2018 Kia Picanto GT-Line review
- 6 years ago
2018 Kia Picanto GT-Line review
The only option available for local versions of the GT-Line is premium paint, limited to Aurora Black, Titanium Silver, and the Signal Red you see here, each asking for $520 extra. As tested, our Signal Red GT-Line is priced at $17,810 plus on-roads or $18,010 drive-away.
Despite the standard inclusion of AEB, the Picanto wears a 2017-stamped four-star ANCAP safety rating. According to the independent crash-testing body, the little Kia only managed average scores in the areas of child occupant protection and pedestrian protection.
What hasn't changed is what sits under the bonnet – a 62kW/122Nm 1.25-litre four-cylinder 'Kappa' petrol engine mated exclusively to a four-speed automatic in GT-Line trim. Peak power comes in at 6200rpm, while maximum torque is available at 4000rpm.
While those outputs seem rather meagre in an era when turbocharging gives small-capacity engines similar outputs to naturally aspirated units twice their displacement, the Picanto performs adequately in the urban jungle – where it will spend almost all of its time.
It has no issues getting up to city speeds at a decent pace, and the four-speed auto generally shifts smoothly and intuitively considering the limited ratios.
The little 1.25-litre motor is also generally refined, even when you're pushing it, not sounding too thrashy under load. It probably helps that the Picanto GT-Line claims a tare weight of 995kg, meaning there's not a whole lot of heft for the little engine to shift.
While it's adequate 90 per cent of the time, you can be left wanting for more when accelerating up to freeway speeds. Getting to 100km/h, for example, can feel like an eternity, and to get there you have to push your foot further to the floor, so it can be a little noisy.
The only option available for local versions of the GT-Line is premium paint, limited to Aurora Black, Titanium Silver, and the Signal Red you see here, each asking for $520 extra. As tested, our Signal Red GT-Line is priced at $17,810 plus on-roads or $18,010 drive-away.
Despite the standard inclusion of AEB, the Picanto wears a 2017-stamped four-star ANCAP safety rating. According to the independent crash-testing body, the little Kia only managed average scores in the areas of child occupant protection and pedestrian protection.
What hasn't changed is what sits under the bonnet – a 62kW/122Nm 1.25-litre four-cylinder 'Kappa' petrol engine mated exclusively to a four-speed automatic in GT-Line trim. Peak power comes in at 6200rpm, while maximum torque is available at 4000rpm.
While those outputs seem rather meagre in an era when turbocharging gives small-capacity engines similar outputs to naturally aspirated units twice their displacement, the Picanto performs adequately in the urban jungle – where it will spend almost all of its time.
It has no issues getting up to city speeds at a decent pace, and the four-speed auto generally shifts smoothly and intuitively considering the limited ratios.
The little 1.25-litre motor is also generally refined, even when you're pushing it, not sounding too thrashy under load. It probably helps that the Picanto GT-Line claims a tare weight of 995kg, meaning there's not a whole lot of heft for the little engine to shift.
While it's adequate 90 per cent of the time, you can be left wanting for more when accelerating up to freeway speeds. Getting to 100km/h, for example, can feel like an eternity, and to get there you have to push your foot further to the floor, so it can be a little noisy.