KIA Picanto Fuel Efficient in DOE Test
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KIA Motors’ Picanto, which earlier registered a fuel consumption of 26.2 kilometers per liter based on a field test conducted by the car company on a manual transmission with two passengers onboard at a constant speed of 60 kph, proved anew that it is a gas miser at the recently concluded Department of Energy (DOE)-sponsored fuel economy run for passenger cars and light duty vehicles.
The Picanto registered a respectable fuel efficiency rating of 20.8 kilometers on a liter of gas despite the adverse climatic and poor road conditions during the actual run. The DOE test occurred at the height of Typoon Caloy where trees felled by the tropical cyclone’s howling winds littered the streets. The test driver had to slow down and weave through various road obstructions every now and then, conditions not really conductive to such kinds of test.
“The Picanto could have done better,” says Apollo ‘Bong’ Rosal, Columbian Autocar Corporation’s national service manager. “Conditions were very bad at that time that the Picanto test driver had to literally zigzag his way to skirt fallen trees and other road obstructions. In more hospitable conditions, I have no doubt the Picanto would have rated higher and be even more fuel efficient” he adds.
The DOE fuel efficiency test, participated in by 23 entries fielded by eight car manufacturers, was conducted to promote consumer awareness on the vehicles’ rated energy efficiency. Participating cars were fueled under tight scrutiny and where randomly selected volunteer drivers had to run through the prescribed 162.8 km. test route from DOE in Fort Bonifacio to Lipa City Hall and vice-versa.
The Picanto is KIA’s runaway bestseller in Europe. It has been voted Germany’s “most economical car” in the A segment by ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil Club) in 2005. It has likewise received accolade and praises for its ‘kit and quality’ from UK’s Autocar, the Netherlands AutoWeek, Portugal’s Autohoje and Spain’s Car and Driver.
The Picanto has a 1.1-liter, EFI 12-valve, 4 cylinder engine displacement. Its Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) functionality and styling has been based on a design theme that is fun and exciting, young and modern, stable and trustworthy. It has benefited from the meticulous attention of KIA Motors on safety, something that is often overlooked. A comprehensive system comprises a set of safety items such as ultra high tensile steel beams that provide an extra margin of safety against side impacts, reinforced front and rear bumbers, child safety locks on the rear doors and three-point seat belts. All this points to KIA’s state of technology engineering.
Available in eight youthful and vibrant colors clear white, lemon yellow, orange, scarlet red, liquid silver, blue diamond, samba green and cobalt blue the Picanto can be best appreciated at all KIA showrooms nationwide.
(Source: Kia Philippines Website )
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is the test conducted on a manual transmission kia picanto? I am presently using a 2010 kia picanto automatic transmission and it registered a fuel consumption of about 7kilometer/liter. or is it something about I drive it in the metro?
I’ am planning to buy kia picanto 2010. is it true that it’s 20.8 km/lit? how come it registered a fuel consumption of about 7kilometer/liter?
I just bought a 2008 picanto automatic and brought it to Kia Global complaining of high fuel consumption. They cleaned and adjusted the spark plugs, canister, fuel filter, throttle body,and made other adjustments. oil and air filer are new. The service adviser said he has a new one automatic and he says it does at least 13 km/liter but unfortunately I’m only getting 7 km/liter like the other who commented in this site.I’m rather disappointed at the consumption I’m getting as compared to the 20.8 km/liter that was tested. Is there anything that can be done to improve the fuel efficiency ? Hope you can help.
Thank you
I had a getz 1.1 which I bought in 2005, I believe they have the same epsilon engine only that picanto’s tweaked for a couple of ponies. At first I was getting the same high FC between 6-7 kms. to a liter prompting me to complain to the dealer here in metro manila. Nobody was able to fix this problem until I had the curiosity to check on the sparkplugs. Hunching that these plugs were the culprit I changed them with better known brands with the same heat rating and lo and behold my FC improved and the smell of unburnt gas was gone. This might help cuz Picanto and Getz are great cars. Solidly built and bulletproof engines. Btw I sold my Getz GL and bought the new 2011 Accent 1.6 blue automatic. It’s terrific so fuel efficient and powerful for its displacement. I wish they’d make all cars this way.
Hi there!
It seems that Picantos with Auto Transmission are gas guzzlers. My wife and I just bought our 2012 Picanto EX A/T last week and i was really terrifed with its thirst for fuel. I was expecting a double digit kilometers for every liter it gulped but it only managed to give us 6-7 kms to a liter. It was so alarming considering that it only has a 1 liter 3 cylinder engine and our Xtrail gives us the same fuel consumption too. On the other hand, the Picanto was so refined over all. The materials used was at par with the mid size japs. Handling is so precise almost like the civic’s. Im really impressed with the driving attributes of this small car, you will never feel that you are driving a small car when you toss it around the corner.
So for the would be buyers of this car, may this warn you if your primary consideration is a city car that sips fuel…. Look for other alternatives…