Kia Picanto X-Line (2021) Review

Styling

The Picanto X-Line is dressed to thrill in its designer pilates outfit. I wouldn’t call it a hiking ensemble, because the X-Line’s ground clearance isn’t much higher than its non-X-Line siblings (only 5mm, they say); and it’s probably not going to engage in much off-roading, apart from the odd (good) gravel road. The X-Line can be differentiated from the other Picantos by an aggressively styled front bumper, LED lights, faux skid plates, protective crossover cladding and handsome 15-inch alloy wheels.

 

 

On the inside, you’re greeted with a fashionable and upmarket interior and dual-toned seats covered in durable faux leather. Kia’s interior designers are a sensible bunch, and ensured that binnacles and recesses for items such as house keys and garage door remotes are plentiful. 

 

 

Behind the pop-out cupholders, your phone has a secluded spot where it can charge in peace while it’s connected to the USB port, which also enables Apple CarPlay / Android Auto on the large infotainment touchscreen. There is also a leather-covered central armrest cubby for other small items and it’s capable of swallowing a decent amount of the usual daily clutter. After only a few minutes in the cabin, I was reminded as to why the Picanto was a finalist in the South African Car of the Year competition: build quality is top-notch. Even the font on the buttons looks sophisticated! Our test model had an optional sunroof as well.

 

 

Comfort and space

Kia has managed to carve out a practical amount of space for such a small car, but the boot is still rather tiny and the rear legroom is limited.My daughter, currently around 1.6 metres tall, moaned about the lack of space for her legs.

 

 

Be that as it may, both my kids managed to fit their two school bags into the boot, leaving enough room for another soft bag or two to be stacked in-between or on top. The boot needs to be closed with a fair amount of force or the Picanto will beep incessantly until you make sure it’s properly closed. The small TFT screen between the rev counter and speedometer displays which door isn't completely shut and therefore responsible for the noise.

The range-topping X-Line comes remarkably well-equipped, and has plenty of big-car features for a car this small.

 

 

 

Drive, power, and performance

The Picanto X-Line may look cute and adorable, but underneath its streamlined yoga suit is a zesty go-kart that’s itching to make its presence felt. I had just picked up the Picanto X-Line from the airport in Cape Town and was making my way to Somerset West on the N2, when I realised just how at home the Picanto feels in the fast lane. In two shakes of a lamb’s tail, we were in Gordon’s Bay to evade the worst of the 5 pm traffic via Clarence Drive. In my rear-view mirror, I noticed a gentleman in a brand-new Japanese sport sedan fast approaching us in a 70km/h zone, and then seemed to be stuck to the Picanto's behind like glue. Even though his car is well-known for its athleticism, the driver didn't know how to put it all to good use. In a flash he was far behind - the Picanto just zigzagged through the twists and turns, completely composed, all while adhering to the speed limit. Mr Tailgater eventually fell back; clearly, he had overestimated his abilities or underestimated the Picanto X-Line’s.

 

 

The X-Line gets a non-turbocharged 1.25-litre petrol engine as standard, while less-expensive Street and Style variants are also privy to the more powerful engine. In a car this small and light (it weighs well under a tonne), a 1.25-litre powerplant makes for a decent power-to-weight ratio. The cheaper Picantos in the line-up have to be satisfied with 1.0-litre engines, but they're pretty decent as well.

 

 

Safety

Should you get a little overenthusiastic or you’re forcefully met by a motorist who wasn’t paying enough attention, you’re better off in the Kia Picanto than many other entry-level cars. The game-changer isn’t the number of airbags (two are the going rate on all models), but rather the amount of high-strength steel and adhesive used to engineer it, increasing the Picanto's torsional rigidity and structural integrity in order to be more resistant to crash damage.

 

 

Pricing

The manual Picanto X-Line comes in a little steep at R237 995, but opting for a 1.2-litre Street model will save you a few bucks while still allowing you the best of what the Picanto has to offer - solid build quality, a generous amount of convenience features, and energetic driving dynamics. Some other key competitors in this segment include the much-loved Suzuki Ignis and Swift, the Ford Figo Freestyle, and the Hyundai Grand i10.

 

 

Verdict

There are many small cars in this segment of the market but few offer the same fun-to-drive characteristics, cheeky demeanour, upmarket interior, generous specification level, and pepp(er)y performance. If you can make do without the trendy action-accessories and not in need of too much space, the Picanto 1.2 Street (R 210 995) is a sweet deal and you'll get a lot of (little) car, for not so much money. 

 

The numbers

Model tested: Kia Picanto 1.2 X-Line

Price: R 237 995

Engine: 1.25-litre naturally-aspirated

Power/Torque: 61kW / 122 Nm

Gearbox: 5-speed manual

Top speed: 155 km/h

Fuel consumption: 5 litres per 100 km (claimed by Kia) = 20 km per litre

Fuel range: 700 km (claimed)

Apple CarPlay/Android Auto: Yes (available from the non-X-Line Street models and up)

Boot size: 255 litres 

Safety rating: SA-spec model (2021) is still untested, the European model (with features like traction control and 6 airbags) scored 4 stars. Our local model has ABS, 2 x airbags, and 

Warranty: 5 years / unlimited km, with roadside assistance

Service plan: 2 years / 30 000 km