Driven - Kia Picanto X-Line
Quick Facts
- Price: R237 995
- Engine: 1.2-litre petrol
- Power/Torque: 61kW / 122nm
- Transmission: 5-Speed manual
The Picanto nameplate has been around for some years now, having found homes almost everywhere in South Africa and ultimately cemented itself in the budget car segment. The latest addition to the Picanto range is now the X-Line, which I spent a week with sampling. The price tag might not be considered 'budget' however with the looks and quality of materials used on the car, it sure makes up for it.
With faux leather seats, LED DRLs, head and taillights, good looking 15-inch alloy designs, skid plates, protective cladding that give it an "SUV" look as well as increased ground clearance, these are just some of the visual cues that make the Kia Picanto X-Line a looker. My test unit was dressed in the Alice blue paint which turned quite a number of heads. The colour palette within the range is very vibrant giving buyers a lot of uniqueness.
The interior is decently optioned, an 8-inch colour touch screen audio that comes with Apple Carplay/Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, USB as well as an aux port. Faux leather seats that look and feel good, and are most importantly comfortable.
The multi-functional steering wheel is also covering in leather giving the Picanto X-Line an all-around premium look.
The Kia Picanto X-Line not only shines in the looks department but in the driving and fuel economy department too. The 1.2-litre engine works hard to ensure healthy fuel consumption with the numbers dropping below 5l/100km. The 5-speed manual gearbox is also one of the lightest clutches I have driven in a manual car and the gear changes are featherlight. Highway driving without music does tend to become unbearable as the wind noise becomes a bit much at speeds over 100km/h. City driving is bliss and because of how compact the Kia Picanto X-Line is, parking is even better and the rearview camera and all-round parking sensors help make the job easier.
I loved how light the car was and how well the 1.2-litre engine worked, there is enough 'oomph' that comes from the engine and it does not feel like a small car at all. It is nippy and punchy when needed!
Pricing
Kia Picanto X-Line - R 237 995
