Kia Pegas (2021) Launch Review
Compact sedans are few and far between these days and Korean sedans are particularly rare. Kia has nonetheless introduced one that should be very kind to your family-motoring budget. Lance Branquinho attended the local launch where he drove the Pegas 1.4 EX 5-speed manual.
The Pegas is not what you would expect from Kia. It brings a “4-door car with a boot lid” (what?) to the company’s local product portfolio, and we know what you are thinking: “that’s an Uber car.” Kia thinks otherwise. Although the government represents 21% of the demand in the affordable-sedan segment and rentals have evaporated, the telling statistic is that 68% of sedans are purchased privately. Why?
Rivals and value
The EX-specification Pegas has a decent line-up of standard equipment, including power windows and electrically adjustable side mirrors. What’s more, that aforementioned 7-inch infotainment screen allows for a reverse-view camera, which is curiously handy if you aren’t that familiar with driving a sedan anymore.
What about its rivals? Honda’s Amaze has a 55-litre smaller boot, no reverse-view camera or touchscreen infotainment system.
Suzuki’s Dzire has an even smaller boot, which has 97 litres less capacity than the Pegas and also doesn’t offer touchscreen infotainment. Then there’s the Ford Figo sedan, which doesn’t have a reverse-view camera or touchscreen infotainment, but comes closest to the Pegas in terms of boot space, being only 30 litres less capacious.
Kia has a strong entrant in the budget-sedan market. The Pegas has a sizeable boot, its standard touchscreen infotainment system makes all the difference in a smartphone-obsessed world, plus its 5-year/unlimited km manufacturer warranty (including roadside assistance) and 4-year/60 000 km service plan sweeten the deal.
But what about the long-serving Volkswagen Polo sedan? The platform might be a generation old, but VW is the only car in this segment that offers electronic stability control. And it is an important safety feature, although there is a cost aspect to it, making the Polo sedan range more expensive than Kia’s Pegas.
Korean Uber car or sensible family transport with great device multitasking ability? In truth, it’s mostly the latter.
Kia has launched a sedan that should be very kind to your family-motoring budget. Lance Branquinho drove the Kia Pegas on its local launch.
www.cars.co.za