Kia Picanto 1.0 T-GDi GT-Line review @ MotorBar

“You don’t have to spend £250,000
to own a car that stands out from
the crowd — so cancel that McLaren,
save £235,000, and buy yourself a
Picanto T-GDi GT-Line...”

KIA'S LATEST CITY-SIZED Picanto turns heads. Oh yes. And not just those sitting on twenty-something petrolhead necks; style-conscious buyers of all kinds and ages are potentially in the Picanto's crosshairs. With its purposeful looking body this little hottie does more than just flash some high-voltage kerb appeal. Get behind its wheel and you'll quickly find out this is no trick or treater — packing a pleasing punch and plastering a big smile on your face are both part of the deal.

The sporty looks are reinforced by the GT-Line's planted stance and bespoke 16-inch alloy wheels that make a good fist of filling the flat-cut wheel arches. The nose treatment is not quite spit-in-your-eye aggressive but it's definitely got some attitude thanks to a narrow 'tiger nose' top grille, deep, flared lower grille, and front 'air curtain' side grilles that are not just cosmetic — they really do channel turbulent air away from the wheels and improve aerodynamics.

“The cabin is smart and
sporty with red
bolstering and subtle red
highlights. Headroom
is in very good supply
and the supportive seats,
that keep you located
and very comfortable on
both long and short
trips, are finished in faux
red and black leather —
it feels just like the real
thing but means
you can carry vegetarian
and vegan passengers
with no issues...”

Adding extra definition are bi-function projection headlights, LED daytime running lights, and red highlights to the grille and side sills. Prominent C-shaped LED tail lamps and a rear diffuser with twin chromed exhaust tailpipe tips make the GT-Line just as racy when viewed from behind.

Inside, the cabin is smart and matchingly sporty with red bolstering and subtle red highlights including detail stitching and accents on the high-gloss black outer armrests. Headroom is in very good supply and the supportive seats, that keep you located and very comfortable on both long and short trips, are finished in faux red and black leather — it feels like the real thing but means you can carry vegetarian and vegan passengers with no issues!

The neatly configured dash boasts a large 7-inch 'free standing' central touchscreen with crisp graphics; it's also mounted high so it's very easy to read on the go. From behind the good-to-grip flat-bottomed wheel (nice thumb cut-outs and perforated work areas) there's an excellent view of the road over the short bonnet. Slim screen pillars combined with large side windows and a fine driving position ensure this 'hot' Picanto is a doddle to place with pinpoint accuracy. Even the views through the dark-tinted tailgate screen are unrestricted plus there's a rear wash/wipe for dirty weather.

The instrument panel is filled by two trad-style dials with a smaller gauge (for coolant temperature and fuel) inset in each; all feature white-on-black markings that are perfectly legible day and night. Set between them is a multi-configurable trip display that shows all the crucial information you'll need and which can be scrolled through using the appropriate button on the steering wheel.

Comms include the all-important Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with voice control. The infotainment touchscreen works a treat but if you want integrated navigation you'll need to go one step higher up the trim ladder to the range-topping GT-Line S which adds SatNav and other goodies such as wireless smartphone charging and keyless start. The penultimate GT-Line also provides Bluetooth with music streaming, DAB radio, ample USB ports, a reversing camera with dynamic guidelines, and rear parking sensors.

The efficient AirCon makes use of straightforward manual controls that, unlike some touchscreen-only systems, can be easily adjusted on the fly without taking your eyes away from the road. Overall, the cabin's likeably upscale ambiance is underscored by decent fit and finish.

“Handling-wise prepare
to be surprised — you
might think that the city-
friendly Picanto is just
that and nothing more.
If so you’d be wrong.
Very wrong. Grab the
leather-rimmed three-
spoker and let rip and
you’ll discover that
beneath the five-door
bodyshell lurks a
particularly well fettled
chassis and powertrain.
Riding an all-new
chassis with an upgraded
suspension and a faster
steering rack, along with
torque vectoring to
further aid cornering
stability, these third
generation Picanto
models — and
specifically the sporty
GT-Line — are ready and
able to rumble...”

And while at heart it's a city car you don't go short on storage space: bottle-holding front door bins, a centre armrest with storage space underneath the 'lid', and a deep and spacious tray in the centre console at the base of the centre stack with nifty retractable cupholders that fold away at the touch of a finger, and a usable glovebox; should you wish you can use the well in the driver's door pull as a handy coinbox!

The amount of kit that's standard-fit on this GT-Line Picanto is impressive for a car at this price level and, in addition to all that's already been mentioned, there's also tinted glass with privacy glass to the rear windows and tailgate, aluminium pedal set, on-demand powerfolding and heated door mirrors, power windows (driver's one-shot op), automatic drive-off door locking, auto lights, and rain-sensing wipers.

You also get plenty of essential safety systems including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian recognition and autonomous braking (maximum stopping down to a dead stop between 5mph and 50mph plus partial braking with a driver alert at up to 107mph), Electronic Stability Control and Vehicle Stability Management, six airbags, a side impact protection system, height-adjustable front seatbelts, tyre pressure monitoring, and Hill-start Assist.

The Picanto packs a lot into its 3.6-metre footprint: the back doors, like the fronts, open to 90-degrees for easy entry and invite you in to a welcoming rear cabin. An almost flat floor and three seatbelts boost practicality in the class-leading space, that offers better leg and headroom than all of its other A-segment rivals. The rear backrests are reclined at a relaxing 27-degree angle to keep it all nicely comfy, and the deep side windows ensure interesting views out for adults and youngsters alike. Isofix child seat fixtures are fitted and childproof safety door locks add extra peace of mind.

Hot hatches usually mean short wheelbases which, allied to sporty handling, beget a firm ride. Happily, this sportiest GT-Line is not so stiff as to spoil the ride. It no doubt helps that while some carmakers might have been tempted to go über low with the rubber, Kia have sensibly fitted 45-profile side-walled tyres to the 16-inch 195-section alloys. Add in the composed handling and reassuring stability at high speed and your passengers will enjoy a ride as good as a supermini from the next class up.

Handling-wise prepare to be surprised — you might think that the city-friendly Picanto is just that and nothing more. If so you'd be wrong. Very wrong. Grab that leather-rimmed three-spoker and let rip and you'll discover that beneath the five-door bodyshell lurks a particularly well fettled chassis and powertrain. Riding an all-new chassis with an upgraded suspension set-up, including a faster steering rack, and with a body that's 32 per cent stiffer torsionally (and 23kg lighter) along with torque vectoring to further aid cornering stability, these third generation Picanto models — and specifically the sporty GT-Line — are ready and able to rumble.

The direct and well-weighted steering provides effective feedback and helped by one of the best turning circles in its class, placing the Picanto accurately at speed along twisty back roads and fast B-roads is a breeze.

“Undeniably an eager-
beaver, its sub-ten-
second nought-to-sixty
time is what you’d expect
from a more potent go-
faster supermini in the
class above; in a city
car, it’s as rare as hen’s
teeth. Given its poke,
the GT-Line’s economy is
impressive: officially the
combined cycle figure is
48.7mpg but even though
we indulged its passion,
bombing around everywhere, we still
recorded an average of
44.6mpg during our week
behind the wheel.
Lighter right-feet than
ours could easily take
that into ‘fifty’ territory...”

Helping you maintain your chosen line is sure-footed grip and nicely 'tied-down' driving dynamics that virtually eliminate body roll around the corners so there's fun to be had chucking it about — not least because the GT-Line feels agile and composed and you absolutely don't need to be a seasoned Trackie to get the best out of it. The brakes are discs at each corner and it shows: strong retardation pulls the car down from speed without drama, and in heavy traffic a light foot is all it takes to bring it to a smooth stop.

The 998cc three-pot installed in the GT-Line's engine bay is a turbocharged direct injection petrol-drinker — and is the most powerful ever in a Picanto, pumping out a gutsy 99bhp strongly backed-up by a healthy 126lb ft of torque that's on tap continuously from 1,500 all the way to 4,000rpm. It will accelerate to 60mph in just 9.8 seconds; keep the pedal to the metal and it will run on to 112mph.

The T-GDi (Turbocharged Gasoline Direct Injection) unit features a number of innovative technical solutions intended to minimise throttle lag (the delay between pressing the accelerator and the turbo delivering boost) and improve low-speed response and driveability as well as serve up plenty of torque across a wide section of the rev-band. This it does, coming on very strongly and providing all the oomph you need for overtakes. It's also, and noticeably so, as well mannered as can be riding around town.

An eager-beaver, its sub-ten-second nought-to-sixty time is what you'd expect of a more potent go-faster supermini from the class above; in a city car, it's as rare as hen's teeth. Adding to the enjoyment — whether you're pootling or pressing on — is a quick clutch and the precise gearchange action on the five-speed manual 'box. Despite the acceleration being happy-zappy, the 998cc powerplant is never noisy although work it hard and you'll hear its signature three-pot 'warble' — no hardship!

Given its poke, the GT-Line's economy is more than good: officially, the combined cycle figure is 48.7mpg but even though we indulged its passion, bombing around everywhere on a regular basis, we still recorded an average of 44.6mpg during our week behind the wheel. Lighter right-feet than ours could easily take that into 'fifty' territory.

The Picanto's boot swallows a useful — and, incidentally, best-in-class — 255 litres of luggage. And it gets substantially better when the rear seats are passenger-free: fold the 60:40-split rear backrests down flat and you'll find yourself with a rather voluminous 1,010 litres that's easily accessed through the wide tailgate opening. If you want more loadspace practicality the GT-Line S comes with a two-level boot floor.

For city pootling and commuting the Picanto is the perfect choice. The real surprise is just how polished it is tackling motorways and long weekender trips — and tackling them with a competence few other small cars can manage. Fun to fling around when you're in the mood, the GT-Line also comes with the best warranty in the business: seven years/100,000 miles — all transferable to the next owner. Not that that matters too much because you sure won't be in any hurry to part with this little hottie! ~ MotorBar

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