Today we’re back with the owner’s review of the Kia Picanto, where the owner shares his purchase decision and his experience with this Korean hatchback. The Kia Picanto was launched in the latter half of 2019 in 2 variants, manual and automatic; this particular car is the automatic variant. It comes with a 3-cylinder 1.0-liter euro 6 engine, producing 68 hp and 94 nm of torque.
Purchase Decision
The owner previously drove a 2015 Corolla and wanted to shift to a hatchback as it is easy to maneuver within the city. He was considering hatchbacks with an automatic transmission and a decent fuel average. He initially considered the Daihatsu Mira but did not opt for it as it was only available in used conditions; hence he went for the Picanto. He Bought the car for 2.1 million rupees in 2021.
Salient Features
The Picanto comes with basic features, including power steering, power windows, adjustable rear view mirrors, analogue air conditioner, fabric seats, and a halogen DRL. Kia offers two paid options in the Picanto that can be added, including a navigation screen which costs 25,000 rupees, and 14-inch alloy rims, which can be added for 60,000 rupees.
Fuel Average
The fuel average of the Picanto has raised many questions, and according to the owner, it proves to be very poor. Within city, the owner gets around 8 to 9 km/l at max on normal driving. The owner went to the dealership to raise his concern, but they didn’t have any solid reasoning for it.
Drive
The owner seems satisfied with the drive and feels it is very comfortable on local and highway travel. The engine provides decent power, and the transmission is also smooth compared to the AGS in the Suzuki Cultus.
Space
Being a compact hatchback, the Picanto compromises on occupant space, specifically in the rear. The rear legroom is very limited and can cause discomfort for passengers, especially on a long journey. However, the front legroom is sufficient, along with plenty of space to store items, including cup holders, door compartments, a decent-sized glove box, and a trunk.
Build Quality
Setting aside its negatives, one thing that Picanto takes the upper hand in is the build quality. The interior plastic feels robust, and the fit and finish is very impressive compared to its competitors. The fabric seats are very comfortable, and nothing inside the cabin feels cheap and flimsy.
AC Performance
As per the owner, the Ac is good and provides good cooling and airflow. He has tested it in all weather conditions, and it has not dropped its performance so far.
Spare Parts and Maintenance
The owner got the oil changed from the dealership, and it cost him Rs. 3800 for the oil. Spare parts are relatively expensive as per the owner, but the availability is there in dealerships due to the well-developed dealership network of Kia in Pakistan.
