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Australia’s Best Micro and Light Cars in 2016

red and a yellow kia picanto parked outside of townhouses on street
RACV

February 21, 2017

Australia’s best cars 2016: Best Micro Car

Winner: Kia Picanto Si

Kia Picanto epitomises what this class is all about. It is small, affordable, very easy to drive and has five-star safety. It gets the jump on its competitors in the value-for-money stakes with an attractive drive-away price of $14,990, low insurance costs, a class-leading list of standard features and an industry-leading seven-year-warranty.

The Kia’s 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine and a conventional four-speed automatic deliver a pleasing mix of relatively nippy performance and fuel economy well suited to this type of city-centric car. And it’s competent enough on the open road. You can see a few signs that this smart-looking European design and Korean-built car has been manufactured to a price, but generally speaking, it is solidly constructed.

Picanto is tiny but interior space is used efficiently. The front seats provide better than expected comfort and support, while all the controls are conveniently placed and simple to use. In the rear, there is more legroom than you’d imagine and the headroom is also quite good. Boot space is modest, but the split/fold rear seats add a little extra versatility. It was disappointing, although not surprising, to find that Picanto carries only a tiny space-saver spare wheel.

Micro cars
Micro cars
Weighting
Kia Picanto S
Mitsubishi Mirage ES
Holden Spark LS

VALUE FOR MONEY

Weighting
Kia Picanto S
Mitsubishi Mirage ES
Holden Spark LS

Pricing

Weighting

Critical

Kia Picanto S

6

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

5

Holden Spark LS

3

Cost of depreciation ($)

Weighting

Medium

Kia Picanto S

3

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

7

Holden Spark LS

4

Running and repair costs

Weighting

High

Kia Picanto S

9

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

9

Holden Spark LS

8

Fuel consumption

Weighting

Critical

Kia Picanto S

9

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

9

Holden Spark LS

9

Warranty and dealer access

Weighting

High

Kia Picanto S

9

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

8

Holden Spark LS

4

Insurance

Weighting

Low

Kia Picanto S

7

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

6

Holden Spark LS

2

Standard features

Weighting

High

Kia Picanto S

8

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

6

Holden Spark LS

6

DESIGN AND FUNCTION

Weighting
Kia Picanto S
Mitsubishi Mirage ES
Holden Spark LS

Safety

Weighting

Critical

Kia Picanto S

6

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

7

Holden Spark LS

6

Environment

Weighting

Critical

Kia Picanto S

7

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

7

Holden Spark LS

7

Seating comfort

Weighting

Medium

Kia Picanto S

7

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

6

Holden Spark LS

7

Space

Weighting

Low

Kia Picanto S

6

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

7

Holden Spark LS

6

Practicality

Weighting

Medium

Kia Picanto S

4

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

4

Holden Spark LS

4

Ergonomics

Weighting

High

Kia Picanto S

7

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

6

Holden Spark LS

7

Build and finish quality

Weighting

Medium

Kia Picanto S

6

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

5

Holden Spark LS

7

ON THE ROAD

Weighting
Kia Picanto S
Mitsubishi Mirage ES
Holden Spark LS

Performance

Weighting

Medium

Kia Picanto S

6

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

5

Holden Spark LS

7

Ride

Weighting

Medium

Kia Picanto S

6

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

5

Holden Spark LS

6

Handling

Weighting

Medium

Kia Picanto S

6

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

4

Holden Spark LS

7

Braking

Weighting

Medium

Kia Picanto S

5

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

5

Holden Spark LS

5

Smoothness and quietness

Weighting

Low

Kia Picanto S

6

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

5

Holden Spark LS

7

OVERALL AVERAGE

Weighting
Kia Picanto S

754

Mitsubishi Mirage ES

712

Holden Spark LS

668

Australia’s best cars 2016: Best Light Car

Winner: Suzuki Baleno GL

Even at $17,990 drive-away, Baleno is far cheaper than most of its rivals. It backs this up with economical fuel consumption and affordable servicing/repair costs.

Baleno has one of the roomiest cabins in the class, while judiciously chosen standard equipment adds to the driving ease. The interior layout is simple and functional with a number of driver assistance features unexpected in entry-level models at this price point, such as a reversing camera, satellite navigation and Apple CarPlay. While the trim materials reflect the price, the fit, finish and general build quality look good.

Baleno is almost as roomy as some models in the next class up. The front seats have a good range of adjustments and provide a respectable level of comfort. There’s a surprising amount of rear leg room, plenty of head room and a massive boot.

The performance and on-road ability of the GL model is solid rather than spectacular, with power and torque figures around average for the class. As such, it is not an exciting drive, but around town it’s well mannered. However, the steering is a little vague just off centre, and when pushed along a bit harder it isn’t as composed as some of its sportier-feeling competitors.

Light cars
Light cars
Weighting
Suzuki Baleno GL
Kia Rio S
Mazda2 Neo

VALUE FOR MONEY

Weighting
Suzuki Baleno GL
Kia Rio S
Mazda2 Neo

Pricing

Weighting

Critical

Suzuki Baleno GL

8

Kia Rio S

8

Mazda2 Neo

6

Cost of depreciation ($)

Weighting

Medium

Suzuki Baleno GL

6

Kia Rio S

6

Mazda2 Neo

6

Running and repair costs

Weighting

High

Suzuki Baleno GL

8

Kia Rio S

8

Mazda2 Neo

7

Fuel consumption

Weighting

Critical

Suzuki Baleno GL

9

Kia Rio S

7

Mazda2 Neo

9

Warranty and dealer access

Weighting

High

Suzuki Baleno GL

3

Kia Rio S

9

Mazda2 Neo

3

Insurance

Weighting

Low

Suzuki Baleno GL

3

Kia Rio S

6

Mazda2 Neo

7

Standard features

Weighting

High

Suzuki Baleno GL

6

Kia Rio S

4

Mazda2 Neo

6

DESIGN AND FUNCTION

Weighting
Suzuki Baleno GL
Kia Rio S
Mazda2 Neo

Safety

Weighting

Critical

Suzuki Baleno GL

7

Kia Rio S

6

Mazda2 Neo

7

Environment

Weighting

Critical

Suzuki Baleno GL

7

Kia Rio S

6

Mazda2 Neo

7

Seating comfort

Weighting

Medium

Suzuki Baleno GL

6

Kia Rio S

7

Mazda2 Neo

7

Space

Weighting

Low

Suzuki Baleno GL

8

Kia Rio S

7

Mazda2 Neo

5

Practicality

Weighting

Medium

Suzuki Baleno GL

5

Kia Rio S

6

Mazda2 Neo

4

Ergonomics

Weighting

High

Suzuki Baleno GL

8

Kia Rio S

7

Mazda2 Neo

6

Build and finish quality

Weighting

Medium

Suzuki Baleno GL

5

Kia Rio S

5

Mazda2 Neo

6

ON THE ROAD

Weighting
Suzuki Baleno GL
Kia Rio S
Mazda2 Neo

Performance

Weighting

Medium

Suzuki Baleno GL

6

Kia Rio S

5

Mazda2 Neo

7

Ride

Weighting

Medium

Suzuki Baleno GL

7

Kia Rio S

6

Mazda2 Neo

7

Handling

Weighting

Medium

Suzuki Baleno GL

5

Kia Rio S

6

Mazda2 Neo

7

Braking

Weighting

Medium

Suzuki Baleno GL

6

Kia Rio S

6

Mazda2 Neo

6

Smoothness and quietness

Weighting

Low

Suzuki Baleno GL

5

Kia Rio S

5

Mazda2 Neo

6

OVERALL AVERAGE

Weighting
Suzuki Baleno GL

726

Kia Rio S

718

Mazda2 Neo

702