Kia Pegas 1.4 auto: Rearguard response

By Ghaith Madadha - Oct 28,2019 - Last updated at Oct 28,2019

Photos courtesy of Kia

An attainable everyman’s well-equipped and un-pretentious car designed primarily for developing market drivers, the Kia Pegas launch in recent weeks comes at the right time for the prevailing economic climate.

Built in collaboration with the Korean automaker’s Chinese Dongfeng partner, the Pegas is a rearguard response to shore up the brand’s entry-level end of the market as other Kias move ever more upmarket.

Based on, and sitting below the Rio saloon in Kia’s line-up, the Pegas vies with small saloons like the Renault Logan and Nissan Sunny in the highly competitive B-segment.

Engineered as an affordable car for value-oriented customers including families feeling the squeeze, first-time drivers and fleet operators, the Pegas uses proven components, along with more cost-effective Chinese production and a rationalisation of some upmarket features. Well-incorporating equipment, features and design elements for maximum effect and prominence, the Pegas’ design is characterised by its slim contemporary ‘Tiger-nose’ corporate Kia grille, big gaping functional lower intake and faux gill-like side intakes. With chiseled bonnet, high waistline and ridged surfacing, the Pegas fits seamlessly among modern Kias, without looking over-stated or over-ambitious.

Smooth and progressive

Powered by a single engine option driving its front wheels, and choice of 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic gearboxes, the Pegas’ naturally-aspirated 1.4-litre 4-cylinder engine develops 95bhp at 6,000rpm and with a slightly more torque-biased ‘under-square’ design, produces 97lb/ft torque at 4,000rpm.

Free revving and with a distant and very subdued hint of top-end snarl, the Pegas engine combines with a comparatively lightweight of 1,041-1,062kg to deliver adequately timely 13.1-second 0-100km/h acceleration and a 180km/h top speed. Meanwhile, its frugal fuel consumption is rated at 6.1l/100km on the combined cycle.

Consistently smooth and progressive in delivery, the Pegas is as responsive at low-end as necessary, and is fairly flexible to keep pace on city, highway and country roads, and moderate inclines. Driven between Jerash and Amman at a constant 80-100km/h, the Pegas did feel like it would have been more comfortable with a fifth gear. As driven in 4-speed automatic guise, it is smooth shifting and economical, but often dropped to third to maintain momentum, and to second to more assertively pick up speed on this particular tract of highway.

Comfortable and manoeuvrable

Expected to be better on inclines in 5-speed manual with closer and more aggressive ratios in the mix, and more fun to drive with added driver involvement, the Pegas is, however, smooth riding and reassuringly stable on highway, and manoeuvrable, agile and easy to drive in town, regardless of which gearbox is chosen.

Using a MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension set-up as expected, the Pegas was a more refined drive than anticipated that comfortably dealt with lumpy, bumpy and imperfect road surfacing without wallow or much bounce.

Fitted with narrow and tall 175/70R14 tyres the Pegas rides over textured roads in a forgivingly comfortable and supple manner, while remaining well settled on rebound after dips and crests.

The Pegas’ tyre choice is durable in absorbing vertical shocks and protects the wheels from tall kerbs and deep sudden ruts. Its tyres also help the narrow and nimble Pegas deliver decent and nuanced steering feel for road textures, car position and grip limits as zips through switchbacks and city streets with agile manoeuvrability. Meanwhile body roll and understeer are comparatively well-controlled.

User-friendly

Initially light and somewhat vague at low speed, the Pegas’ steering, however, weighs up better and with a more communicative level of resistance when hustled quicker through corners. Meanwhile, generous ground clearance makes the Pegas well-suited for well-worn urban streets and rougher rural roads alike.

Inside, the Pegas offers good sightlines, a comfortable driving position with rake-adjustable steering and an easy to reach, user-friendly console and layouts, but slightly lower front seat mounting points would benefit taller drivers, when sunroof-equipped. Meanwhile, its rear seats are adequately spaced, but its boot volume is generous at 475-litres.

Well-equipped among competitors, standard and optional Pegas features include a 7-inch Bluetooth-enabled infotainment screen with Android Auto and Apple Carplay, rear parking sensors, air conditioning, electric windows, remote central locking, ABS brakes, electronic stability control and four airbags.

The Pegas’ cabin combines a stylish, uncluttered unexpectedly classy looking dashboard with more value oriented discrete hard plastic textures and hard-wearing faux leather or shiny fabric upholstery options. Meanwhile, the Pegas’ intuitively stepped auto gear lever and adjustable driver’s seat-integrated armrest is a leaf lifted directly from Mercedes’ and BMW’s 1980s repertoire.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 1.4-litre, transverse 4-cylinders

Valve-train: 16-valve, DOHC

Gearbox: 4-speed automatic, front-wheel-drive

Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 94 (95) [70] @6,000rpm

Specific power: 67.3BHP/litre

Power-to-weight: 90.3BHP/tonne

Torque, lb/ft (Nm): 97 (132) @4,000rpm

Specific torque: 94.5Nm/litre

Torque-to-weight: 126Nm/tonne

0-100km/h: 13.1-seconds

Top speed: 180km/h