Picanto is the spicy option
for those who want a very
small performance machineH!WON’TSOMEBODY please think of the
children!”Oratleast the teens.
Overthepastfew years, more than a
handfulofsub-$20,000 superminis have
vanishedfromAussie roads, as importers
divertresourcestowards larger and more
profitableSUVsanddual-cabutes.
Thelistofthebargain-basement dearly departed reads
liketheInMemoriamattheOscars: Holden Barina (after 33
years!),Hyundaii20(andsoonAccent), Nissan Micra, Ford
Fiesta,VolkswagenUp...Thecarnage is scandalous for lovers
ofcompact,talentedminiatures.
Thankfully,somebrandsstillsee the sense in taking a punt
ona peppypint-sizedrunabout,luring buyers of all ages with
thehopeofnurturinglifelongloyalty. After all, a relationship
hastostartsomewhere,right?So,we’ve corralled a trio
oftheremainingfavourites(intheir preferred manual-
gearboxguises,naturally)toseewhich is best and brightest,
beginningwiththeprogressive,far-sighted Kia.
Sure,at3.6metreslongand1.6m wide, the pert Picanto
is a sub-B(orinaccuratelynamed‘Micro’) class contender,
ratherthana proper,full-sizedsupermini. The thing is,
though,theKorean/Germanco-developed five-seater, five-
doorhatchhashittopformsincethe latest, third-gen model
surfacedin2017,commanding 80 percent of a (admittedly
shrinking)segmentmostotherimporters have abandoned.
Thelesson,kids?If thepricing,packaging, specification and
panacheareright,customerswillcome.From $17,990, the GT, launched only last January, is the
costliest car here (as well as the heaviest, at 1026kg), but
that’s probably because the chic Kia’s stats reads like a junior
GTI’s; 74kW/172Nm from a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo,
quicker steering, retuned dampers, stiffer spring rates, four-
wheel discs, a bodykit and twin exhausts. Saucy!
Other toppings include AEB with forward collision
warning, hill-hold control, six airbags, Bluetooth streaming,
cruise control with speed limiter, Apple CarPlay/Android
Auto, dusk-sensing headlights, electric/heated folding mirrors,
alloy wheels and the group’s only seven-year warranty (versus
five for the others). The thing is heaving with gear.
Next on the docket is Suzuki’s Swift, a Japanese supermini
with built-in speed and swagger to match the badge –
certainly since the ‘modern era’ model’s 2005 revival of a mid-
80s stalwart. Two redesigns later, the latest version (launched
two years ago now) introduces a significantly larger, stronger,
roomier and quieter structure than before. At just 870kg, it
weighs in 156kg lighter than the Kia.
From $16,990, the GL Navigator isn’t pretending to be
anything other than base, so there are no overtly sporty
flourishes as per Picanto. However, while the manual variant
lacks AEB, auto headlights and folding mirrors and has rear
drum brakes only, the Swift is usefully longer (by 245mm)
and wider (by 140mm). It also includes most of the other
gear, as well as GPS, and is powered by the threesome’s
biggest (if not gutsiest) engine – a 66kW/120Nm, 1.2-litre
naturally aspirated four-cylinder unit.74 whichcar.com.au/wheels
COMPARISON /
SUPERMINIS