Korea’s relentless assault on the rest of the world has gained extra impetus with the arrival of the very impressive and affordable Kia Picanto LX. Having made its debut at the 2003 Frankfort Motor Show the versatile little city-car was launched last week in the Cape and, after driving it for around 60 km, I can happily say that it stands out as an absolute bargain in South Africa’s overpriced car market.
At R72 995 (R79 995 with aircon) the Picanto may be cheap, but it ain’t nasty. The little four-seater is a real looker, and is well specced for the money. You’ll have to wind the windows up and down manually – shame – and cough up a couple of hundred rand for a sound system, and there’s no rev counter, but the car comes with height adjustable headlamps, a rear window demister, rear fog lamps, remote keyless entry and alarm, a transponder immobiliser, 18 stowage compartments in the cabin, a driver’s airbag, a high level brake light, and a battery-saver feature that turns off the lights when the doors are closed after parking.
An unusual feature of the Picanto is that it comes without a spare wheel. Instead, in the wheel well you’ll find a small compressor and a bottle of liquid tyre sealant. Screw the bottle of sealant into its berth on the compressor, connect the tyre valve fitting and plug the pump’s electrical lead into the cigarette lighter and the tyre will seal itself and inflate. For those who don’t trust such things a spare wheel, jack and wheel spanner kit can be bought as an optional extra for R875.
The Picanto gets its zip from a spunky little 1,1 litre 12 valve four cylinder petrol engine that delivers 49 kW at 5 500 rpm and 99 Nm of torque at 2 800 revs. This willing little unit gets the car up to 100 km/hr in 15,2 seconds and can haul it up to a top speed of 155 km/hr. While not exactly a rocketship, the little car is more than capable of holding its own around the city. My co-driver and I were probably the bulkiest two journalists at the launch and we didn’t find the accommodation too cramped either. Kia tells us that the car is aimed at consumers, probably women, in the 18 – 25 age group, but I always wonder why manufacturers make such predictions. As a relatively impecunious middle aged male I wouldn’t feel outgunned driving around town in the little Kia, and I also wouldn’t baulk at driving it across the country if I needed to. It’s a helluva lot of car for the money.
The Kia Picanto will initially be available only in base LX guise, with a bells ‘n whistles laden EX version to follow later in 2004. A diesel powered version will also follow later this year or early next year.