For With the 1.0-litre engine, the Picanto is exempt from road tax and should return good fuel economy. The list of standard kit on 2 spec cars includes electric rear windows, Bluetooth and an MP3 socket.
Against This trim adds a fair bit to the price. The 1.0-litre engine is painfully slow, even when you rev it hard.
Cheaper versions of the Picanto make the most sense, and that's why we prefer the 1 Air version.
The 1.25-litre petrol engine is much stronger and smoother than the entry-level 1.0-litre, and if it were available with 1 Air trim this would be the pick of the range. Unfortunately, Kia offers it only with dearer trims, which pushes the price too close to that of mainstream superminis such as the brilliant Ford Fiesta.
As a result, we reckon the 1.0-litre model makes most sense. Yes, performance is disappointing, but it's reasonably cheap to buy. For most Picanto buyers, that'll be enough. However, don't get too excited about the claimed average fuel economy of around 70mpg. In our True MPG tests, the car didn't get anywhere near it.
Whichever version of the Picanto you buy, you’ll enjoy a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty.