KIA Picanto Test Drive in Istanbul, Turkey

THE REAR seats of the Picanto fold flat to the floor.

Kia’s newest generation of their city-car, the Picanto (internally code-named TA) was launched to the global motoring media in the exotic destination of Istanbul, Turkey.

The Picanto is a global city car sold in almost all markets where KIA products are sold, from the Americas, Europe and Asia. The trademark Tiger front-end from Peter Schreyer features heavily and dominates the overall look of the new Picanto.

The name is derived from the French words piquant (spicy) and the Italian word canto (song). True enough, the launch at Istanbul was spiced up with excitement as brazen Turkish drivers tried to spoil the fun of a mini city car on a highway romp on the Trans European Motorway (TEMS), but in the end the motoring press was singing high praises for the cute, but highly refined and formidable city car, boasting class, options and a driving feel all grown-up but without having lost the spunk of a small, fun and highly maneuverable A-class hatchback.

KIA’s tagline for the Picanto, Small Car Grown Up, indeed does the new car justice. While designed primarily for in-city commuting, the KIA’s spaciousness, ease of use and comfort, coupled with a very fuel-efficient yet very responsive engine makes for a winning solution motoring in overcrowded city centers.

BOYING Soriano, marketing head of Columbian Autocars, beside the new Picanto.

The interior is roomy both fore and aft, the rear luggage space making the compromise for decent space in the back. The rear seats fold flat to the floor, transforming the Picanto into a surprisingly cavernous vehicle for hauling large and bulky objects, fitting two balikbayan boxes easily. The 60:40 split bias allows for versatility in carrying cargo and other people on board.

The driving position is excellent, even tall drivers will not have a hard time getting in and out and the well-made two-spoke steering wheel resembles popular aftermarket sport and race steering wheels, featuring tilt adjustment and in certain variants, auxiliary controls for the audio system. Upscale variants get a dashboard integrated audio-system, whereas basic variants receive a traditional 1DIN CD-tuner system, with both promising iPOD/MP3 device integration via auxiliary input or through USB connectivity.

The engine is an all-new powerplant, a 3-cylinder sub-1.0 liter engine equipped with variable valve-timing and produces 69hp and 9.6kg/m of torque. It might seem a measly amount, but with closely spaced gear ratios, a responsive throttle and crucially, a crash diet that shed between 82 and 84 kilograms from the previous diet, the new Picanto is surprisingly quick on its feet, accelerates with gusto in traffic, and its small size means you can weave through slower moving vehicles with ease. Parking will also be easy no doubt.

The suspension is the familiar Macpherson strut front suspension and a coupled twist/torsion-beam rear axle and rides on 14’ wheels measuring a diminutive but surprisingly grippy 185/60R14, semi low-profile all-season tires.

THE WELL-MADE 2-spoke steering wheel resembles popular aftermarket sport and race steering wheels.

All variants come with front-wheel disc brakes and electric or MDPS power steering, with certain upscale variants getting rear disc brakes in lieu of the standard drum brake arrangement at the back.

Having previously driven the Picanto on the Third World in-city rods of Laos and was impressed by excellent body control even at moderately high speeds, I was curious to find out of the Picanto had the brains (and more importantly the brawn) to drive freely on the famed Trans European Motorway, which bisects Istanbul as it leads to Lisbon, Portugal, covering 5,700 kilometers and 10 countries. While we were only going to sample roughly 160 kilometers of that, it was enough to highlight that the Picanto had the bare minimum of power to sustain speeds of between 120 and 130km/h while still delivering a highly impressive 14-16 kilometers per liter fuel consumption.

More sedate driving speeds will probably average closer to 20km/liter as our test-drive schedule included overtaking trucks and lorries and crazy MPV drivers throughout the highway and getting back in time for our departure. In-city commuting means the lightweight gives the Picanto the ability to leapfrog ahead of bigger and heavier vehicles, giving it the hole-shot to win most stoplight Grand Prix races.

On twisty mountainous roads, the engine and transmission are willing sparring partners as one explores the limits of the diminutive tires and the capabilities of a lightweight chassis combined with a modestly endowed engine; you forget the car’s overall lack of power and grip and instead find a small car faithful to your hands and feet as it tries its best to tackle switchbacks, sweepers, hairpins and the odd, off-camber, decreasing radius bends.

A quick jab of the handbrake helps the Picanto get its tail step out ever so slightly to kill some understeer; floor the throttle and the rear steps back in.

The most amazing dynamic aspect is the suspension, offering European-car levels of refinement, matched with sportily firm feel that gives tremendous feedback and accuracy, in a market segment that is ultimately more concerned with fuel economy, purchase price and maintenance costs. The Picanto delivers on all fronts.

There will be a 5-speed manual transmission available as well as a gated 4-speed automatic transmission. A high-equipment level Picanto featuring six airbags, hill-start assist, 4-wheel disc ABS brakes, sliding glass moon-roof, height adjustable driver’s seat, keyless go/engine-start button and an engine START/STOP feature in traffic for greater fuel economy will be sold in other markets, but it is unclear at this point if such a variant will ever reach our shores.

With prices starting right around P550,000, KIA has a new city car champion in their stable, available now at all KIA dealerships nationwide.