Driven: 2021 Kia Picanto X-Line 

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Driven: 2021 Kia Picanto X-Line 

Many South Africans have found themselves in tough financial positions, meaning that budgeting has become a real thing. Finding fuel-efficient and value-for-money vehicles have become something of an uprise and A-Segment vehicles seem to be thriving off it. Of course, a local favorite among this segment remains the Kia Picanto. It is still a top choice for first-time buyers and continues to steal the show in terms of sales. Earlier this year Kia announced that they would be shaking things up with a new brand identity as well as a new and stylish Picanto X-Line. This past week the team of AutoAdvisor got to spend some time with this latest Picanto X-Line and we are thrilled to know that this is what replaced the then SMART derivative. 

The Picanto X-Line is certainly a looker compared to its siblings. Its size is bulkier than the rest and it looks both wider and higher than the rest of its range. The front gets a redesigned radiator grille which takes inspiration from KIA’s well-known ‘tiger nose’ design. The front bumper is certainly sportier than anything we have seen on the Picanto range before and immediately sets the notion that KIA does aim to reach a more stylish audience. The Picanto X-Line does get modern touches like LED headlights and rear lights making it easier on the eyes. The Picanto X-Line rides on 15-inch alloy wheels and gets offered in a range of vibrant colours.  

Although the Picanto X-Line does offer a sportier stance than your standard Picanto, it does however remain the same in terms of power. A familiar 1.25-litre petrol engine powers the Picanto X-Line offering 61kW of power and 122 Nm of torque. It comes equipped with either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic transmission. The handling on the Picanto X-Line proved to be quite excellent making one feel at ease on the road. Despite its small power output, the Picanto X-Line felt quite nifty at times. Changing gears was as pleasantly smooth, proving that no matter the size, a good transmission always prevails.  

Inside, the Picanto X-Line does provide plenty of space, with the front passenger seats being the most spacious. The interior does get a more modern appeal, with the new 8-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system being the overall highlight. The steering has also gotten a lot bulkier than before and gives a larger-than-life impression making one forget how small the vehicle really is. The seats do offer great support and were quite comfortable. In many ways the Picanto X-Line does offer a range of features that one would find in a B-segment market and finishing touches like its two-tone artificial leather upholstery and optional sunroof are evident of this.  

Verdict 

Overall, the Picanto X-Line proves to be a whole lot of car despite its petite size. But with such a demanding price tag of R237 995, South Africans may not resonate with it as well, as they would with a B-segment vehicle of the same price. In spite of this, there is no denying that this new addition is almost certain to give consumers a whole new impression of what a Picanto can be, even setting the bar a bit higher for A-Segment vehicles. Although one may encounter issues going uphill with it but this isn't enough for you to discredit how good of a car the X-Line is.

Pricing  

KIA Picanto 1.2 Manual X-Line        R237 995  

KIA Picanto 1.2 Automatic X-Line    R251 995  

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