5 features that make the Kia Picanto an ideal first car

The Kia Picanto has been in the Philippine automotive market since 2004. With three generations under its belt, the small South Korean hatchback has proven itself to be a popular choice amongst the car-buying public. With an already solid following in the Philippines, we tackle the five things that we like about the Kia Picanto that make it a worthwhile purchase whether you’re a veteran or a first-time buyer. 

Smartphones have slowly proven to be a crucial part of our daily lives. These smart gadgets keep us connected with our work, social, media, and even with navigation. So why not take that functionality with you in your car? You don’t have to worry as the Kia Picanto 1.2 EX has got you covered as its 7-inch head unit comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capabilities as standard. This will let you mirror certain functions on your smartphone as well as use your favorite navigation application with ease. It even comes with your smartphone’s built-in A.I assistant such as Google Assistant, Siri, and Bixby so you can easily manage your notifications without taking your eyes off the road.

Want a car that will give you the most bang for your buck when it comes to fuel? The Kia Picanto has got you covered. Whether you get the small hatchback with a 1.0-liter or a 1.2-liter engine it will be sure to return excellent fuel economy figures. With our testing the Kia Picanto 1.2 EX AT was able to deliver 10-12 km/L in the city and 25 km/L on the highway with an average speed of 90 kph/h. If you want a frugal city hatchback that you can take out of town then the Kia Picanto should be on your vehicle shortlist. Also consider that we tested the bigger engine of the two, so that’s a statement even with the traditional 4-speed automatic that the top of the line model comes with. 

For its entry-level price point, the Kia Picanto has many surprises up its sleeve, and having a comfortable ride is one of them. The small Korean hatchback comes with stellar noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) damping that will surely make your ride not only quiet but comfortable as well. The Kia Picanto was designed as a global model and as such has been tuned for a more refined ride especially for the European and American markets it is sold in. If you are looking for a solid comfortable and easy riding hatchback that doesn't break the bank then look no further than the Kia Picanto. As Caco states, you might be one good tire change away from silent bliss. 

Thanks to a short wheelbase, the Kia Picanto is very easy to drive.  The Korean hatchback is easy to get used to with great visibility all around. It also presents itself as an ideal vehicle for new drivers as adjusting to its dimensions happens naturally and easily. If you want to give it the beans, the light and sharp steering feel will give you a great response as to how the vehicle is handling. It grants you quick and precise inputs while the behaved chassis allows you to cruise on the highway or rollover potholes with ease. 

You might be thinking space in a small hatchback? Don’t worry the Kia Picanto has more than enough of it to spare. With the second row up you get 200-liters worth of it which is good for a vehicle of its size. If you fold the rear seats, however, that 200-liters quadruples and expands to 850-liters worth of space, more than enough to fit in a balikbayan box in and then some.

With such a feature pack car in such a small form factor, the Kia Picanto presents itself as not only an easy car to drive but also one that is useful for your day to day needs. If you want to get your hands on the Kia Picanto 1.2 EX AT as soon as possible we highly recommend that you use our Buy Online feature to make your buying process much easier.