New Look Picanto

[flingo]

OK. So the new Look Picanto has arrived. I would be really interested in comments from anyone who has driven/observed both older and new models. Are the new models a lot improved? What about technical stuff? Are they any quicker, economical on fuel, safer? Saw one the other day. It seemed only slightly different from the outside. What about inside? No brochure descriptions please! Oh, and can you access the bulbs easier with the new headlamps?

[mau_kenshin]

its been in our market since January already and it is quite good especially the sport edition which is not available in our local market. But I get alot of complains about the engine... I really don't understand why lots of people want a bigger engine for a economy car like picanto. Why not shift to suzuki swift, channa benny, chery QQ, Honda Jazz, Chev AVeo, Hyundai Getz 1.6, or a Toyota Yaris if they want to go faster and burn fuel faster too. It is intended to have a 1,100 displacement so that it would maintain the affordability and economy profile. If by 2009 a picanto would be built with a 1.6 L engine? I bet the price would reach between Php 600,000 upto 800,000 (US$ 14,300 - US$ 19,000). Thats alot for a economy basic subcompact hatch.

[flingo]

Interesting what you said about the engine size in the new picanto. i would have thought that KIA might wish to aim for more fuel efficient engines with the price of oil climbing so fast. There are a lot of small cars out there with considerably better fuel consumption figures that the picanto. (Even if KIA's claimed performance figures were true!). Some of the European hot hatches such as the Citroen C1 and the Peugeot 106 have smaller petrol engines with vastly better fuel consumption and are faster! I know the diesel powered picantos deliver good figures but KIA will need to push even harder if they are going to be competitive in the future. I agree with you about the price tag. If the price goes up then it wont be any different from the other cars out there.

[whitecutie]

hi flingo, are u talking about the round head light new picanto? i am driving. Don't really know much about car, i think the new design look smarter then the previous version.