Research: Calling all KIA Picanto owners for input on audio problem

[Wasabee!]

So my wife and I test drove a Picanto 1.2 EX. Sadly it seems that the six speaker system on the 1.2 EX (top of the range) is plain junk. It sounds like you are playing your cellphone speaker on the loudest. There is no bass at all and it is advertised (and even mentioned as high performance) as a six speaker system.

I have asked KIA about this, lets see what their response is. They even have Mark Pilgrim present a video on the website about it, which makes it very misleading to buyers.

See here for more info:

Complaint 1:
http://hellopeter.com/kia-motors-south-africa/complaints/very-poor-sound-system-quality-1011638
Complaint 2:
http://hellopeter.com/kia-motors-south-africa/complaints/2012-picanto-powerfull-sound-not-as-advertised-837272
Complaint 3:
http://hellopeter.com/kia-motors-south-africa/complaints/very-poor-sound-quality-on-radio-761660

There could be more on hellopeter just regarding this audio problem but I didn't want to look. Here is the video on their website (at the bottom). Note at 08:28 on the video how Mark Pilgrim states:

Switch on the bluetooth and allow the high performance sound system to wrap itself around you.

http://www.kia.co.za/vehicles/picanto

Personally I think KIA should have replaced the speakers or something for the people that purchased such cars as it is just misleading and tarnishing the image of a otherwise great little car. I would like to find out though how many other Picanto owners have this same problem. Thanks!

 

[Quantum Theory]

Not sure what you expected... It is one of the cheapest cars money can buy. I don't mean to offend you. My fiancé drives an i10 and I used to have an i20. Neither of those had "high performance" sound systems. My new car has a great sound system, but it is a much more expensive vehicle.

 

[Priapus]

Not sure what you expected... It is one of the cheapest cars money can buy. I don't mean to offend you. My fiancé drives an i10 and I used to have an i20. Neither of those had "high performance" sound systems. My new car has a great sound system, but it is a much more expensive vehicle.

Exactly this.

It's a cheap car for a reason. However, I also feel Kia are misleading people, which is a bigger issue.

 

[Paul_S]

The sound in the Cerato is not bad at all. I have to turn the bass down to stop loose objects in the door pockets from rattling around.
I guess the Picanto sound system is a bit of the cheap side but then again it's an entry level run around so not sure what you were expecting.
Maybe you should have tested the sound when you did a test drive?

 

[Chevron]

The sound in the Cerato is not bad at all. I have to turn the bass down to stop loose objects in the door pockets from rattling around.
I guess the Picanto sound system is a bit of the cheap side but then again it's an entry level run around so not sure what you were expecting.
Maybe you should have tested the sound when you did a test drive?

^^

 

[Wasabee!]

Thanks for your replies. I have test drove a few other cars in this price category and it seems some of them have much better sound. The only real gripe (although small) I have with this model is the audio, though it seems you can just replace the speakers. Overall though the car offers many features, so probably will go for one. Just need to find stock now.

 

[crysis]

Exactly this.

It's a cheap car for a reason. However, I also feel Kia are misleading people, which is a bigger issue.

Drove a brand new hyundai i20 today, and it probably had the worst sound system I have ever heard. There are laptops with better sound quality than that car. Its truly unacceptable. And don't bring price into it either. My getz, which is the predecessor to that car, has a vastly superior "stock" sound system. Unfortunately, these Koreans have gone backwards in this department.

 

[Rickster]

Goto a aftermarket sound shop, throw out those Nokia 3310 speakers and put some nice Sony Xplode speakers in it.