Kia Picanto JA GT-Line Automatic (2018-2026)

Practical, small and cheap to run. Easily one of the best micro-cars you can buy – You’ve just laid your eyes upon the micro-car class leader. There, I said it. You get certain elements of the Picanto that you would expect at a price point of around $20,000. However, Kia doesn’t make you feel bad for spending less on a new car. The GT-Line offers all the luxury appointments to make you feel like you’re stepping into a vehicle… Read more

more luxurious than the price tag suggests. The exterior is tasteful and sporty, featuring red highlights along the grill, side skirts and a rear bumper. It’s not all fake either as there are a pair of functional vents in the front bumper which can aid with smoothing airflow around the up-right front end. The paint, panels and exterior fit and finish are of high quality. Doors close with a decent ‘thunk’ and the door handles feel sturdy instead of ‘tinny’. When you first lay eyes on the interior, the most noticeable features are the colour-matched seats, which showcase red stitching and bolsters to help compliment the sporty exterior. On the downside, there are hard plastics found on the dashboard, doors and around the centre console area. Plus, you can’t avoid the cheap sounding impact noise when the sun-visor slams against the roof. However, it’s worth noting that these materials will withstand scratches and sun-damage a lot more than materials such as leather will. This should provide some peace of mind if you share the car with drivers who may not take the same care as you do when getting in and out of the car, or if you need to leave the Kia outside. The quality of the major touchpoints stand out. The centre screen, shifter, centre armrest, door cards and steering wheel are all pleasant to engage with. There are some creaks and rattles when driving, but these aren’t beyond what you’d most likely encounter in most cars.

It’s a car you can be happy you spent $21,000 on since it feels like a luxury small car in this GT-Line spec. I guarantee you’ll raise eyebrows when you answer the question, “So, how much was this?”

As the sticker placed on the rear window suggests, you get a standard 7-year/Unlimited kilometre warranty with the purchase of the Picanto. Servicing is capped for your first 7 services either every 12 months or 15,000km. This comes to a total of $2,806.00 over 7 years of ownership or 105,000km of driving.

The noise inside the Picanto was surprisingly muted for an economy car fitted with a four-speed gearbox.

Even though the engine was sitting at above 3,000rpm thanks to the lack of additional gears, at highway speeds, the cabin remained relatively muted. This was surprising considering that 3,000rpm in my own car sounds as if it is begging for a gear change.

All four wheels have disc brakes fitted, that means it’s already ranking better than the MG-3 which only has discs at the front. There was no hesitation in the braking ability of the Picanto with just one occupant in the car. This little commuter can pull up to a complete stop quicker than you may expect.

Honestly, the Picanto’s performance isn’t impressive on paper, but when it comes to real world driving, it’s as shocking as being overtaken by a Razor scooter on the highway. We’re working with a 62kW, 122Nm naturally aspirated (non-turbo) petrol four cylinder. Yikes. While you shouldn’t bet on winning drag races in the Picanto, what is interesting is that because of its lightweight, the Picanto carries a power to weight ratio of 61kW/tonne. This actually makes its ratio closer to cars like the Nissan Juke, which have a more powerful and turbo charged motor.

That being said, don’t expect this to remain true with four adults in the car, or when you fully load up the Picanto with luggage and need to tackle an uphill stretch of road.

The Picanto absorbs rough surfaces without upsetting the ride and experience for the vehicle and passengers. I found myself testing the limits of this car's ability to soak up bumps, particularly potholes. I’d aim square for a pothole, and while it was obvious that I’d driven over a hole in the road, it did so in the same manner a far more expensive car would - without fuss and without disturbing the drive. Cornering was as entertaining as spinning a golf cart around the parking lot of a club. Steering was direct and to the point, with the front wheels carrying the car through a corner without wallowing or pitching too aggressively.

Kia claims you’ll receive a combined consumption rate of 5.8L/100km, whereas I achieved a little bit more than that, at around 8L/100km. However, I was predominately driving in the city (with some highway driving in the mix), which means I was a lot closer to the claimed city consumption rate of 7.9L/100km. So, it’s fair to say that it’s pretty on point with fuel consumption.

Apple CarPlay/Android Auto was a welcomed addition in here, but annoyingly, the wireless connection proved to be less than reliable (so I'd simply stick to using a cable to connect my phone to the screen).

The Picanto is a shining gem of ever increasing prices of new cars, as it represents fair and decent value for the price you pay. You get safety equipment, you get a usable infotainment system (when it works), and you get luxury appointments, all packaged in what feels like all the car most people need.

If you’re considering a first, second or replacement car, and live in a major city, place the Picanto at the top of your list when checking out new cars that you can find plenty of parking for, and won’t have you sweating those monthly repayments.

*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.