Occasion: first Russian test drive Kia Picanto third generation

Scene: Moscow and surroundings

Impressions: doesn't look dated at all. Created under the direction of Peter Schreyer, this urban hatch is still an eye-catcher and fits perfectly into the company's current lineup. And yet, six full years on the assembly line is an impressive period. At the beginning of this year, the Koreans showed. And yesterday the city car was rolled out to the Russian press.

The share of high-strength steels in the body structure doubled from 22% to 44%. Torsional rigidity increased by 32%. The length and width of the car remained the same - 3595 and 1595 mm. But wheelbase stretched by 15 mm and is now 2400 mm. The company proudly emphasizes: the Golf of the first generation has exactly the same indicator.

With a height of 176 cm, it is really possible to get a good job on one's own. At the same time, the knees from the back driver's seat separated by a few centimeters. Kia Picanto can definitely be called a full-fledged car for four. And although I wouldn’t dare to travel with such a train for several thousand kilometers, it’s easy to wave with friends to Minsk or St. Petersburg for the weekend.

According to the manufacturer, the trunk volume added 55 liters and reached 255 liters. They say that a slightly increased rear overhang and a different finish made it possible to achieve such indicators. It seems to me that the real value is much more modest, but let's still wait for a full-fledged test and our measurements.

What really captivates the new Picanto is that it doesn't feel cheap and small. Yes, everything inside is made of hard plastic, but the fit, ergonomics and equipment level are absolutely adult. If a broad-shouldered comrade is not sitting on the right, trying to grab the central armrest, you quickly forget about the modest dimensions of the Picanto.

Top versions of the Picanto are equipped with a heated steering wheel, push-button engine start, multimedia system with 7" touchscreen (support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay) and even a rearview camera. So, in terms of options, the little Kia surpasses all direct competitors, of which there are only two - Ravon R2 and Smart ForFour. The first does not offer any of the above in principle. The second is deprived of push-button engine start and steering wheel heating.

At the presentation, there were cars exclusively with a top-end 1.2-liter engine with 84 hp. This is combined only with a 4-speed automatic and should accelerate the Picanto to hundreds in 12 seconds. There are no special questions about the dynamics. But the number of stages in fluid mechanics and, as a result, fuel consumption are very frustrating. After a hundred-kilometer route at an average speed of 58 km / h, the trip computer showed 7.4 l / 100 km. I think Picanto can gobble up all nine in hard traffic jams. Liter versions power 67 hp equipped with a 5-speed manual, so the demand for such Picantos will be small.

GT line version? It's just styling. Behind the evil appearance is the same harmless baby: a 1.2-liter engine, similar suspension settings. By the way, the Picanto steers very well by the standards of the class. Excellent stands on the arc, almost no heels in corners. Yes, and with the effort on the steering wheel, too, the order. If Picanto can be blamed for the lack of feedback, then only at high speeds.

One of the main features of the Kia company is that cars are assembled at the branches of those countries in the market of which they will subsequently be sold.
Photo: Kia plant in the USA

Worth noting that appearance and specifications of one model may directly depend on the branch at which the car is produced.

The most powerful enterprise in Russia, where Kia products are made, is the Avtotor plant in Kaliningrad.

The Kia Rio car is considered one of the best-selling in the world market, in particular in Russia. Motorists first of all note the high build quality, nice design and low cost.

As mentioned above, for Russia, Rio is assembled at the Kaliningrad plant.

Among the producing countries of Rio was Ukraine, where the Kia Rio was assembled at the LUAZ plant. Do not forget about branches in Thailand, India, China, Ecuador and South Korea.

Kia Sid

A golf-class car that has been among the leaders in sales over the past few years.

For Russian market Seed is assembled at Avtotor in Kaliningrad, and for the CIS markets at an enterprise in Kazakhstan.

The most powerful plant is a South Korean enterprise whose products can be found all over the world.

Assembly of Kia cars in Mexico

kia carnival

Kia Carnival is one of the most "ancient" cars of the Korean concern, which has been assembled since 1998. Since that time, the car has gone through three modifications, each of which was made at a factory in South Korea.

Also, until 2014, the car was produced in the UK and the USA, but there it was called Kia Sedona.

Kia cerate

At the moment, Cerato is on the list of leaders in sales in Russia. Until 2013, the car was made in South Korea and Kazakhstan.

It is worth noting that new modification models are also assembled at a Russian enterprise.

In 2006, when the second generation of Cerato was introduced, the “Korean” began to be assembled in the USA.
Kia Clarus

Clarus is one of the few Korean cars, which was assembled exclusively at native enterprises. In fairness, it should be noted that for a short period of time the assembly took place at the Kaliningrad Avtotor.

Kia Mojave

Even at the initial stage of development, company representatives claimed that the SUV Kia Mojave will only ship to the US. But later, it was decided to export the model to the Russian market.

To date, Mojave is assembled at Avtotor Kaliningrad, as well as in Kazakhstan and South Korea.

It is worth noting that in the US the SUV is referred to as the Kia Borrego.

Photo: Kia assembly in Korea

Kia Opirus and Kia Quoris

It's no secret that Kia Quoris is the company's most expensive car. His predecessor was Kia sedan Opirus, the production of which ended in 2010, and took place exclusively in South Korean enterprises.

Kia Quoris is assembled in Kaliningrad to this day.

Kia Optima

Another Kia Optima model, popular among domestic motorists, appeared on the Russian market in 2012, and it was at the same time that its mass production began at Avtotor.

Kia Sorento

The new generation of the mid-size Sorento SUV cannot boast the same popularity as the previous ones, but there are fans.

To date, Sorento is produced at the Kaliningrad enterprise. For some time, the assembly was carried out at Izh-Avto.

It is worth noting that Sorento SUVs for the European market are made at the facilities of Turkey and Slovakia.

kia soul

The Russian version of the Kia Soul boasts a unique design. Due to this, the car of domestic assembly is significantly different from foreign counterparts.

No one will be surprised that the car is produced at Avtotor.

In addition, to a greater extent for local markets, the model is assembled in Kazakhstan, China and South Korea.

Video: Kia car assembly process

kia sportage

crossover kia sportage gained high popularity due to its design, and fantastic driving performance. The first generation of the car was assembled at German enterprises. Subsequent modifications are made in Russia and Slovakia.

kia venga

Until recently, Kia Venga was the only Kia model, which was not collected on the territory of Russia. But, in 2015, the situation improved, because the Avtotor enterprise undertook obligations to annually fill domestic market quality cars.

Conclusion

Kia cars are among the most popular, both in the global and domestic markets.

The range of models is really impressive, and it seems that the Korean concern has set itself the task of inserting at least one representative in each car class.

For the domestic market, Kia models are assembled mainly at the Avtotor Kaliningrad plant. However, for some time, the assembly was carried out at the Izh-Avto enterprise.

And we are resuming a series of articles on the production of cars. This time we will consider Kia Motors.

The Korean company KIA Motors, known for its cars, has been one of the first places in all ratings in terms of the number of cars sold for several years. Such popularity is due to a very attractive price / quality ratio of the models produced by the company. Also of great importance for the popularization of the brand was the joint policy of the company and the Russian state to move the workshops for the final assembly of cars closer to the consumer. Today there is a large production center where KIA cars are assembled in Russia. In addition, the Russian market receives models assembled by factories in South Asia and Slovakia.

The transfer of car production to the domestic market has become profitable automotive companies due to the increase in customs duties and the introduction of economic preferences by the government of the Russian Federation

Where is the Kia Rio assembled?

KIA Rio is the most popular model of the company. Functioning in Kaliningrad large plant Avtotor, where KIA Rio is assembled for the Russian market.

For some time, models assembled by the Ukrainian automobile plant LuAZ were available to customers. However, today you can only buy cars assembled in Kaliningrad.

For other markets, KIA Rio is assembled by the facilities of Thailand, China, South Korea, some other countries. At the same time, the car for different regions differs both in exterior and “stuffing”.

Where is the Kia Sportage assembled?

KIA Sportage is a popular model, which is compact SUV from a South Korean company. Today, the assembly of the car is carried out by the Avtotor plant (Kaliningrad). This stage involves the assembly of about 30 machine parts. Slovak plant where they collect KIA Sportage, supplies machines to other countries.

Previously, the Russian consumer was also sold cars of this model, produced by the company's German plant.

Where is the Kia Ceed assembled?

A popular C-class car, ranking among model range KIA is an intermediate place between Rio and Optima. The car, like its relatives, is assembled for the Russian market by the Kaliningrad plant.

There is also a Kazakh production, where they produce KIA Ceed for some CIS countries. The Russian consumer can meet cars produced by the main representative office of the company (South Korea). This is especially true of the first generation of the machine.

Where is the Kia Sorento assembled?

One of the most famous cars a company that occupies a significant share of the mid-size crossover market, competing with cars such as the Chevrolet Optima, Mitsubishi Outlander, as well as Hyundai Santa Fe having the same base.

The plant where the KIA Sorento is assembled is located in Kaliningrad (Avtotor). Previously, the SUV was also produced by the facilities of IZH-Auto.

For European countries, the car is assembled by the KIA Motors Slovakia plant. Models assembled by Turkish production facilities are also common.

Where is the Kia Optima assembled?

KIA Optima is a middle-class sedan, which is known in many countries of the world under various names. It has a common base with its main competitor - Hyundai Sonata.

The model has been sold on the Russian market since 2012. The only plant , where is going KIA Optima- it's still the same "Avtotor". Assembly of the car began there in the fall of 2012.

Where is the Kia Soul assembled?

The car is a fairly rare mini-SUV segment, characterized as a mini-truck. Inside the lineup, the Kia Soul sits between the Kia Seed and the Sportage.

The model sent to the CIS countries is produced by a Kazakh plant. For the South Asian market, it is produced by the main facilities of the company (South Korea). Factory where they produce Kia Soul for the Russian market is located in Kaliningrad.

Where is the Kia Cerato assembled?

KIA cerate is also one of the concern's best-selling cars. Until recently, the car was assembled by a South Korean plant, including for the Russian market. However, today the plant where Kia cerate is produced is the same Avtotor, located in Kaliningrad.

Where is the Kia Picanto assembled?

KIA Picanto is an urban subcompact car. It is popular because of its small size and high functionality. One of the few popular cars of the brand that is not produced by Russian factories.

The regions where Kia Picanto is assembled are South Korea and Kazakhstan. The Russian market is dominated by South Korean models. Machines produced in Kazakhstan are sent to the markets of the CIS countries.

According to experts, in the next few years, the production of the car will also be transferred to the facilities of the Avtotor Kaliningrad plant.

Where is the Kia Venga assembled?

Kia Venga is a subcompact car that was assembled at the Slovak plant Kia Motors Slovakia until 2016. Now the plant where KIA Venga is produced for the domestic market is Avtotor.

The model, intended for South Asian consumers, is produced by the South Korean division. Since 2015, Kia Venga has been discontinued in Russia.

Conclusion

KIA cars today are mostly produced domestic capacities. Avtotor produces such popular models of the company as Rio, Sportage, Ceed, Cerato. The line of cars produced by the Kaliningrad plant will expand as the market needs. Korean brand cars have proven themselves to be reliable, inexpensive models. The domestic consumer most of all prefers budget representatives of the Kia line, but the main competitor of the successful Rio model, the Hyundai Solaris, did not go unnoticed either. It still remains one of the best-selling cars in Russia.

One of the main parameters that buyers of a new car are trying to evaluate today is the place of assembly. It often turns out that the car is German or Japanese brand assembled in Russia or in another country with not too high quality assemblies. This makes the credibility of the car limited, so it is important to know where the car was assembled before going to a car dealership to get acquainted with it. Sometimes potential buyers refuse to purchase a car after learning that the country of the brand and assembly are two different states. However, such news no longer scares specialists. automotive market, because manufacturers are often looking for ways to reduce the cost of manufacturing vehicles.

But for the buyer, the news that his expensive car was brought from a Chinese factory, for example, will not be too joyful. Today we will talk about where KIA is assembled, and also consider the modern range of this brand. The Korean company KIA has recently begun to actively develop in all world markets and provide customers with high quality vehicles. The last ten years have brought the brand to a very high level, today Korean cars are ready to compete with any global manufacturer.

KIA assembly - the main plants of the company and cars of the Russian market

KIA Corporation is part of the Hyundai Group, but is a separate brand and an independent unit of the concern. However, in recent years, the cooperation of these companies in terms of the development of technology has been especially noticeable. For machines of the same class, one base, one engine and transmission are used. However, the KIA brand has managed to retain its design and lineup identity.

Today the company owns full-fledged automobile plants in Korea, India, China, Turkey and the USA. In almost all countries where the brand's cars are sold, there is a subassembly of cars, which reduces their cost in local markets. For example, in Russia the corporation's assembly partners are IZH-Avto and Avtotor. Almost the entire model range of the company is produced in Kaliningrad today, and KIA cars Russian assembly are distinguished by the following features:

• quite high-quality production with availability necessary checks reliability and certifications;
• the absence of factory blunders, which are a tradition of Russian assembly plants for other brands;
• the use of Korean units, fully assembled and assembled at one of the company's five factories in South Korea;
• adaptation of almost the entire model range to the Russian conditions of transport operation;
• the presence of serious modifications for some models that were developed for Russia.

As a vivid example of a car designed for our operating conditions, we can cite a very successful project of the company - a new generation of KIA Rio. Great design and good technique without saving on important components, it made the car as attractive as possible in all respects. For these reasons, the company received almost 9% of the market of all foreign cars in Russia at the end of 2014.

But the competition in Koreans is quite big, because today the company has lost most of its developments. The popularity of models was especially negatively affected by a serious rise in prices associated with currency fluctuations in early 2015. From that moment on, the company's lineup practically ceased to develop, and the popularity of cars began to noticeably decline. However, some models remain popular today.

Lineup and brief description of KIA cars in Russia

The corporation's cars are presented in a fairly large assortment, despite the unfulfilled plan to update the lineup this year. The corporation offers solutions for both urban travel and off-road conquest. Among the general strengths companies should be named good design, high quality and travel comfort. But this is only the first impression of most of the manufacturer's machines.

Each model from the assortment of the Korean company has its own individual characteristics:

• Picanto - baby hatchback with a bright design, stylish salon for city trips, the car is regarded as good suggestion for the fair sex;
• Rio is one of the company's most popular models, a compact sedan and hatchback with excellent individual external characteristics and hardy equipment for Russian conditions;
• Cee "d is a successful project of the company, present in hatchback, station wagon and coupe bodies, a comfortable and spacious car with good technical characteristics;
• Cerato is a traditional C-class sedan with good handling and a high level of equipment, very reliable technology and decent performance for daily use;
• Optima is one of the inexpensive premium sedans with a bright appearance, a large interior and a very productive engine, attractive in all aspects, including the price;
• Quoris is a truly premium car with an excellent interior, high quality equipment and excellent finishing materials, a car for business and executive class;
• Venga is a small family van with an attractive price, but not too much spacious interior, popular in European countries due to its versatility;
• Soul - a small urban crossover with an unusual appearance, memorable design features and a good spacious interior, a car for smooth trips;
• Sportage - completely reborn in a new generation compact crossover with authentic design and outstanding engines, respected for its bold appearance;
• sorento- big crossover with good technique and impressive size, in 2015, the next generation update is expected with a complete change in appearance details;
• Mohave is an SUV with very attractive characteristics, but not too affordable cost, which hinders its popularity in our country.

In general, the manufacturer's model range is quite wide, but some cars need updates. For this and the coming year, the company has planned a lot of changes in a number of models, but it is unlikely that they will be implemented all of them. Today, the company is experiencing a slight decline in popularity, because many models will be delayed, their entry into the market will be postponed indefinitely. We offer you to see a small test drive of a small and popular sedan KIA Rio:

Summing up

It is difficult to say what situation the Korean manufacturer is in today, and whether it is worth expecting certain new products from it in the near future. However, salons KIA in Russia are full of offers, because the company continues to supply and assemble vehicles in our country. Despite the technical rapprochement with the parent concern Hyundai, KIA cars have been able to maintain their uniqueness and in many ways surpass the products of the owner corporation.

In today's market, the Korean company KIA is far from the last place in the ratings and offers very high quality and modern cars. Given the active expansion of the brand to the US market, we can assume that in the near future model line there will be new models that will be available for the Russian market. How do you feel about cars from South Korea, including the KIA brand?

author Andrey Borisovich asked a question in Choice of car, motorcycle

Where is the kia picanto assembled? I ask because I categorically do not accept the Russian and Chinese assembly. and got the best answer

Answer from CAIIIA[guru]
South Korea

Answer from 2 answers[guru]

Hey! Here is a selection of topics with answers to your question: Where is kia picanto assembled? I ask because I categorically do not accept the Russian and Chinese assembly.

Answer from Tamara.[guru]
it can be collected in Russia and in any other country. It is quite possible that the assembly process, for example, in one country is a little, then this assembly is taken to another country and at the end. . Well, where do you think the Mercedes is robbed? yes, the collection is carried out everywhere .. HC you probably don’t know and therefore are categorical about this

Answer from Dmitriy[guru]
In Ukraine began to collect cars Kia
autonews 02/11/2005
JSC "Lutsky" car factory"(LuAZ, Ukraine) started assembling Kia cars, told RBC at the enterprise.
Until the end of The enterprise plans to assemble more than 1.5 thousand cars of this brand. In 2006 LuAZ plans to assemble 3.8 thousand Kia cars.
LuAZ will assemble Kia Picanto, Kia Rio, Kia Cerato, Kia Magnetis, Kia Opirus and Kia Sorento. In addition, it is planned to start assembling Kia Pregio minibuses. The assembly of cars will be carried out using the SKD method.

Answer from Pepel[guru]
Official presentation of the new Generation Kia Picanto took place on March 1, 2011 - the opening day of the Geneva Motor Show. Sales of the new Picanto in Russia will begin in the summer of 2011.
while like Slovakia, Ukraine.

Answer from Pkov Sokolov[guru]
It's cool, but the TV set is at your place. where is it assembled? What do you think?)))) Born in Kaliningrad)))))