But at our test track the VW trailed the Kia. The 0-60mph sprint took 10 seconds, which was 0.9 seconds behind the Picanto, and the up! 30-70mph through the gears as well; it posted a time of 10.8 seconds to the Kia’s 9.6 seconds. The Volkswagen took 13.4 seconds to go from 50-70mph in fifth gear, while the Kia needed 10.3 seconds, which means the Picanto is more at home on the motorway, although the up! At 251 litres, the Volkswagen’s boot is slightly smaller than its rival’s, but neither car is really spacious when it comes to luggage capacity. A total of 959 litres with the rear seats folded down is helpful, although it still trails the Picanto here as well. The amount of space in the cabin is the VW’s strong point, because adults can easily fit in each of the four seats; headroom and legroom are both better than in the Kia. It feels lighter and more spacious inside, too, thanks to the design of the dashboard and the larger window area.
However, there’s less in-cabin storage in the German hatch, because the Kia features larger cup-holders and a bigger front cubby, plus storage space by the handbrake that’s missing in the VW. Volkswagen came in fifth overall in our Driver Power 2018 satisfaction survey, which is a strong result. But its dealers have some way to go; they finished 18th, while Kia’s were seventh out of 28 marques. The VW also comes with a three-year warranty, a lot less than the seven-year package offered with the Kia. Euro NCAP awarded the up! 2012, but it’s missing AEB next to the Kia here (it’s £380) and has two fewer airbags. A reversing camera is £240 and parking sensors are £300 as part of the Cruise and Park Pack. All are standard on the Kia. Insurance will be a key consideration for many city car buyers, but for our example driver there is little difference between these models, which both sit in group 10: the Volkswagen costs £361, the Kia £364 a year. Still, for company car drivers, lower CO2 emissions of 96g/km mean the up!
20 per cent Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) bracket, so lower-rate earners will pay £527 a year in company car tax with the Volkswagen. The Picanto costs £696 a year, yet offers more standard kit. This offsets the VW’s higher fuel bills, based on our average test economy on test. First place: Volkswagen up! It’s also more comfortable and more spacious inside than the Picanto, and great fun to drive as well. If this is a priority, the Kia will be a better buy, but the VW fits more buyers’ needs more of the time. All that stands between this turbo version of the Picanto and a road test win against the up! It features a potent and really enjoyable engine and it’s great fun to drive. The Kia is also loaded with standard kit, is more economical and has a bigger boot. It’s just a shame that it’s pricey on PCP finance and isn’t as comfortable or as spacious inside as the Volkswagen. Is it worth waiting for this model? Hyundai is planning a revamped i10, previewed in our exclusive image, and it’s set to arrive next year. Expect updated infotainment and more efficient engines, although there’s no news on a turbocharged motor - yet.
Special solutions are available as alternatives: firm sport seats, electric seat adjustment and heating - as a separate option also for the back seats. In the climate-controlled comfort seats, small fans and an automatic auxiliary heater ensure luxurious comfort. This option provides neck-level heating - ducts on the topside of the seatback emit warm air that keeps the back of the head and neck warm. With its three-level control, the headroom heater is also available for sport seats. It prolongs the open-air season in the Audi A5 Cabriolet. Another special feature is provided in the optional leather upholstery: a special coating inhibits solar heating while the Cabriolet is parked in the sun with the top down. This coating reflects infrared radiation and thus lowers the surface temperature by up to 20 degrees Celsius. Audi offers a choice of several seat coverings up to and including Fine Nappa leather. Inlays come as standard in Micrometallic platinum; aluminum and three different kinds of wood are available as options.
