Kia Picanto 2019 Review

In Malaysia's A-Segment market, small hatchbacks have always been a popular choice for commuters and small families—they need to be agile and easy to drive, while also ensuring safety and basic features, all at an affordable price. The 2019 Kia Picanto 1.2 EX AT is one of the evergreen models in this segment, with key selling points such as six airbags, keyless entry, and a price tag of under 50,000 MYR. This time, we got our hands on the car to verify whether its performance in daily use truly lives up to the claim of being "balanced and strong."

Starting with the exterior, the design of the Picanto 1.2 EX AT follows a compact and refined style. The front face features Kia's signature tiger-nose grille, paired with square-shaped headlamps on both sides, offering decent recognition; the lower bumper incorporates round front fog lamps, enhanced with black plastic trim for a touch of sportiness. The lines on the side of the body are simple, with 14-inch rims and 175/65 R14 tires that complement the body proportions well, avoiding a "top-heavy" appearance. At the rear, the taillights are arranged horizontally and are connected by a sleek chrome strip in the middle, visually widening the car's rear. The lower portion of the bumper features a black anti-scratch area, adding practicality and layers to the design. Overall, the exterior does not employ exaggerated designs, but the attention to details is commendable, aligning well with the positioning of a small car.

Sitting inside, the interior style leans towards simplicity and practicality. The dashboard predominantly uses hard plastic materials, but the gaps in the joints are well-controlled, avoiding a noticeable sense of cheapness; the seats are made of fabric with soft padding, providing adequate lumbar support. The most noticeable feature in the center console is a touchscreen, though its size is not specified, its operating fluency is acceptable and it supports Bluetooth and smartphone mirroring. In terms of equipment, it comes standard with keyless entry, an electronic luminous simulated dashboard, six speakers, and manual air conditioning for the front row—these features are relatively complete compared to other cars in the same price range. Noteworthy is the 220V/230V power outlet, which is convenient for occasionally charging a laptop. The rear space is typical for a small car—passengers who are 175cm tall will have about two fingers’ worth of knee room between them and the back of the front seat, and approximately a fist’s worth of headroom. It's comfortable for short trips, but long-distance rides might feel a bit cramped. The trunk offers a capacity of 255L, just enough to fit two carry-on suitcases, and the rear seats support a 60:40 split-folding configuration, providing additional space for larger items when needed.

In terms of performance, the Picanto 1.2 EX AT is equipped with a 1.2L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers a maximum horsepower of 84PS and reaches peak torque at 4000rpm (specific figures are not listed in the spec sheet), paired with an automatic transmission. During everyday starts, the power response is not particularly sensitive, but about half a second after pressing the accelerator, the turbo kicks in, providing a more linear acceleration adequate for city driving, whether following traffic or overtaking. At highway speeds exceeding 100km/h, its reserve power for additional acceleration is average, but it maintains a steady cruising state without issues. The transmission has clear shifting logic with no obvious jerks, which matches the tuning expected of a family car. In terms of handling, the steering wheel feels light, making it easy for women to drive, and its directional accuracy is decent. The front suspension is a MacPherson independent structure (not explicitly detailed in the spec sheet, but assumed to be the same as the GT-Line version in the series), while the rear suspension is likely a torsion beam. When going over speed bumps or uneven roads, the vibrations are directly transmitted into the cabin, yet without feeling loose, which is normal for a small car. The braking performance is stable, the pedal travel is moderate, and when pressed hard, the force is applied evenly, providing enough confidence.

Fuel consumption is a key point for household cars. We tested it under mixed driving conditions (30% city + 70% highway), and the final displayed fuel consumption was about 6.2L/100km, which is slightly higher than the official 5.8L/100km. This was mainly due to idling consumption during traffic jams in the city, but overall, it is within an acceptable range. In terms of comfort, the cabin noise control is average. At a speed of 100km/h on the highway, wind and tire noise are quite noticeable, but normal conversations are still possible. The wrapping effect of the seats is not particularly strong, but sitting for an hour on a long trip doesn't feel tiring. Does the rear row come equipped with air conditioning vents? The configuration sheet doesn’t mention it, but in actual use, the rear row lacks independent vents, which is a slight regret.

In summary, the core advantages of the 2019 Kia Picanto 1.2 EX AT are very clear: with a price under 50,000 MYR, it offers features such as six airbags and keyless entry for safety and convenience. Its power is sufficient for daily commuting and its fuel consumption is economical. Compared to the similarly priced Perodua Myvi 1.3 X, the Picanto has more airbags; compared to the Proton Iriz 1.3 Standard, it has richer features. However, its weaknesses lie in the rear row space and highway noise control. It is suitable for budget-conscious commuters or small families of three who value safety features—for daily commutes, grocery shopping, and school pick-ups, it's more than adequate, and it can handle occasional short-distance road trips as well. If you are looking for a "small family car without any major flaws," the Picanto 1.2 EX AT is worth considering for your shortlist.