Naza Kia Malaysia Archives

REVIEWED: Kia Picanto 1.2 – Why It’s The BEST Value Car Out There Now! [+Video]

You know I gotta say that among all the carmakers who’ve been making headlines recently, there’s one brand that’s certainly living up to its motto of having ‘the power to surprise’ and that of course is Kia. I’m quite amazed by what the S.Korean carmaker has been doing in recent times, and it just got better…

Quite recently, I was very impressed with the Kia Optima GT, a performance sedan that makes no excuses for what it is, even ‘sounding’ like a thoroughbred V8 rather than a i4. Check out what I mean in this short video:

Fast-forward a few weeks and here I am again, this time testing the smallest member of the Kia family, the Picanto. Now the Picanto model itself is not new, it’s been around for a number of years and has enjoyed some success sales wise, and in fact, like what I mentioned in this VW Beetle Sport article, I know of at least 3 motoring media who liked the little Picanto so much, they bought one after the launch and subsequent review. How’s that for acceptance?

And speaking of acceptance, here’s my quick first-impression video of the new Picanto, plus a 360-degree walkaround:

Now in its third generation, the baby Kia offers first-time car buyers an alternative to what would normally be a ‘national car’ purchase, and maybe that’s why the Picanto costs less than RM50,000 (no, really). But hang on, a Proton Iriz costs more than that. Hmm…

Residing in the A-segment and aimed squarely at first-time car buyers, Kia claims that the Picanto is the ‘biggest small car’ around, and they’re not wrong. Despite its diminutive external appearance, the Picanto offers a very decent amount of room inside it, and as far as the former is concerned, again, you can thank Peter Schreyer and his design team for making the car look anything but introductory e.g. “cheap”.

Aesthetics wise, the little Picanto makes a very good first impression indeed. Its ‘angry bird’ front facade houses LED daytime running lights, while the rear sports LED combination lamps. Its double wheel-arch design coupled with the concave shoulder-line affords the car an optical-illusion of sorts, making it look bigger than it really is, and that’s a neat trick. If it were purely slab-sided, it would look smaller. The rear doors that taper upwards toward the end, and the decreasing-width rear windows also add to this ruse. Very clever.

But Kia aren’t cheating, because in typical ‘inside out’ build fashion, the Picanto is surprisingly roomy on the inside for an A-segmenter. There’s more than enough space for six-footers to get comfortable in the driver’s seat, and millennials will love the gadgets that come standard such as a full-colour ‘floating’ 7-inch Touch-screen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Ready, that also houses the reverse-camera, as well as the usual AUX & USB ports to hitch your phone to.

In addition to keyless entry, a start/stop button and a multi-function steering wheel, active and passive safety wise, the Picanto certainly doesn’t disappoint. There’s 6-airbags, ABS & Brake Assist, Hill Start Assist, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), ISOFIX and seat-belt pretensioners, all wrapped within a chassis and body made-up of 44% AHSS or Advanced High Strength Steel. Full specifications list is available after the photo gallery below.

However, tech jargon aside, the most impressive thing about the new Picanto only comes to light when it’s driven. Quite possibly, and with no exaggeration, this is the best A-segment car I’ve ever driven, period. It offers amazing levels of NVH suppression, it’s comfortable, quiet and reassuring. It doesn’t feel like a small car when being driven around, and despite having only a 4-speed auto, it’s a regular auto-gearbox and not a CVT, and that makes all the difference.

The Picanto’s Kappa 1.2-litre engine is good for 84Ps and 121.6Nm of torque powering the front wheels, and while that may not sound like a lot, it’s plenty for a car in this class, and again, like its motto, it has the power to surprise, especially when the roads are clear; it certainly surprised me…

Impressive for a little 1,248cc 4-pot isn’t it? The thing is, even at that speed, the Picanto still felt composed and more importantly, reassuring, protesting only slightly when faced with lateral cross-winds. With disc-brakes all round (ventilated in front) stopping power is also very good, while steering feel from the motor-driver power steering offers a decent amount of feedback, and is very direct.

Driven at more sedate (read: sane, legal, normal, etc.) speeds, the Picanto rewards with an extremely smooth and frugal drive. Despite our best attempts and extremely hard driving, we only used 1/4 of the fuel during a drive that would have emptied my own cars’ tank.

Needless to say, I think we were all quite impressed with this new offering from Kia, and coincidentally it just so happened that 2 of the 3 aforementioned media who’d bought the previous generation Picanto were on this media drive. I spoke to both of them in regards to how this new Picanto compared to theirs, as they would be the best judge of any improvements…

You’d think they were talking about Ferrari’s in the way they exalted about this third generation. I think the word ‘everything’ was used when I asked about improvements over the second gen Picanto, and one of them is already thinking about trading in his for the new one. Yes, it’s just that good.

So seriously, for those seeking a first car, or even a runabout addition to your stable at home, something that costs less than RM50k (RM49,888 to be exact), you really, really need to go have a look and test drive of the new Kia Picanto 1.2. Power to Surprise? Go find out. – Chris Wee.

Kia Picanto 1.2 Photo Gallery…

Kia Picanto Product Specifications:

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS	ENGINE
	Type	Kappa 1.2 MPI CVVT
	Displacement (cc)	1,248
	Bore X Stroke (mm)	71 x 78.8
	Max. Power [Ps (kW)/rpm]	84 (61.8)/6,000
	Max. Torque [NM (kg.m)/rpm]	121.6 (12.4)/4,000
	Fuel Type	Petrol
	Fuel Tank (litres)	35
	TRANSMISSION
	Transmission Type	4-Speed Automatic
	CHASSIS
	Seating Capacity (Pax)	5
	Body Type	5-Door Hatchback
	BRAKING
	Front Brake	Ventilated Disc
	Rear Brake	Solid Disc
	SUSPENSION & WHEEL/TYRE
	Front	MacPherson Strut
	Rear	Coupled Torsion Beam Axle (CTBA)
	Wheel	14″ Alloy
	Tyre Size	175/65 R14
	Spare Tyre	Temporary Tyre
FEATURES	EXTERIOR
	Head Lamp	Projector Halogen with Auto Light Control & LED Daytime Running Lights
	Rear Combination Lamp	LED Type
	Fog Lamp	Projector type front, rear bulb
	Side Door Mirror	Electric Adjustable
		Integrated LED side turn signal
		Electric Folding
		Body Colour
	Outer Handles Door	Chrome Coating
	INTERIOR
	Instrumental Panel	Trip Computer
	Instrumental Panel	Segment-type Meter Cluster
	Sun Visor	Vanity Mirror
	Audio	Floating Type 7 inch LCD Colour Touchscreen
		Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Ready
		Radio/MP3/AUX/USB
		Bluetooth, 6 speakers, Steering Audio Control & Rear View Camera with dynamic guideline
	Air Conditioner	Manual
	Front Seat	Fabric with Driver Seat Height Adjuster
	Seatbelt	Front : 3-Point ELR Type with Height adjuster Rear : with Pre-tensioner
	Key	Smart Key & Keyless Entry
	Luggage	Rear shelf cover
	Luggage	255 litres capacity
	Windows	Front and rear powered
	Windows	Driver’s auto up & down
	STEERING
	Steering	Leather wrap upholstery
		Motor Driven Power Steering
		Min. turning cycle Radius of 4.8m
		Tilt steering

	SAFETY
	Airbags	Dual front, side, curtain
	Child Anchor	ISOFIX
	Sensor	Rear Parking Assist System with 3 Sensors
	Sensor	Speed & Impact Sensing Auto Door Lock
	Vehicle Stability Management	ABS, BAS, ESC, TRC
	Hill-Start Assist Control	HAC

Kia launches Optima GT in Malaysia

Kia Malaysia has added the Optima GT variant to its latest line up of vehicles. Based on the same Optima that debuted last month, the GT, gains minor sporty design tweaks that provide it with a more aggressive stance. Compared to the previous generation car, the new one features a more pronounced tiger nose grille, angular headlights, elantra-like rear-lights and a front bumper that features air-pods on each side.

In typical Kia fashion, the interior is neatly laid out with soft touch plastics adorning necessary trim panels, which adds to the luxurious appearance of the capacious cabin. Nothing cutting edge or revolutionary about the interior or gadgetry, but the well designed cabin and the use of good quality materials make the inside of the Optima GT, a nice place to be.

The car boasts extensive enhancements and options including a range of body colours, driver aids, and a plethora of safety equipment. The Optima has allowed the Korean automaker to push the boundaries of whats possible for the D-segment market. In fact, this third generation car has helped Kia show more established automakers that luxury cars don’t need to be expensive and should be accessible by the common man.

The Optima GT is set for launch on the 24th of May 2017, but is already available for booking at any authorized Kia dealership nationwide. If you are interested, visit the automaker’s website to learn more about the vehicle.

Kia introduce diesel variants of Sorento and Sportage GT

Kia has added oil burners to its current line-up with the introduction of the Sorento HS Turbo Diesel and the Sportage GT Turbo Diesel. These vehicles are powered by the 2.2 CRDi (Common Rail Direct Injection) (198bhp and 440 Nm of torque) and 2.0 AWD GT CRDi (185bhp and 400Nm of torque) engines respectively that are mated to a six-peed automatic transmission. Kia boasts close to 1,000km range on a single tank of diesel for both vehicles, which should be to the liking of those who travel long distances often.

“We are convinced with the advanced automotive technologies and upgraded top range features of these two new variants of the Kia Sorento and Sportage will provide customers even greater ownership value and satisfaction. The new award winning models are highly-developed with a premium level interior, an award-winning exterior design, riding comfort, excellent fuel economy with a more efficient choice of engines,” said Dato’ Samson Anand George, Group Chief Operating Officer, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings.

The Sorento features projector HID with adaptive light system headlamps and a prominant radiator grille with three-dimensional cubic mesh pattern and rolls on 19-inch rims. Inside, like most Kias, it has a premium feel thanks to the leather upholstery, clean centre stack layout and spacious interior. The vehicle also comes with an interactive infotainment system that features a 7-inch LCD screen, smart power tailgate, 10-way power assisted driver seat, seat variations for the 7-seats, Smart Parking Assist System, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), electronic parking brake and drive mode select system.

Expect a whole lot of safety kit because the Sorento HS Diesel comes with six airbags, vehicle stability management (VSM), electronic stability control (ESC), anti-lock brake system (ABS) and hill-start assist control (HAC).

The diesel Sportage GT on the other hand, is similar to the petrol version in terms of looks as it features the distinctive grille, DRLs, LED fog lamps and rolls on 19-inch allow chrome wheels. Inside, you get a infotainment system that features a 4.2-inch LCD screen that is hooked up to a 6 speaker sound system as well as driver and passenger power seats.

Safety features for Kia’s smaller mild off-roader include six airbags, anti-lock brake system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), vehicle stability control (VSC) and hill-start assist control (HAC). Apart from that, its Dynamax AWD system increases the level of safety especially on wet roads by distributing power to front or rear axles depending on which needs it most.

As for body colours, the Sorento is offered in Imperial Bronze, Snow White Pearl, Aurora Black Pearl and Silky Silver. The Sportage GT comes in Cherry Black, Mercury Blue, Fiery Red, Snow White Pearl and Mineral Silver.

Kia has made both the Sorento and Sportage GT diesel vehicles available to order nationwide with a price tag of RM191,888 and RM159,888 respectively. Both vehicles come with a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty. If you are interested, visit the automaker’s website or your nearest showroom.

Kia Grand Carnival launched in Malaysia

Kia has officially launched its highly anticipated people mover, the Grand Carnival. The 8-seat MPV is a marked improvement over its predecessor as it features a sleeker silhouette, spacious interior and improved use of quality materials.

Measuring 5,115mm long, 1985mm wide and 1740mm high, the new Grand Carnival features a longer wheelbase than the previous model at 3,060mm. It now has better headroom thanks in part to lower positioned seat cushions, increased legroom for passengers and the roof no longer slopes to the tailgate, giving rise to better headroom for the third row of passengers.

Conforming to Kia’s current design language, the vehicle features a chrome tiger nose grille, elongated headlights that wrap around the front fascia which provides the vehicle with a slightly aggressive look.

“The sophisticated All New Grand Carnival appears sleek and bold with striking features and design that makes it stand out among other MPVs”, said Dato’ Samson Anand George, Group Chief Operating Officer, Automotive, Naza Corporation Holdings Sdn Bhd.

The same is true for the rear, which features broad tail lamps and metal surfaces. Unlike the vehicle it replaces, this Grand Carnival’s tailgated is now electronic and automated, meaning it will open the moment the vehicle senses that the key is in close proximity of it. Both sliding doors are electrically powered and as such, can be opened and closed with a push of a button.

Like the current generation of Kia vehicles, this one features a rather well laid out interior and the most noticeable of the lot is the 4.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It has a MP3 CD player and integrated six speaker setup, USB and AUX connectivity and plays nicely with the reverse camera. The dashboard has two glove compartments stacked vertically, enabling increased storage capacity. The seats are wrapped in leather, front and second row seats have overhead consoles above them and tri-zone fully automatic air-con ventilators.

As a means to increase cargo space, the third row of seats can be folded flat to increase total volume. The second row features a seat that can be removed to increase space or offer better legroom for the third row passengers.

Under the front armrest, more storage space is available which is sufficient to fit a handbag or a book. Passengers in the rear have their own storage spaces where they can place items of their choosing.

Powering the new Grand Carnival is a 2.2-litre CRDi turbocharged diesel engine that’s mated to a six speed automatic transmission. the engine develops 190bhp and 440Nm of torque, which should offer sufficient power to this people mover.

Like its predecessor, the new vehicle maintains the use of MacPherson front and Multi-link rear suspension. The hydraulic rebound spring, stiffer suspension bars and cross-member bush mountings is said to improve bump absorption and increase passenger comfort.

As for wheels, it gets 18-inch alloy ones and features a myriad of safety equipment including front and rear parking sensors, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Hill Start Assist System, six airbags and HID with Daytime Running Lights (DRL).

Kia is currently offering the Kia Grand Carnival 2.2D EX for RM185,888 and the 2.2DKX for RM165,888. Visit the company wesbsite or your nearest dealership for more information.

Kia Grand Carnival to be launched soon

We’ve known for sometime about the impending launch of the all new Grand Carnival, and now Naza Kia Malaysia Sdn Bhd, has confirmed that it will be sometime soon as it has just opened bookings for its people carrier.

A refresh of the original Grand Carnival is a welcomed addition to the rather stagnant MPV market, and by the looks of things, it could spice things up quite a bit. The new vehicle, looks very different from the one it replaces as Kia sought to fuse decent looks with family carrying capabilities. Kia says that its engineers spent extensive time designing the interior to offer decent legroom and ample luggage space even when fully loaded with eight occupants.

Other than the extensive redesign both inside and out, some of the more notable features of the Grand Carnical are the leather seats, power sliding door and tailgate, 3rd row passenger easy access system, push start button and HID head lamps with Daytime Running Lights. Kia didn’t skimp on safety either as the vehicle comes equipped with 6 airbags, electronic stability control and hill-start assist system. It also boasts receiving a 5-star rating based on the crash tests conducted by the ANCAP (Australiasian New Car Assessment Program) and NHTSA (National Highway Traffice Safety Administration).

Kia managed to bag a number of awards including JD Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) award, Top Safety Pick from the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the 2015 Ward’s 10 Best Interiors award.

Speaking of the new Grand Carnival, Dato’ Samson Anand George, Group Chief Operating Officer, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings Sdn Bhd., said, “Despite 2016 being a challenging year for Kia in Malaysia, we managed to contain a better percentage than the national total industry volume’s negative growth. For 2017, we have foretasted our sales volume to increase by 25% and the All New Grand Carnival will play a pivotal role in achieving this target.”

Under the hood of the Grand Carnival is a 2.2-litre CDRi turbodiesel engine with a variable geometry turbo. It produces 190bhp and 440Nm of torque, which should prove useful when lugging the family around and especially when its to Genting.

Potential buyers can make their bookings at any Kia dealership in Malaysia including those in Sabah and Sarawak. So, if you are interest a Peter Schreyer people mover, head on over to your nearest Kia dealership.

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