Kia Picanto first drive review

It's 1-litre engine is smaller than most touring motorcycles but the Kia Picanto shows the way with performance far beyond its size. Indeed, it will even get better fuel economy that these motorcycles.

Drive the Picanto and it feels like most small cars - peppy away from the traffic lights, eager through the gears and ignorant to service station bowsers.

But it stretches its abilities to places other small cars dare to tread. Even in transit across part of the south-west of Germany on high-speed autobahns, the 1-litre, three-cylinder petrol Picanto held steady at 160km/h and felt capable of more.

Autobahns are not, however, Kia’s favoured ground for the Picanto. Rather, this is a light car that will comfortably and efficiently transport up to four adults across town. It will become a preferred shopping trolley, a cost-effective commuter and even a fun car for the young at heart.

The big stumbling block concerns its arrival in Australia - in fact, we may never see it.

Kia Australia spokesman Kevin Hepworth says Kia wants it here and is pushing hard.

“It’s certainly a car we want to have in Australia,’’ he says. “But no decision has been made yet.’’

Kia makes the Picanto in Korea and Slovakia. The small hatchback comes with five or three doors, diesel and petrol engines, manual and automatic transmissions - so the field is ripe to pluck a model or two for Australia.

There are three petrol engines - 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4-litres - but Hepworth says Australia is more likely to get the 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrol models in manual and automatic.

“But I can’t see us taking the diesel,’’ he says of the highly-praised 1.1-litre three-cylinder turbo-diesel that gets a remarkable 3.2 litres/100km and a CO2 output of a mere 85 grams/km.

“The diesel is a wonderful concept and is brilliant on fuel but the problem is that Kia may have trouble supplying it to our market. It is in huge demand in Europe and they’re taking every one that’s made. So our chances are very slim.’’

We don’t know the price - but I reckon it’s a $13,000 opener and up to about $14,500 for the whole Monty - and the delivery date if it comes (but mid-2012 isn’t impossible). It’s probably well worth waiting for.

Value

Okay - so we don’t know the price but if we say $13,500 for one with some decent kit, then it’s up against the Nissan Micra and other light cars. It’s in a whole different arena to the Suzuki Alto - which is more about budget motoring - and the Hyundai i10 on which it’s based but not sold here.

For me, the Picanto is really biting at the heels of the Volkswagen Polo. If Volkswagen send out tits new sub-Polo small car, the Up, then that will become its natural rival. That’s a rare statement putting a high-tech German up against a newbie Korean.

Features are yet to be specified for us, though the highlights included the iPod integration, Bluetooth, generously proportioned and comfortable seats, good build quality and excellent driving position. I didn’t like the hard plastic trim throughout the cabin.

Design

This is one of Kia design boss Peter Schreyer’s handiworks. It has a lot of the new Rio hatch within its lines, though is a tad bolder with the side crease line. The new Kia grille is a shrunken version of that used by other Kia models and looks more like a fascia adornment than a functional intake. The five door I drove had easy access to the rear and space - for short trips - for two adults. The boot is small - no surprises there - through the rear seat can fold forward.

Technology

Making small engines work across the demands of modern motoring is very difficult. The 1-litre petrol tested here is promoted by Kia as the world’s first three-cylinder car engine with dual-variable valve timing. lt’s a beauty and it’s a pity it’s not on Australia’s shopping list.

The 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol was also driven, this time attached to a four-speed automatic. This works, despite the four cogs, thanks to a strong flow of low-rev torque. Steering is electric-assist and it’s not bad. Certainly it is light at low speeds - so will suit inner-city driving - but it has good stability at high speeds.

Kia says that if the Picanto gets down under, it will recieve localy-adapted steering, brake and suspension work in line with the successes the company has had with localised Sportage, Optima and Cerato models.

Safety

No crash testing data was available but it’s believed the car would have the full suite of safety gear and six airbags if it gets here.

Driving

This is so easy to pedal, weaving through the manic Frankfurt afternon rush hour with absolute ease. The 1-litre petrol as the optional Eco version that gets stop-start and a dashboard gearshift indicator to maximise fuel efficiency. The steering is really light but the car responds positively and feels well connected with the road.

The engine is really eager off the mark and it’s only when you crank it up to start the autobahn test that you realise the pick up in speed is quite leisurely. Far better is the 1.2-litre - even attached to the four speed auto - that spins quickly to 6000rpm before upchanges and sounds rorty and purposeful. Ride comfort was very good but the German roads are a lot smother than the harsh, coarse Australian asphalt.

So good was the quietness that I could hold a near-whisper conversation whle cruising at 160km/h. Cabin room for the two front occupants is sufficient, but recognise that this fits in the light-car class and is more compact than the small-car segment.