As fuel prices soar through the roof, fuel efficiency continues to become a priority for car buyers.
One vehicle that sells itself as a master of this craft is the Kia Picanto. One of the Picanto’s key selling points is its 4.9l/100km average fuel efficiency. It is worth noting that our Datsun GO achieves similar figures despite having a 1.2l engine. The Picanto’s baseline model comes with a 1.0l engine, although with more expensive models there is also a 1.2l offering.
The 1.0l engine is also lauded by Kia for its low Carbon Dioxide emissions. The South Korean car manufacturer claims that the Picanto 1.0l emits just 101 C02 g/km, which is a fantastic figure. Our Datsun GO, by comparison, emits a larger 123 g/km, but this is expected given our larger 1.2l vehicle. The Picanto’s 1.2l offering emits 119 g/km, which is incredibly similar to the GO.
The Picanto is designed for the budget-conscious customer who still wants a modern-looking vehicle. Much like the Datsun GO, branding around the Kia Picanto in South Africa is seemingly focused on young adults who may be in the market for their first or second cars.
The price of the vehicle drives more interest from this demographic. Starting at R134 995, the Kia Picanto is very affordable as far as new cars go. The combination of a low purchase price and low fuel costs appear very enticing for the young buyer. However, the Datsun GO starts at R128 900 and is a 1.2l vehicle. In comparison, the 1.2l Picanto starts at R150 995, ensuring that the GO provides better bang for your buck.
Branded by Kia as a zippy town car, the Picanto may not be your best bet if you are planning on embarking on long trips. This, however, goes for most budget hatchbacks.
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