KIA Picanto / Morning


Debut: 2017
Maker: KIA
Predecessor: Picanto / Morning (2011)



 Published on 30 Sep 2021
All rights reserved. 


Smart to look and nice to handle, the Picanto may remain competitive for many years to come...


Not a new car anymore. The current Picanto has been on sale in Korea since 2017, where it is called "Morning", and the rest of the world from 2018. However, it still looks fresh today, thanks to smart design outside and inside. The car is not remarkably different from the last generation. In fact, it keeps exactly the same footprint of 3.6m x 1.6m, although wheelbase is stretched by 15mm to 2400mm. That makes it one of the smallest cars on the market and noticeably smaller than its Hyundai i10 cousin.

Predictably, at this price level the cabin is full of hard plastics, but the dashboard is textured such that it doesn’t feel cheap. Fit and finish are good, delivering a solid feel. Space up front is excellent, while rear legroom is limited by the shorter wheelbase.

The Picanto offers 2 engines. Most will opt for the cheaper 1.0-liter three-cylinder with only 67 horsepower. It is slightly less powerful than the similar Volkswagen Up, so performance is underwhelming. You need to work the engine hard in overtaking or uphill, which makes a lot of noise and vibration. Likewise, the light body lacks the sound insulation or NVH suppression of the new Hyundai i10, thus cruising on highway is quite noisy.

Refinement and performance can be improved significantly by upgrading to the 1.0T-GDI engine, whose turbocharging produces 100 horsepower and a lot more mid-range torque, lessen the need to rev the motor. 0-60 mph drops from over 13 seconds to 9.5. However, the turbocharged engine is available to top trim only, so it is too expensive for most buyers of this kind of city cars. You may get a basic B-segment supermini with less money, or even a well-equipped Dacia Sandero.



Solid build quality compromised by typical small-car NVH levels.


The 5-speed manual gearbox offers crisped and close-ratio gearshift. Avoid the optional 5-speed automated manual box, as it is painfully slow to make each gearshift.

It goes without saying such a compact car feels at home in city, being nimble, easy to park and to slip into congested streets. What’s surprising is it is also quite good to handle on more demanding roads. Its suspension setup is stiffer than i10 and most others, so it has body roll very well contained. Despite the short wheelbase, it feels stable on highway. The steering feels direct and accurate. On an undulating country road, it doesn’t bounce like some softer sprung rivals, though the ride does feel stiffer and more fidget over irregularities.

The good news to Kia is, owing to stricter legislation on safety and emission hence surging costs, European manufacturers no longer build new A-segment city cars, leaving the Picanto, Hyundai i10, Toyota Aygo and probably a couple of Suzukis on the market in a couple of years’ time. Being a world car, the Picanto can absorb the extra costs more easily. As standard-setting rivals like Fiat Panda and Volkswagen Up are cruising to retirement, expect the progress of A-segment city cars will slow down, and the current Picanto may hang on for a few more years yet remain competitive.
Verdict:
Specifications





Year
Layout
Chassis
Body
Length / width / height
Wheelbase
Engine
Capacity
Valve gears
Induction
Other engine features
Max power
Max torque
Transmission
Suspension layout
Suspension features
Tires
Kerb weight
Top speed
0-60 mph (sec)
0-100 mph (sec)
Picanto 1.0
2017
Front-engined, FWD
Steel monocoque
Mainly steel
3595 / 1595 / 1485 mm
2400 mm
Inline-3
998 cc
DOHC 12 valves, DVVT
-
-
67 hp
71 lbft
5-speed manual
F: strut; R: torsion-beam
-
175/65R14
878 kg
100 mph (c)
13.5 (est)
-
Picanto 1.0T-GDI
2017
Front-engined, FWD
Steel monocoque
Mainly steel
3595 / 1595 / 1485 mm
2400 mm
Inline-3
998 cc
DOHC 12 valves, DVVT
Turbo
DI
100 hp
127 lbft
5-speed manual
F: strut; R: torsion-beam
-
185/55R15
945 kg
112 mph (c)
9.5 (c)
-


























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