Kia Picanto v Fiat 500

The Kia Picanto and Fiat 500 are very similar. So are there any differences making one better than the other?

Buyers of small cars are highly concerned about costs and fuel consumption. There’s little overall difference in the fuel economy of a Picanto and 500 but the Picanto is significantly cheaper to buy at the entry level. Does it make the Picanto a winner? You do get 5-doors for your money.

The Fiat may be more money to buy but it is an attractive package. Some shoppers when they see a product as smartly packaged and more expensive think they are indicators it’s better. Does this make the 500 the better car?

You can find the car comparison over on carbuyersinfo where I simply present the data for viewers to come to their own conclusions. Which small car is best? Here’s how I’d summarize it.

• The Fiat 500 range of prices is over £1,500 more than the Kia Picanto range.
• There’s no significant difference in their fuel consumption. They rank so closely there could be no difference in real conditions on the road, especially as the combine mpg figure is a calculation from two lab’ test figures.
• The two cars are virtually the same size with the Picanto having only a tiny bit more space in the boot.
• The two have similar performance figures and although the 500 has slightly quicker models on paper it won’t mean anything on the road.
• The Fiat 500 has a Euro NCAP 5-star rating. The Picanto has recently been awarded 4-stars.

You can see the 5-door Picanto is cheaper to buy than the 3-door 500 whilst there being no real difference in size, fuel economy or performance. At this stage we can’t say the 500 is a better car.

However if a car fits your purpose and purse the next most important consideration is car safety. The difference between a 4 and 5-star rating is side protection. I’m not going to scare you with the stats but it is very important. The reason ESP/ESC is becoming standard on all cars this year is to help prevent skidding and the dangers of a side impact.

The Picanto is the only new car recently rated by Euro NCAP not to have been awarded 5-stars. Manufacturers know about future standards years in advance and comply at their discretion.

If you want to put a price on safety refer to car insurance compensation for personal injuries. I hear it’s at least £1,000 for supposed back-lash.

Now we’ve looked at serious stuff let’s look at the silly side. This is not my opinion, only my observations over decades. Many small car buyers give their cars names. They dress them with trinkets. Some cry when they are separated at the point of part-exchange. I’ve seen people pray in gratitude on delivery. There’s a lot of love going on with some car owners and their little cars.

Somehow Fiat have packaged the 500 in a retro style and fitted a little jewelry inside - not too much – and buyers loved it, rushed to buy and are prepared to wait in line for delivery.

The 500 may cost more to buy than a Picanto but this is compensated for by its safety rating plus it seems to appeal to buyers’ taste for things Italian.

The Picanto still remains cheaper to buy plus it has 5-doors with modern styling.

Regards
Ralph
Fiat 500 vs Kia Picanto carbuyersinfo.co.uk Car Comparison site differences and similarities revealed to help you find the best car to suit your purpose and purse

Ford Fiesta vs Honda Jazz

What are the differences and similarities between a Honda Jazz and Ford Fiesta?

Here’s a summary from Ford Fiesta vs Honda Jazz one of many small car comparisons on carbuyersinfo.

• The Jazz has a higher entry price than the Fiesta partly because the Honda entry model has 5-doors. The Fiesta entry model has 3. Otherwise the price range is similar.
• Both cars are about the same size. There’s a difference in the way the boot space is configured.
• The Fiesta has a wider range of engines. The Jazz doesn’t have a diesel option.
• There’s no significant difference in the 1.2 & 1.4 petrol engines for economy, emissions or performance.
• The Jazz i-shift is more efficient than the Fiesta Automatic.

If you consider diesel then calculate the miles it will take to pay back the cost with fuel savings. Also diesels emit particles which are not town friendly.

There’s more detail over on carbuyersinfo. Obviously a test drive is a good idea. A point to compare is all-round visibility.

Regards
Ralph
carbuyersinfo Car Comparisons - Differences and Similarities Revealed

How Come The ‘Old’ Corsa Out Sold The ‘New’ Fiesta?

Today, I read an online report claiming the Vauxhall Corsa was the #1 selling car in the UK during September. It seems the old 2006 Corsa sold more than the newer 2008 Ford Fiesta. Although the Corsa isn’t old because it recently had its trim and engine options updated. So what’s the difference?

The Vauxhall Corsa price and Ford Fiesta price ranges are very similar, both starting at just under £10,000 and then jumping to around the £11,000.

The Corsa and Fiesta are almost the exact same size. They’re both stylish and spacious with plenty of street cred’. The trim options are very similar – base, deluxe, sporty, luxury. They’re both 5-star EuroNCAP rated.

The only slight difference is in engine mpg, emissions and performance. Overall the Corsa has the edge. However the differences on paper are not significant enough for them to guarantee the difference will be present in real on-the-road driving.

Could it be things are so tight these days, buyers will make a decision on the slightest difference?

I always say when cars are so similar then buy the best deal. It could be Vauxhall were offering the best deals.

Regards
Ralph

Real Reasons to Change Your Car – At Last

Over the past decade there’s not really been any good reason to change your car. Cars are durable and reliable these days so you can hold onto it, get your money’s worth and dilute the horror of depreciation.

There’s wasn’t any real improvement in cars’ styling, comfort, performance or economy. Safety and emissions have improved.

Things have changed recently – even leapt forward.

In the early 90s a small car with a 1.2 petrol engine returned something like a combined mpg of about 47 mpg at best. It was the same in 2006/7, although emissions had improved. Now, they’re achieving much higher figures.

Fiesta 51.4, Corsa 53.3, Polo 51.4, Suzuki Swift 56.5 (46 around town), Toyota Yaris 54.3 mpg. Plus many of these cars have CO2s under 120 and respectable performance.

Another good reason to consider a change is improvements in car safety. Prior to 2006 the best most small cars achieved in Euro NCAP tests was 4-stars – good frontal protection, poor side protection. Many only achieved 3-stars making seat belts and airbags pointless. Also ABS and ESP were not standard.

Now, ABS is standard which helps prevent an accident. ESP is standard on a Swift as it will be on all cars late 2011. ESP is a major leap forward in accident prevention. And new models all appear to be 5-star Euro NCAP rated, giving you better side protection.

So, improved fuel economy, emissions and safety might be good reasons to part-exchange your old shed of a car.

Be careful if tempted by small car diesel engine options. You have to calculate if the savings in mpg will more than pay back the extra price you pay for a diesel car and diesel fuel. Diesels emit particles which are not town friendly.

There’s also the bonus of 5 or more years warranty with some manufacturers. This helps predict and fix your costs. When you buy a new car you’re subscribing to fixed costs you can do little about – servicing, replacement parts, insurance, VED, fuel – only car insurance is negotiable.

However, those costs could be considerably lower than your present car if you pick the right replacement.

You can make car comparisons over on carbuyersinfo.

Regards
Ralph
To help find the best car for you we measure up each car make, model, body, trim, engine & transmission. We compare car measurements, performance, fuel economy, and CO2 emissions figures. Also side by side are safety and car insurance groups. It could help Save You Time & £££s in running costs.

What’s the best small car for sale in the UK?

This is a frequently asked question which is difficult to answer because there are 3 different size small cars and features like performance, economy and safety to consider. Style, comfort and prestige are a matter of personal taste.

You can then multiply what’s available with engine and trim options.

Ultimately the best small car will be the one that fits your purpose and pocket, with adequate safety features.

You’re probably best looking at size first to see how a car fits your lifestyle.

You’ve the choice between small city cars about 3.5m in length, like the Kia Picanto and Fiat 500. They’re spacious enough up front, have limited rear passenger space but tiny boots.

If you go up a size to super-minis at about 3.75m long, you’ll find less choice. The Mini and Suzuki Swift are in this class. Again spacious up front, with some improvement in rear space and boot size, though not much.

There’s most choice in the super-sized small car market. The rear passenger space and boot sizes are more acceptable. However these cars are about 4m long and many buyers question they’re small cars.

Size can also determine how easy a car is to drive and park. Most drivers think the smaller the better. This is despite the fact many small cars are now as wide as larger cars.

Once you’ve decided on the size of small car to best suit your life, you can style it with trim options and pick an engine to best fit your pocket and performance needed.

There are a wide range of engine options for small cars, both petrol and diesel. City cars start with tiny 850 engines. Some super sized – so-called –  small cars have 2.0 turbos. Although diesels have better mpg and CO2s both the cars and fuel cost more so you have to weigh it up.

Safety is a major consideration for most car buyers. The safest car is 5-star EuroNCAP rated with ESP. However it’s not quite that simple with small cars when they hit immovable objects like trees, barriers and bridges – you need to add the bigger the better.

Safety is also more than just crash protection. Perception and prevention are also if not more important. After all if you can see a hazard around you and avoid it then protection isn’t necessary.

You can see finding the best small car isn’t easy if you look into it. There are many features to consider and there’s more to them than I’ve mentioned above. Maybe I’ll make a sequence of deeper posts on each aspect.

For now, if you want to compare small car fuel consumption, emissions and performance, over on my small car comparisons page there’s a link to a guide comparing all small cars for sale in the UK – on ONE page.

Regards
Ralph

Does it really matter what car you buy?

Yes, in so far as the car you buy determines your future car costs.

However, say you decided to buy a small car the only differences appear to be the overall dimensions and style. Once you decide between a city car, super-mini or super-sized small car it seems to be a case of which car do you like the look of.

An example is the Ford Ka. If look you at Ka comparisons for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and performance they’re exactly the same as a Fiat 500. This is because they share the same platform including running gear.

The practice of platform sharing has become so widespread it’s difficult to find differences in cars with the same dimensions and engine capacity.

Safety is always an issue but with ABS now standard in the UK and ESP coming in 2011 the difference can be in crash protection. Or will it?

If the choice of car is a matter of style we have to look at overall visibility – the size of rear windows and thickness of pillars and headrests. It seems as though style and safety features are reducing visibility and therefore safety in terms of perception.

Crash protection may be improving and ABS and ESP assist prevention but before this comes perception – the ability to see a hazard in order to prevent an accident.

So fuel economy, CO2 emissions, performance, versatility and safety may appear the same. But do look out for visibility and comfort before style.

I’ve thrown comfort in there at the end because it may be the most important issue. I found in my years selling cars the most common cause of dissatisfaction - if there was one – was comfort. Comfort is a matter of personal taste and all other features being the same should be a point of focus.

Regards
Ralph.

Peugeot 207 mpg, CO2s & performance

On the carbuyersinfo Peugeot 207 Comparisons page I’ve added a table for Peugeot 207 Fuel Consumption, CO2 Emissions and Performance.

All the 207 engine options are included with fuel economy figures for urban, extra-urban and combined mpg. The table also includes emissions, maximum speed and 0 to 62 mph times so you can evaluate the overall efficiency.

You’ll also find a link to compare all small cars for sale in the UK for the above figures – all on one page.  There are 3 tables – tiny city cars, super-minis and the more recent super-sized small cars. The 207′s dimensions make it one of the largest cars in tihs class

Regards
Ralph

Peugeot 207 mpg, CO2s, & performance figures

I’ve just updated my Peugeot 207 Comparisons page with fuel consumption, CO2 emission and performance figures for petrol, diesel, manual and semi-automatic options.

Underneath these tables is a link where you can compare the 207 with all other small cars in the UK and all their engine and transmission options – on one page.

The mpg figures include urban, extra-urban and combined fuel consumption. The performance figures include both top speed and acceleration.

Notice the Peugeot 207 entry model has a 1.4 engine, possibly because – at over 4m – the 207 is one of the largest cars in this class. However there doesn’t seem too much difference between 1.2 and 1.4 options in fuel economy when you look at other models.

There’s always the diesel option but I wonder given the premium paid for a diesel car and fuel, how long it will take to get your money back with mpg savings. It’s worth calculating.

Regards
Ralph

This is Small Car Performance 2010

We all know the Clio Cup, VXR Corsa and Mini Cooper S are little legends. They’re amazingly quick, accelerating 0 to 62 mph in under 7 seconds..

But how about this for small car performance.

I’m not a BMW believer. I don’t like rear-wheel drive. But you have to take your hat off to BMW when it comes to the way they’ve improved the fuel consumption and emissions of their car range.

Now the Mini has the same treatment. A Cooper – non S – will hit 62 mph in 9 seconds. The 98 bhp will travel at 116 mph and has CO2 emissions under 120 g/km with a combined 55 mpg.  A Cooper S returns near a combined 49 mpg. That’s economy acceptable for a normal 1.2.

Let’s do a quick review at what else is available performance wise. There are two quick Twingos in the tiny city size. There’s a rapid C3, Colt, and Swift. In the super-sized small cars there’s a high-speed Punto, Fiesta, Mazda, 207, Ibiza, Fabia and Polo.

It’s more or less the same with diesel options.

They say a small car is all you really need. Certainly, when it comes to performance, they are. You don’t just get speed and acceleration; you get great handling and grip.

The VXR, Cooper S and Clio are king but they cost. There are plenty of alternatives if you don’t want to go absolutely wild with your wellie and wallet.

Regards
Ralph
http://www.carbuyersinfo.co.uk/a_guide_on_small_car_economy_co2.htm

mpg, CO2 and performance figures for small petrol cars with manual transmission

Over on carbuyersinfos car comparison sites pages I’ve published a guide to small car economy, CO2 emissions and performance.

I’ve completed the guide for small cars with petrol engines and manual transmission. Diesel and automatic to follow.

Usually if you want this information you’d have to flick from page to page in magazines or websites. Only here you can find all the information on one page. I’ve made separate charts for tiny city cars, super-minis and the new super-sized small cars.

Over the past four or five years many small cars have been super-sized to around 4m in length. From memory of their previous models there doesn’t seem to be any loss of mpg or performance. At the same time there doesn’t seem to be much improvement. Some of the most recent models are now returning over 50 mpg combined. So look out for changes here.

Of those cars remaining at the old super-mini length of 3.75m it’s much the same story for fuel consumption. There are a handful of cars now with CO2 emissions under 120 g/km. It’s also noticeable a fair percentage of cars in this class are pretty nifty.

The low fuel consumption and low emissions are to be found in tiny city cars.

If you look at the fuel cost per 12,000 miles there’s a difference of £100/£200 on average – at a guess. I can’t say what that money is worth to people. But it doesn’t seem to be such a big difference as to overshadow features like space, safety and performance.

I think this is especially the case given the disclaimers the VCA make as detailed on my page.

The other point to watch out for is figures on the VCA,  internet and in brochures and magazines can be different. I can imagine this is due to the time needed to plan, produce and publish this information. So it’s a must to confirm figures with your local new car dealer.

My information is as true as I can make it and I hope you find it useful. Diesels and automatic to follow – soon.

Regards
Ralph