Kia Picanto v Suzuki Ignis GL comparison review
Value
Kia: The second-generation Picanto is one of the most affordable new cars on sale in Australia at the moment, with an advertised starting price of $14,190 (plus on-roads) when fitted with a five-speed manual transmission. But Kia acknowledges that buyers will pay less than that at the dealer – around $14k driveaway – as it doesn't want to tarnish the rising status of its brand with a cut-price sticker.
Available only in one specification, the Picanto features a fairly basic list of standard equipment including 14-inch wheels with hubcaps, cloth trim, cruise control, auto headlights and air conditioning but it does come with a 7.0-inch colour touchscreen that has Bluetooth and smartphone mirroring, which essentially means it has sat nav
Suzuki: The Ignis costs a little more than the Picanto, with a driveaway price of $16,990 for the entry-level GL we're testing.
Like the Kia, it has only the essentials when it comes to equipment with power windows, air conditioning, cruise control and cloth trim, but it does have larger 15-inch wheels with hubcaps. It also has a 7.0-inch colour touch screen with smartphone mirroring but has a fully-integrated sat nav system that means you're not chewing through mobile phone data while on the move.
Winner: Kia
Inside
Kia: This latest-generation of city cars are no longer bland and boring buzz boxes, nor do they feel as cheap and cheerful as they did in the past. The Kia is a great example of that, with a nicely presented dash that has all the right controls in the right place, good-sized cubby holes for small items and clear and legible instruments.
While the monotone black scheme isn't all that exciting, the overall design is quite modern and the tablet-style touchscreen is right-up to date.
The front seats are fairly flat and the rear bench even moreso, but there's surprisingly a good amount of room in the cabin, even for adults to sit in the back for short distances.
Suzuki: The Ignis takes the style factor to another level. It's cheeky good looks are transferred into the cabin with a splash of colour and a sense of design that is more youthful than the Picanto.
The funky two-tone dash is complemented by coloured inserts around the lower centre console and in the door handles and the oversized speedo in the instrument panel is crowned by a blue halo that looks cool. Similarly, the button-less infotainment system looks more like an iPad than the Picanto's floating tablet and the colour-coded quadrants on its interface make navigating through its function a logical process.
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There's just as much in the back of the Ignis too, and it has a slightly larger boot.
Winner: Suzuki
Engine
Kia: Not everything in the Picanto is all-new, with the 1.2-litre four cylinder engine carried over from its predecessor.
It might be as modern as others in the class, but its 62kW/122Nm outputs are enough to make it feel spritely around town. It will happily cruise at highway speeds too, but you will have to row through its gearbox constantly to ensure it's in the right gear to keep up with traffic on undulating terrain.
The five-speed 'box isn't that much of a chore to use either, with a light clutch action and a snickety feel through the lever.
Suzuki: There is not much to separate these two when you look at their on-paper specs. The Ignis is powered by a 1.2-litre four cylinder that produces marginally more power (66kW), but a fraction less torque (120Nm).
While neither of these cars will win a green light drag race, in the real world the Ignis feels a little peppier than the Picanto, primarily due to the fact it is one of the lightest cars on sale in Australia, tipping the scales at just 820kg – more than 150kg less than the bantamweight Picanto.
That also helps its fuel consumption, which is rated at an average of 4.7L/100km compared to the Kia's slightly higher claimed economy figure of 5.0L/100km.
Winner: Suzuki
On the road
Kia: One of Kia's greatest strengths across its entire model range is all of its cars are tuned for local conditions and customer tastes, even the Picanto. The quality suspension work pays huge dividends as the baby Kia feels more secure and comfortable on the road than the Ignis.
The steering is light and yet respectably precise for a car that rides on 175/65 14-inch tyres, but that balloon rubber helps give a level of compliance over the bumps that belies its pricetag.
Suzuki: If the Picanto didn't exist, the Ignis wouldn't be too far from the pinnacle of the micro car class when it comes to dynamics. Despite its higher stance and boxier body, it too feels fairly secure on the road. But its electric power steering doesn't have the same natural feeling – particularly on-centre – the suspension is harsher over bumps and there's a bit more road noise intruding into the cabin, which may be a result of less sound-deadening material to save some of that weight.
Winner: Kia
Ownership
Kia: As it is with all Kia models, the Picanto is covered by the South Korean brand's benchmark seven-year warranty with capped price servicing and roadside assistance included.
Its service intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km and it costs $930 to maintain over the first three years.
Suzuki: The Japanese brand isn't as generous with a three-year/100,000km warranty. It has more regular servicing intervals too, every six months or 10,000km, with capped price servicing for the first five years. It will cost $1234 to maintain over the first three years.
Winner: Kia
Verdict
The micro car class might not be terribly exciting, but both of these cars move the needle beyond the basics and provide great incentive for those on a budget to choose a newer, safer and more efficient car rather than something second hand for the same coin.
The Suzuki is a great little car that looks as cheeky as a Japanese toy robot, has a funky interior with a better infotainment system and is charming to drive. But the Kia is the better car here, as it's significantly cheaper, rides exceptionally well for its size, feels well built, is more affordable to own and has the peace of mind of Kia's warranty coverage.
Kia Picanto
Price: $14,190 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol
Power: 62kW at 6000rpm
Torque: 122Nm at 4000rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual, FWD
Fuel use: 5.0L/100km
Suzuki Ignis GL
Price: $16,990 (driveaway)
Engine: 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol
Power: 66kW at 6000rpm
Torque: 120Nm at 4400rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual, FWD
Fuel use: 4.7L/100km