Test Drive: The Kia Picanto

While I’m at this child-free junction of my life it makes sense to keep my vehicle super-downsized, in an attempt to balance out my future carbon footprint when I’m forced to buy a massive wagon to lug the kids around in (that’s the very distant future, methinks!).

 

But how small would I go? In the interests of testing my less is more theory I decided to try out the super tiny Kia Picanto. This cute wee vehicle is so petite it almost looks like a little toy car!

 

The Car: I was driving the automatic model, which features a 1.1L engine. This means it’s not the gruntiest ride, but given it uses 5.8L fuel per 100km, it sure is fuel efficient! After over a week of solid driving, which included daily trips to work (about 40 km return) and a mission up to Orewa, which is just north of Auckland, I still had half a tank of gas left. In terms of looks, the car is very cute, although I would avoid the yellow coloured one, unless you wanted to look like a bumblebee!

Driving: As I mentioned earlier, this is not a car for speedsters, but if your driving is confined to the city limits then it’s great for blatting around in - plus your chances of scoring an expensive speeding fine are heavily reduced, it just ain’t going to happen!
 

The Bells & Whistles: It’s the little extras I appreciate and this car is very well thought out. It has a connector for an iPod, so you can just plug it in and go. The stereo is awesome to use (I loved that when tuned to ZM it told me the name of the artist and the song that was playing - too cool!). The cup holders are perfectly sized and one is big enough for a water bottle, which is essential. There’s a shelf above the glove box which is great for stashing essentials and a good place for your handbag if it’s not too bulky.

 

Parking: This puppy practically parallel parks itself and no space is too small for it to squeeze into. I managed to get into a tight spot on Ponsonby Road in a matter of seconds (no easy feat with the traffic whizzing past!). I also like that it only beeps once when you put it in reverse (my car drives me crazy with it’s constant beeping!) and that it has reverse sensors so it lets you know if you’re getting too close to the car behind.

 

Space: I only just managed to fit a week’s worth of groceries into the boot (my partner and I do like to eat a lot though!). While the car is very small, the fact that it’s a four door rather than a hatch, ensures there’s still enough space for your stuff as it’s easy to use the back seat. Also, despite the tiny size, because the driver’s seat sits quite high, you also don’t feel too insignificant on the road (until you go past a really big truck, which you're sure could just run over you and not even notice!).

 

The Downsides: You’re not going to get hit on in this car, even if you pull up to the traffic lights with all the windows down and a sign saying ‘I’m available’ taped to windscreen. On the plus side, if you’re coupled up, you’re not going to have to worry about your man “borrowing” your car - so no mucking around getting your seat back in the right place!

 

The Price: From $16,990.00 for the manual - a damn good price for a brand new car (complete with that lovely new car smell!)

 

The Verdict: If you’re looking for a city car to get you from A to B without costing you a fortune in gas, this is the vehicle for you! Plus the price makes it a super attractive deal.