth a price premium of almost R 4000 over our winner is highly debatable.
It’s more of a challenge to separate the Go from the Atos, however, as they each have specific strong suits to suit a wider variety of buyers. Counting against the little Hyundai are its comparatively poor practicality and higher claimed fuel consumption, but it offers a lot more kit for less money than the competing Picanto (if not quite as much as the Go). That excellent warranty counts for a lot as well.
This leaves the Datsun Go as our budget car winner. We’ve previously mentioned that the higher-trim Datsun Go Lux is on shaky ground in terms of value, being priced quite a bit higher than the entry-level derivative, but in lower-trim “Mid” grade, there’s not a lot better available out there for the same money. Being the least expensive car in this comparison simply seals the deal, and makes it our value champ from this group.
* Pricing was accurate at the time of writing, but may change without prior notice.
** Images of the Kia Picanto depict an up-spec variant with standard alloy wheels and fog lamps, none of which feature in the 1.0 Start derivative.
Recommended next:
Shop for new or used Hyundai Atos cars here.
Shop for a new or used Kia Picanto here.
Shop for a new or used Datsun Go here.