2017 Kia Picanto S Review | Light Hatch Is Big On Value And Fun
Once we were warriors. It could be a film about the micro hatchback segment that used to be brimming with action but today has taken a background position in the marketplace. Thankfully the 2017 Kia Picanto S arrives with one very sharp sword.
As Australia became more affluent, shoppers started looking beyond $13,990 driveaway deals in the same way everyone began buying SUVs over Commodores. The irony is the micro and large classes improved out of sight since way back when.
Today’s micro-hatch Picanto aims to be as good as previous generations of larger light hatchback, which are still dominated by the Mazda2 and Toyota Yaris. The trouble is, they start from $14,990 and $15,190 plus on-road costs respectively.
This virginal-white Kia with a manual transmission starts at $14,190 (plus orc) – only $800 below the bigger Mazda. It certainly needs some fighting spirit from the start.
Vehicle Style: Micro hatchback
Price: $14,190 (plus on-road costs)
Engine/trans: 62kW/122Nm 1.25 four-cylinder petrol | five-speed manual
Fuel Economy Claimed: 5.0 L/100km | Tested: 6.2 L/100km
OVERVIEW
The new Picanto is less than a year old and, stretching 3595mm from its stubby nose to its pert tailgate, it firmly remains a micro hatch. The bodies of most light hatches start with a ‘4’.
Kia isn’t doing driveaway deals on the five-speed manual version, which means $14,190 (plus orc) becomes $17,479 driveaway in Sydney, for example. At $15,690 (plus orc) the four-speed auto asks $1500 extra … but includes driveaway pricing.