By Otsile Kadiege

The demand for SUVs in South Africa is ever increasing. So, when we heard that Kia South Africa will introduce a compact sedan we were left wondering why the Korean automaker’s local arm would take such a bold move. Well, Kia SA said they’re pitching the Pegas at first-time buyers in their mid 20s.

Exterior design

The Kia Pegas bears the automaker’s signature ‘tiger nose’ grille, halogen headlights, smart chrome highlights and 14-inch wheels on the higher specification.  The Pegas is 4,300 mm long making it one of the largest vehicles in the A/B-segment. Customers will have a choice of five exterior colours, namely Clear White, Titanium Silver, Blue Stream, Marcato Red and Aurora Black Pearl.

Interior and technology

Inside, the Pegas gets a sporty leather wrapped multi-functional steering wheel with cruise control on the EX grade, a 7-inch touch display with an infotainment featuring bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, rear view camera, USB ports a driver’s armrest, smart cloth on the LX grade or high-quality artificial leather on the EX grade and electrically adjustable side mirrors and windows are included on the entire range.

The Pegas’ 2,570 mm wheelbase offers ample cabin space for all passengers, front and rear, while its large 475 litres boot makes it one of the most versatile cars in its segment.

Safety

The Pegas is offered with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including: ABS with EBD, Disc brakes all-round and Dual-front airbags, ISOFIX child-seat anchoring points.

Power and performance

Powering the Pegas is Kia’s 1.4-litre multi-point injection petrol engine, producing 69 kW at 6,000 r/min and maximum torque of 132 Nm at 4,000 r/min. The engine drives the front wheels and is available with a choice of a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic.

Pricing and warranty

The Pegas will be available with a choice of two trim levels, namely LX and EX. The Pegas is priced from R225,995 for the Pegas 1.4 LX Manual. The Pegas 1.4 EX Manual and Pegas 1.4 EX Auto are priced at R236,995 and R251,995 respectively. It will compete with the Suzuki Dzire and Honda Amaze to name a few.

All Pegas models ship as standard with Kia’s industry-leading unlimited kilometre, 5-year warranty (inclusive of Roadside Assistance), as well as a prepaid 4-year / 60,000 km service plan. The new Pegas range is on sale across Kia South Africa’s national dealer network immediately.