Hyundai Atos GLS vs Kia Picanto vs Toyota Tazz 130 vs Volkswagen CitiGolf 1,4 Chico

Starter packs
Hyundais facelifted Atos breathes some cool air into a hot budget car battle
OK, so none of these cars is going to win any beauty pageants, but out of the bunch, the Picanto is not only the most modern, but with its chunky details and squirrel grille, also the cutest. The upright and narrow Atos looks like a toaster on wheels, the Tazz like a cleverly refreshed 80s hatch (which it Two old stagers square up to two trendy new mini city cars. The advantage of the older platforms is that they allow (theoretically) for more cabin space. The new cars may be smaller, but they are arguably better packaged. In terms of interior design, the most modern car, the Picanto, is the best. Its facia hangdown section is tilted slightly towards the driver, and contains smart rotary controls for the ventilation system and, if tted, the optional radio/CD player. There are many hidey holes; an open shelf just above the cubby, a hole on the hangdown section, and another next to the steering wheel, as well as a larger tray underneath. Although the steering wheel, is not adjustable, and the seats height is xed, the clever placement of the controls mean that the driving position will be comfortable for most. It also has a drivers footrest. The tiny boot measures 112 dm, and can be expanded to 776 by folding the one-piece rear backrest. IA scored a surprise victory in our annual Top 12 awards, scooping the 2005 Best Budget Car (under R75 000) category with its little Picanto. In the process it beat the likes of Volkswagens iconic CitiGolf and Toyotas trusty Tazz. But where does Hyundais refreshed Atos t in? It is, at just under R70 000, the cheapest car on the market with air-conditioning, and also packs many other features. We lined it up against our Top 12 trio, to see whether cold air can blow its rivals away

it is the most spacious of the bunch. Rear legroom is still tight, but good compared with the competition. The Atos is essentially a four-seater because it is so narrow. Rear legroom is also very cramped but, courtesy of its high roof, headroom is very good, which is great if youve got a Marge

Atos is essentially a four seater

is) and the CitiGolf like a funkedup 70s hatch (which it also is). The alloy wheels you see on the CitiGolf here are optional extras. But buying a budget car is hardly about style. You want the most car for your money. In that sense the Tazz remains hard to beat. Being based on a larger platform, Simpson hairstyle. But for rear passengers the most uncomfortable of the lot is the CitiGolf. The rear seat is mounted very high, with the result that heads are very likely to knock against the roof. And the Picanto? Well, it cant quite match the Tazz, but it comes a fair bit closer than youd think.

DESIGN Atos Picanto Tazz CitiGolf

The Tazzs facia is the only one here to have a soft-touch moulding, which does counter the dated looks with a higher quality appearance compared with the rivals. The latest models also have an attractive steering wheel. The controls are as youd expect, but the Toyota does not have a dipping rear view mirror, or door and seatback pockets. In fact, it only has small storage spaces on the hangdown section and in the centre console. It has the biggest boot (216 dm), and total utility space measures 968 dm. As mentioned before, the Atos is very narrow, so rubbing shoulders with your front passenger will be impossible to

avoid. The facia is basically unchanged from the previous model, and is still executed in cheap-looking grey plastic. It is also the one most likely to leave the driver feeling cramped, because the seat doesnt go back far enough, and lacks bolstering. It does have enough storage spac-

Volkswagen gave the CitiGolf a new facia last year, and this dramatically improved the cars cabin appearance. The centre console has two drinkholders and a 12V power outlet. The CitiGolfs boot measures 200 dm, and the nonsplit rear backrest folds to increase usable space to 752. A parcel

The Tazz has almost no features

es, though, with door pockets tted all round as well as seatback pockets and trays underneath the front seats. The rear seats are split 50:50 and dont only fold, but tumble forwards separately. The boot measures 176 dm and can be expanded to 888. shelf provides some protection against the sun and prying eyes.

COMFORT AND FEATURES Atos Picanto Tazz CitiGolf

The Atos is the clear winner here. Not only does it offer air-conditioning (which was very welcome on the particularly scorching test day), but also electric front windows, front foglights, remote central locking, power steering and a rear window wash/wipe. However, the central locking feature was problematic it locks the doors as soon as the key is inserted in the ignition. And it left us stranded, with camera equipment left in the boot, when the car decided to lock itself while being washed. The Atos also has adjustable front seatbelts, remote adjustable side mirrors, and grab handles in the roof. The Tazz has almost no features at all you have to put your hand out of the window to adjust the

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SPECIFICATIONS

Hyundai Atos GLS

Kia Picanto four in-line, transverse multipoint injection 67/77 mm 1 086 cm3 10 to 1 s-o-h-c, three valves per cylinder electronic ve unleaded 49 5 500 6 400 99 2 800 ve 3,55 to 1 1,89 to 1 1,19 to 1 0,85 to 1 0,72 to 1 3,64 to 1 4,44 to 1 front 14x5J steel Hankook Optimo K406 165/60 R14 210-220 kPa 210-220 kPa liquid sealant, compressor 241 mm ventilated disc 234 mm drum dual circuit rack and pinion 4,1 turns 9,2 metres MacPherson strut, stabiliser bar torsion beam 4/5 35 litres 112 dm3 776 dm3 3 years/100 000 km service every 15 000 km Kia Motors

Toyota Tazz 130 four in-line, transverse twin choke downdraught 73/77,4 mm 1 296 cm3 9,5 to 1 s-o-h-c, three valves per cylinder electronic ve unleaded 55 6 200 6 600 103 4 200 ve 3,55 to 1 1,90 to 1 1,31 to 1 0,97 to 1 0,82 to 1 3,25 to 1 4,06 to 1 front 13x5J alloy Firestone S211 155/80 R13 200-240 kPa 200-240 kPa full size steel 243 mm solid disc 200 mm drum dual circuit rack and pinion, power assisted 2,8 turns 11,1 metres MacPherson strut trailing arms, anti-roll bar 4/5 60 litres 216 dm3 968 dm3 3 years/100 000 km service every 15 000 km Toyota SA

Volkswagen CitiGolf Chico 1,4 four in-line, transverse carburettor 76,5/77,4 mm 1 423 cm3 9,75 to 1 s-o-h-c, two valves per cylinder electronic ve unleaded 54 5 600 6 200 108 3 800 ve 3,455 to 1 1,944 to 1 1,370 to 1 1,032 to 1 0,85 to 1 3,167 to 1 3,941 to 1 front 13x5J steel n/a 155/80 SR14 n/a n/a full size steel discs drums dual circuit rack and pinion, 3,8 turns 10,3 metres MacPherson struts torsion beam 4/5 49 litres 200 dm3 752 dm3 3 years/120 000 km service every 15 000 km VWSA

Not the prettiest bunch of cars, but the Atos and Picanto at least look relatively modern. The Picanto, in fact, even looks cute. The Citi has dated remarkably well, especially considering its shape is thirty years old. And the bland Tazz is one of the most regular sights on our roads. mirrors, there is no remote fuel ap release and its rear window is heated, but has no wipe/wash facility. It does have adjustable seatbelts and an immobiliser, though. The CitiGolf fares little better and offers a manual gearlock, immobiliser, remote adjustable mirrors, rear-manual view mirror with dipping function, heated rear window with a wiper, and adjustable instrument brightness. It has no grab handles in the roof. The Picanto cannot match the Atos for comfort equipment, but does have one ace up its sleeve a drivers side airbag, which, combined with its more modern design, should make it the safest car here. It also has central locking, an immobiliser, adjustable side mirrors, a rear foglight, and a latch to open the rear hatch from the outside. Do the added features make the Atos a signicantly more comfortable car to drive? It certainly is on a hot day! The air-conditioner works very well, and, combined
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with power steering, it means driving, and parking, are not sweaty jobs. In the CitiGolf, however, a hot day is a nightmare, because the steering is heavier than the others, and the facias revised ventilation outlets still dont get enough fresh air to the occupants, even if its hot air... The Tazz is a little better, because the steering is not so heavy and its ventilation system more effective.

comfy seating position because the seats do not slide back far enough. But you cant deny its features, and, as a result, well call it a draw between the Atos and Picanto.

PERFORMANCE AND BRAKING Atos Picanto Tazz CitiGolf

Performance wise the cars are pretty closely matched

The Picantos steering is so light that some testers thought it had power assistance. Save for the air-conditioning, and perhaps the power steering, there is, however, nothing that makes the Atos more comfortable to drive. Its high seating position, combined with the cars narrow and upright proportions, gives a top-heavy feel. The seats have almost no lateral support, and tall drivers will struggle to nd a The engine-room battle is split into two camps; the modern minis are powered by small 1,1-litre fourcylinder engines and the older cars by 1,3- and 1,4-litre carburettor-fed four-cylinder units. The Hyundais engine develops 45 kW at 5 500 r/min and 87 N.m of torque at 3 000. The engine that powers the Picanto has gures of 49 kW at 5 500 r/min and 99 N.m at a nice and low 2 800. The second most powerful car

is the CitiGolf its engine develops 54 kW at 5 600 r/min and 108 N.m of torque at 3 800, which is actually better than the Tazzs 103 N.m at 4 200. The Toyota, however, has more kilowatts (55 kW developed at a fairly high 6 200 r/ min). All the cars send their power to the front wheels via ve-speed manual transmissions. Performance-wise, the cars are pretty closely matched. The Tazz and Picanto are the fastest (top speeds of 159 km/h), followed by the Citi (156 km/h) and the Atos (150 km/h). The Atos, however, already reaches its top speed in fourth gear, meaning fth is mostly there for economy. It also means that the Atos struggles on overtaking acceleration at around 120 to 140 km/h in its top gear. But up to fourth it actually manages to keep up with the others. Our performance times for the CitiGolf are estimates, as we were not able to secure a test car, and had to make do with a dealer demo. But even so, our calculations show that the Volkswagen
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ENGINE: Cylinders four in-line, transverse Fuel supply multipoint electronic injection Bore/stroke 67/77 mm Cubic capacity 1 086 cm3 Compression ratio 10 to 1 Valve gear s-o-h-c, three valves per cylinder Ignition electronic Main bearings ve Fuel requirement unleaded ENGINE OUTPUT: Max power ISO (kW) 45 Power peak (r/min) 5 500 Max usable r/min 6 500 Max torque (N.m) 87 Torque peak (r/min) 3 000 TRANSMISSION: Forward speeds ve Low gear 3,83 to 1 2nd gear 2,11 to 1 3rd gear 1,31 to 1 4th gear 0,92 to 1 Top gear 0,79 to 1 Reverse gear 4,00 to 1 Final drive 4,22 to 1 Drive wheels front WHEELS AND TYRES: Road wheels 13x5J steel Tyre make Hankook radial 884 Tyre size 155/70 R 13 Tyre pressures(front) 207-221 kPa Tyre pressures (rear) 207-221 kPa Spare full size steel BRAKES: Front ventilated discs Rear drums Hydraulics dual circuit STEERING: Type rack and pinion, power assisted Lock to lock 3 turns Turning circle 8,8 metres SUSPENSION: Front MacPherson struts Rear torsion beam CAPACITIES: Seating 4 Fuel tank 35 litres Boot space 176 dm3 Utility space 888 dm3 WARRANTY AND SERVICE INTERVALS: 3 years/100 000 km service every 15 000 km TEST CAR FROM: AMH

is likely to be the fastest to 100 km/h, in just over 14 seconds. Then it is the Tazz (14,11 seconds), the Picanto (14,46) and the Atos (15,42). All the cars have a front disc/ rear drum brake set-up, but the Atos and Picanto have ventilated front discs. Still, the Atos performed the worst of the bunch! The two right wheels locked up easily during our emergency brake test routine (10 stops, 100 km/h to zero), and the times were not very consistent either ranging from 3,34 to 4,02, and achieving an average of 3,66 seconds. The Picanto and Tazz achieved identical times (3,6 seconds) and the CitiGolf was marginally better (3,54 seconds). Its time is taken from the Citi.com we tested in
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February 2004. From behind the wheel, the Picanto has the most grown-up and fuss-free feel gearshifts are slick, and although the power output doesnt look like much on paper, it is spread well between the gears. The Tazz has a very sporty engine sound, but still has the occasional at-spot when accelerating hard. Gearshifts are ne, but the lever will baulk through the gate if very quick changes are attempted. Performance is not something that will spring to mind when driving the Atos, but it keeps up well with fast-moving trafc. A rev counter would have been particularly welcome in this car, because the engine sounds quite buzzy at

the best of times, making it hard to gure out exactly where in the power band you are. The Citi remains a nippy little car to drive, but with its offset gear gate and oor-mounted throttle pedal, it does remind you of its age.

RIDE AND HANDLING Atos Picanto Tazz CitiGolf

Your typical budget car buyer is not too concerned about gravitydefying handling or thrilling steering feedback. Here the emphasis is on comfort and safe, predictable handling. The CitiGolf has for a long time been the most enter-

taining to drive, but only once it gets going. At low speeds, the steering is too heavy and the ride too stiff compared with the others. With its relatively soft suspension, the Tazz is the polar opposite. It soaks up bumps and is certainly the more comfortable car to drive. But its not as good at providing entertainment as the CitiGolf. The upright Atos is hampered by its narrow track, and gets pushed around by winds quite a lot. Also, cornering is not its strongest attribute. The Hankook tyres do not have a lot of grip, and the top heavy feel will quickly get you to back off. But the ride is actually good, courtesy of the relatively long-travel suspension. The Picanto has a good compro105

TEST RESULTS
MAXIMUM SPEED (km/h): True speed Speedometer reading

Hyundai Atos GLS

Kia Picanto

Toyota Tazz 130

Volkswagen CitiGolf Chico 1,4 (gures estimated) 156 at 4 983 r/min in top gear n/a 60 80 100 120 - - - n/a 5,76 9,01 14,01 20,53 38,94 124,38 km/h

150 at 4 998 r/min in 4th gear 160

Calibration: 60 80 100 120 True speed: 57 76 94 113 Odometer error 0,5 per cent under ACCELERATION (seconds): 0-60 5,97 0-80 10,21 0-100 15,42 0-120 26,16 1 km sprint 37,33 Terminal speed 133,8 km/h OVERTAKING ACCELERATION (seconds): 3rd 4th Top 40-60 4,58 7,80 10,08 60-80 4,74 8,48 10,04 80-100 5,94 9,82 12,99 100-120 12,99 19,98 120-140 43,70 42,72 FUEL CONSUMPTION (litres/100 km): *Fuel index 7,26 litres/100 km 13,77 km/litre Estimated tank range 482 km BRAKING TEST: From 100 km/h Best stop Worst stop Average of 10 stops GEARED SPEEDS (km/h): Low gear 2nd gear 3rd gear 4th gear Top gear

159 at 5 030 r/min in top gear 159 at 5 960 r/min in top gear 169 175 (Average of runs both ways on a level road) 60 80 100 120 60 80 100 120 55 75 95 114 54 72 92 110 0,85 per cent over 2,0 per cent over 5,37 9,13 14,46 22,87 36,20 135,6 km/h 3rd 4,32 4,66 5,46 9,32 4th Top 6,88 9,51 6,76 9,91 8,59 10,46 10,85 15,42 19,81 25,65 5,85 9,44 14,11 22,28 37,4 139,12 km/h 3rd 5,06 5,05 5,41 7,85 14,31 4th 8,05 8,09 8,48 10,93 15,16 Top 10,81 11,12 12,33 16,56 24,82

3rd 4,47 4,60 4,81 6,39 -

4th 7,23 6,72 7,55 8,54 12,27

Top 9,60 9,54 10,39 13,10 21,25

6,86 litres/100 km 9,24 litres/100 km 14,58 km/litre 10,82 km/litre 510 km 649 km (*Calculated overall consumption)

8,40 litres/100 km 11,90 km/litre 583 km

3,34 4,02 3,66

3,37 3,5 3,70 3,8 3,60 3,6 (Measured in seconds with stops from true speeds at 30-second intervals on a good bitumenised surface.)

3,18 3,85 3,54 43* 48 77* 85 109* 120 144* 160 175* 194 (Calculated at engine power peak* 5 600 r/min and at max. usable r/min 6 200 r/min.) Mech 47 63 63 70 73 57 2,25 31,31 950 at sea level 95 octane unleaded Road 72 75 78

34* 40 35* 41 45* 48 61* 73 66* 77 84* 90 99* 117 105* 124 122* 130 141* 166 147* 172 165* 176 165* 195 174* 204 196* 208 (Calculated at engine power (Calculated at engine power (Calculated at engine power peak* 5 500 r/min and at max. peak* 5 500 r/min and at max. peak* 6 200 r/min and at max. usable r/min 6 500 r/min.) usable r/min 6 400 r/min.) usable r/min 6 600 r/min.) INTERIOR NOISE LEVELS (db, A-weighted): Mech Road Mech Road Mech Road Idling 40 41 45 60 62 61 58 80 65 71 64 70 62 72 100 68 74 66 73 64 74 120 71 76 69 75 68 76 PERFORMANCE FACTORS: Power/mass net (W/kg) 49 53 56 Frontal area (m2) 2,42 2,36 2,26 km/h per 1 000 r/min (top) 30,01 31,61 31,56 Mass as tested (kg) 917 927 988 (Calculated on mass as tested, gross frontal area, gearing and ISO power output) TEST CONDITIONS: Altitude at sea level at sea level at sea level Weather overcast, cool overcast, windless cool, clear Fuel used 95 octane unleaded 95 octane unleaded 95 octane unleaded Test cars odometer 1 680 1 480 385

The Picantos facia is the most modern and has many storage spaces. The Atos is little changed from the previous version and the plastics look and feel cheap. Citis facia was upgraded last year (1,4i model shown). The Tazzs dashboard is perhaps the most dated (new models feature a different steering wheel design). None of the cars have radio/CD-players as standard equipment. you are concerned about safety. It is the only car with an airbag, and is priced at R69 995. In all measurable aspects it is a better car than the Atos. If the Picanto had air-conditioning as standard, there would be no reason to buy the Atos at all! perhaps, the Tazz. It is the most expensive of the lot, uses the most fuel, and has the least features. In the past much was made about the cars reliability and Toyotas legendary after-sales service. We still think it will be very reliable, but the brands relatively poor J D Power survey rating has shown that some complacency may have started to set in The CitiGolf is next to go. It may be the cheapest, but it also has very few features and is, to put it bluntly, a pain to drive in trafc.
And pity the poor passengers banished to that rear seat Next up is the Atos, a car not many of the testers expected to perform so well, but the creature comforts of air-conditioning, power steering and electric windows, at a very affordable price, do help it to score valuable points. As a city car it is hard to beat, because its easy to park, has a comfy ride, the air-con keeps you cool, and it uses little fuel. We dont like the looks, on the inside or the outside, and the handling is pretty poor, but as weve said, thats hardly a priority. The Picanto remains the best buy here. It has no real aws, is the most modern of the lot, uses the least fuel, and seems very well screwed together, so even taking Kias dismal J D Power result (survey excluded the Picanto) into account, we have no hesitation in advising buyers in this price range to test drive one of these little Kias.

mise between comfortable ride quality and non-wobbly handling. Its steering is usefully light at low speeds, and still gives good enough feel at higher speeds.

FUEL ECONOMY Atos Picanto Tazz CitiGolf

The gures tell the story. The Picanto is the most frugal (6,86 litres/100 km). This gives it a range of over 500 km on its small 35-litre tank. The Atos also rates as economical, with a gure of 7 ,26 litres/100 km. The two older cars,
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with their larger capacity engines were always going to struggle to match the Koreans in this area. The CitiGolfs 8,4 litres/100 km is, however, quite a bit better than the Tazzs 9,24 litres/100 km, which is simply too high.

VALUE FOR MONEY Atos Picanto Tazz CitiGolf

At R69 900, the Atos offers quite a lot of features at the price. But there are things to keep in mind, of which the fact that it is essentially a four seater is perhaps

the most important. It is also the car here that feels least substantial, and although actual build integrity seems ne (it is put together in India), the plastics look cheap and will show wear quickly. The Tazz costs R73 242, the most expensive of these cars, and offers the least features. It is, however, the biggest car, and has proven mechanicals. The CitiGolf 1,4 Chico is the cheapest (R66 270) and matches the Tazz on features, so is a better value for money buy. Resale values for both the VW and the Toyota are good. The Picanto also offers good value for money particularly if

NOTEBOOK I think the time for the two oldies is up Picanto shows you dont have to settle for something old-fashioned when buying at this level. HO Two decades ago I thought the Citi Golf was a superb entry-level car. But weve moved on a bit since then. JB The Picanto offers the best compromise between space, features (tted and optional), and is fun to drive. Also looks the best. PP
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VERDICT Atos Picanto Tazz CitiGolf

First to fall out is, surprisingly

Our nal verdict: Picanto takes the win from the Atos, CitiGolf and Tazz.
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