Test drive Kia Picanto 2004 - 2007 hatchback

All photos Kia Picanto 2004 - 2007

A spicy city dweller

Kia Picanto

First presented in Frankfurt in September 2003.
It is produced with one type of body (five -door hatchback) and two gasoline engines: 1 liter, 46 kW/63 liters. With. and 1.1 l, 48 kW/65 l. With. The gearbox is a five -speed mechanical or four -speed automatic (the latter only for a version of 1.1 l).
Two basic LS and GS configurations are provided, which differ in the level of equipment. The price range is from 9800 to 12 650. e.

Compact, all so rounded, frank, with now fashionable facial features, Kia Pikanto, even with all our Russian neglect of kids, looks very attractive. And what? In his arsenal, the range of youth colors and shades, variations of two motors, gearboxes and, of course, additional equipment. In a word, you immediately feel that the novelty is seriously aimed not only at our penalties, but also to Europe spoiled by choosing.
In the first approximation

At first, Kia Pikanto you evaluate as a close classmate of a very popular matise we have. Undoubtedly, this is so, but we will not forget that new models are born, including in order to take into account the shortcomings of competitors, to become better, more attractive. Here, here, at first, in search of, so to speak, the minimum differences, you suddenly note that as you meet a machine, the programmed similarity melts right before our eyes.
Pikanto’s salon is wider and more spacious, the interior is more serious and richer. And although inexpensive plastic prevails in it, it looks even presentable. It seems that the creators of the car seriously worked on internal content tried to give him primarily solidity. This cannot be felt in the contours of the front panel with large scale of the device combination, as, indeed, in the control of auxiliary equipment control, and even in the symbols of the ventilation system handles.
The driver's seat has to get at the workplace without any discounts on the size of the car thanks to the range of longitudinal adjustment, which is adultly pushing you off from the steering wheel and pedals. There is no need to talk about an excess of free space (except above your head), but it is rationally organized: the passenger sitting on the right does not propagate you with his shoulder, and everything else does not cause a feeling of clamping. Alas, the back is much closer
Brought to the machine

Wow, and the insidious is a combination: a liter engine and automatic transmission. At first, you even wonder that all this is generally going and even switching itself. Of course, the acceleration of the car is so -so, modest, but the left leg, know yourself misses yourself. But now you have already felt a car, you can be dared to experiment.
The Pikanto motor growled, rustled, remembering his sixty-sided strength, and the box responded quite quickly, finding the right gear, and you, and you slowly merged with a smoothly dispersing stream, not standing out on its variegated background. At first, it seems that he was not short-lived, shortcoming, especially since the accelerator loads the right leg with an unexpectedly great effort. Then you suddenly understand this, you are unlikely to get more from the car, at least at a dilated city pace.
But this is what the roads become freer, the more cheerful the car. It turns out that the engine loves momentum, and when the tachometer arrow exceeds 3.54 thousand, everything falls into place. Pikanto acquires mobility and begins to move not only by the principle of turning on-off, but also vividly respond to the movements of the accelerator. On the highway 130140 km/h for the baby is not the limit, at least over the speedometer. At the same time, however, he is frankly noisy: you hear both the engine and tires that are violently responding to the change in the coating.

Suspension settings are also ambiguous. Having barely tried them in the case, you immediately run to check the air pressure in the tires so hard and noisy the car reacts to small irregularities. However, there is no thin one without good. Being frankly shaking, Pikanto at the same time copes well with most serious pits and pardon. It seems that everything, missed, now a characteristic blow will be heard, ending with a bent wheel disc. But no, the car shakes, of course, pretty much, but he withstands a blow with dignity, and most importantly without consequences.
The controllability of the Korean is averaged in most situations. Clear responses of the car here are backed up with good feedback of steering, its speed. Of the awaiting surprises, I will note only the early slipping of tires, starting hysterically in completely harmless turns. The car just obviously obeyed the steering wheel, and suddenly the loaded front wheel seemed to tremble, and it swam out the turn, not even tilted properly. Of course, you can adapt, but at first it is better not to overestimate the maximum capabilities of Pikanto, at least on the tires of 155/70R13.
What is the end?
In the European market, Kia Pikanto is positioned, first of all, like a youth car. In our country, the fate of the ladies' vehicle is likely to expect him. Not at all cheap, but convenient, compact, maneuverable and well equipped with all the benefits of civilization.