The Pegas is not entirely a new kid on the block. It debuted a few years ago as a concept model, and is based on the Kia Rio. This past week we were fortunate enough to experience the Kia Pegas for a first drive during an intimate session with the brands’s representatives in the North of Johannesburg. Following this first drive, we’ve listed 5 things you need to know about the car.

A Familiar Face

Is there a fascia out there that’s changed it’s face more dramatically over the course of the past five years than that from Kia? The Pegas borrows a lot from its bigger brother the Rio sedan. Up front the car is all creases and grille, with bold lines carving prominent 3D-esque triangles out of the upper air dam. The rear of the car is less busier, although not to its detriment, and Kia has moved up the Pegas’ badging to the top left corner so that everyone around you knows what you’re driving.

I found this look to be handsome, but not remarkable. We’ve seen this on the Rio sedan already.

Strong Engine Choice

Like a number of its compact-size sedan competitors – though not all – the 2021 Kia Pegas is offered exclusively with Kia’s multi-point injection engine. The offering 1.4-litre mill is good for 69kW of power and 132Nm of torque on tap.

The model we drove was the 5 speed manual, but there’s a 4 speed automatic too. You’re not going to notice the power gap between the two engine cars in daily driving, and even when pushing hard it’s largely a wash given that these aren’t performance-oriented cars.

Spacious and Comfortable

Hiding underneath the Pegas’ familiar skin is a cabin roomy enough to add a small amount of extra comfort to the daily commute. The end result is a car that’s pleasing to drive without adding an unnecessary harshness or stiff-legged antics on rough pavement, of which there was plenty during my test drive route. It takes a lot to make it uphill, but eventually you’ll get there.

Furthermore, features aren’t as dramatic as what’s been accomplished on the exterior, but that’s ok because there wasn’t much need to mess with what was already a good thing on the Rio sedan. Highlights include the new 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system incorporating a reverse camera with dynamic guidelines, a standard fitment throughout the range (alongside rear park-distance control sensors). The system also boasts Bluetooth connectivity, a USB port and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Depending on the model grade, the Pegas’ interior is trimmed in either smart cloth or high-quality artificial leather.

Respectable safety and tech features present

The 2021 Kia Pegas offers standard ABS with EBD across all trim levels for the very first time. On top of that there’s disc brakes all around, as well as dual front airbags with ISOFIX child-seat anchoring points. While this equipment is increasingly available on a wide range of affordable automobiles, it’s still worth pointing out that there was once a time when this kind of advanced equipment was limited to high-rand luxury cars.

Not a huge leap forward

Aside from the 5 speed manual which makes the most sense and its nouveau visage, the 2021 Kia Pegas doesn’t represent a significant leap forward for Kia’s sedan line-up. That’s by design, really. Nonetheless, it’s a success: potential customers who might have stayed away from yesteryear’s Rio sedan model because of its heavy price tag may well be enticed by the Pegas.

Competitors for the Kia Pegas include the Honda Amaze, Suzuki Dzire, Ford Figo sedan and Polo Vivo sedan.

As mentioned the Kia Rio has undergone a facelift to help bring its groove back but we can’t help but wonder whether that’s enough to entice South Africans to swing this way since this segment has some tough contenders. For context, the Kia Rio has been taking on the likes of VW’s Polo and Hyundai’s i20.

Let’s talk about the noticeable changes to the Rio; The front fascia has a flatter sportier “tiger nose” and the bumper has been reworked to assist with more air intake to the radiator while the fog lamps have been relocated. The LS models now have 15-inch alloy wheels while the EX gets the 17-inch wheels.

Kia then supplemented the Rio with the inclusion of the 1.4LS option of which I was excited about since they only offered the 1.2L option previously. When it comes to frugality, unfortunately, the 1.4L engine that pushes out 73kW that’s coupled with a six-speed transmission leaves you with a lack of passion for the Rio.

I found this spec to be underwhelming when it came to power delivery. However, I found that the overall drive of and comfort levels of the car met my expectations of a typical day to day drive. Also, if you are a manual kind of driver you will be pleased to know that the Kia Rio is also available in a manual transmission which also leads me to believe the drive may be more desirable in this configuration.

The interior showcase minimal changes that work very well for the Rio. The 8-inch touch screen infotainment is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ready. The Rio only offers two USB slots, with one that service the front and another that services the rear passengers. The sound system isn’t the greatest when you bump up your favourite Yanos tunes. However, I love that the Rio has enough space to fit 4 adults comfortably. The rear folding seats are an absolute bonus as they open up the vehicle to fit more cargo because of the 60:40 split of the seats. Another upside is the fact that they fold flat meaning they give more flexibility when loading large items. Overall, the interior has a very simplistic appeal with minimal dials in the steering wheel to control that audio system.

Overall, I think the Kia Rio is a stunning car when it comes to appearance and durability. With a price tag that starts from R280 995 and an unlimited kilometre or 5-year warranty I believe you do get for what you pay for.