The KIA Picanto and the FIAT 500 Hybrid are the two strongest competitors in the small utility category. They are urban and economic cars that refuse to be basic and present very different weapons to face the streets of the big city.
The renewed KIA Picanto or the semi-hybrid FIAT 500 Hybrid, which is the best urbanite?
This time we are going to take a look at segment A facing two of the best-selling cars in 2021 in this category. On one hand the Kia Picantowhich has recently received an update, and on the other the FIAT 500 Hybrid that boasts a light hybridization engine. Two urban cars with a lot of style.
Of course, speaking of style, we cannot help but focus on the FIAT 500. The Italian brand revived this classic model in 2007, a true icon of the 50’s. Its lines are defined by the presence of rounded shapes and the great individualization options that often lead to innumerable special editions. You can mount a sunroof that is not available on its Korean rival and there is even a convertible version, the 500C.
In the new Picanto 2022, KIA has not been left behind in customization options and also proposes many different color combinations and designs. But not only that, the range that KIA has configured seeks to reach a greater variety of customers and in addition to the urban versions, it offers the X-Line jacket version and a variant with a sportier GT Line appearance.
The exterior reveals an important detail: the Picanto is only sold with a five-door body while the 500 is only available with a three-door body. That is already anticipating the interest that both manufacturers have put in the occupants of the rear seats and in the practicality of the vehicle itself.
The number of doors does not affect the size, these two cars are just over three and a half meters in length. Specifically 3.57 m for the Italian and 3.59 m for the Korean, a ideal size to get into urban environments and to park easily. The exterior dimensions are very similar but inside they show enormous differences because one is one of the most spacious cars in this segment and the other is the opposite, one of the least.
Until recently, the category of the smallest cars on the market symbolized very cheap, very simple and basic vehicles. But now it’s not that way anymore. A good example is the passenger compartment of the Picanto, which, yes, has hard plastics everywhere, but in general they have a correct touch and show great strength.
It is not surprising that there is a good build quality compared to other competitors because in reality in the KIA utility there is many elements that are the same as those mounted on models of higher categories like the Rio or the Stonic. Examples of this are the steering wheel and the satellite controls behind it, the instrumentation or the air conditioning module.
The available equipment is quite abundant but I would have liked to have been able to add a depth-adjustable steering wheel or a wireless charger for smartphones. Things that the FIAT 500 Hybrid does not have, by the way. Within the iconic FIAT, hard materials also predominate, but they are simpler-looking plastics. It is curious that while the exterior remains very current and attractive despite the passage of time, inside you do have the feeling that the design is getting a bit outdated.
The years are showing in this passenger compartment and the last major update came in 2015, so it has already rained since then. It is not only noticeable in the appearance and materials but in the strange placement of some functions like the fog lights or the electric windows, whose buttons are on the center console.
It is very striking that the driving position is very different. In the 500 the driver sits much higher than in the Picanto and the seat adjustments do not help to find a comfortable position easily. This is especially difficult for tall drivers who will notice a certain feeling of suffocation because of the limited space offered.
On the positive side, it must be recognized that FIAT has made a significant effort to continue offering a modern and practical utility vehicle. It has been able to incorporate features such as a digital instrumentation with 7-inch screen which has a very attractive design and is something that the Korean cannot have. It has also well integrated a modern infotainment system.
The FIAT 500’s multimedia system uses a 7 inch touch screen which is slightly away from the driver. It’s not very big but the image quality and touch response are good and it’s intuitive to operate. It has connectivity with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and can be associated with a sound system with a total power of 440 W.
As an option, the Picanto offers a multimedia system with navigation and an 8-inch touch screen, also compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Includes the connected services UVO Connect that provide traffic information in real time or weather forecasts and also has the KIA Connect mobile app with which you can remotely check the status of the vehicle, show its location or open and close the doors remotely.
Let’s move to the second row of seats. Entering the rear seats of the 500 is an exercise in contortionism because as there are no rear doors and it is a small car, access is somewhat complicated. Passengers up to 1.75m tall are accommodated here due to the steep drop in the roof and it is immediately clear that this row is intended for very occasional use. The configuration is four seats, there is no center seat.
In the Picanto it is clear that there is much more space. Logically, having doors facilitates entry and the shape of the roof, less curved, allows it to accommodate occupants who are even over 1.80 m tall. It is a row well used in which KIA has put three seats. There are few cars in segment A that have five seats, but it is no less true that three adults would be very tight here, but hey, on a short journey you can do a workaround. Will it also be practical in terms of cargo space?
One might think that by offering a lot of interior space, what KIA has done is remove that space from the trunk. But no. Every inch of this car has been used to the maximum and the KIA Picanto offers one of the largest trunks in the segment with 255 liter capacity. Even the load can be placed at two heights and expanded by folding down the rear seatbacks to reach 1,010 litres.
For its part, the FIAT 500 trunk is located at the opposite end with just 185 liters volume. The slope of the tailgate reduces space in the upper part of the cargo space and also the sill is higher. Folding down the rear seats is an important step so you can only reach 550 liters. It’s definitely not the most practical car, style comes at a price. The Korean offers much more versatility than the Italian without question.
resolutely urban
Time to take action. The only engine proposed by the European manufacturer for the FIAT 500 Hybrid is a 1.0 three-cylinder petrol with 70 hp that is associated with a 12 V electrical system. With this mild-hybrid system the diminutive Italian model has the benefits of the Eco environmental label, something that the Korean model cannot enjoy. Yes, before you say anything, it is true, there is a 100% electric version of the FIAT 500 but in reality it is a different model because it has a different platform, it has a different design and it has a totally different interior and for this reason in this comparison we do not We will consider it.
For its part, the KIA Picanto range is made up of three petrol engines with 67, 84 and 100 hp. Here KIA gives us a range of options to suit almost all tastes because the 67 hp 1.0 DPi is a naturally aspirated three-cylinder, the 84 hp 1.2 DPi is a naturally aspirated four-cylinder and the 100 TGDI 1.0 is a three-cylinder turbo. . A little bit of everything.
The FIAT 500 Hybrid has 70 hp and the equivalent version for power in the KIA Picanto range would be the 67 hp engine. However, it would not be my choice. The 84 hp engine is highly recommended, that is to say the intermediate option, because it is the only version with four cylinders. It runs smooth, it’s a nice engine that doesn’t have great performance but moves well enough.
Depending on the version, the KIA utility offers both a manual transmission and an automatic transmission, always with five speeds. That automatic box is inadvisable because it increases the final price, penalizes performance a lot and increases consumption, so it’s not interesting at all. It is better to choose the five-speed manual gearbox that has a good feel. It would be appreciated if it had a sixth speed when we go on the highway so that the engine is less revved.
The 500 Hybrid does have a manual gearbox with six gears and also the lever is located in a higher position so it is more optimal to play with the change in a joyful driving. In the end the FIAT 500 has a set-up that clearly has a more dynamic approach. The suspension has a firmer treatment that makes it more agile and fun to drive in curves, but it also results in a decrease in comfort since all the irregularities of the asphalt are noticeable. This is especially noticeable on a car with such a short wheelbase.
There is 70 hp so benefits outside the city are poor, it is a car that is not designed to make long trips regularly. The light hybridization does not give more power but supports the engine during acceleration phases to be more efficient and at no time can it move completely electrically. Even so both the Picanto and the 500 spend very little fuelnormally between 5 and 5.5 l/100 km on varied routes.
These two models can have very affordable prices with rates of around 10,000 euros (with discounts) but the access versions are not highly recommended because they dispense with many items of equipment. It is worth increasing the budget to reach the intermediate or high finishes. Usually the FIAT 500 will be slightly more expensive than its opponent, a price that is justified by the semi-hybridization.
At this point it seems clear that the FIAT 500 is the choice for those who let themselves be guided by design because it presents a style that never goes out of style or for those who value the advantages of the Eco environmental label. From a rational point of view, the logical purchase is that of the KIA Picanto.. The winner of this comparison costs less, is much more spacious, is more practical and also offers a 7-year warranty for the 2 proposed by FIAT.