For The Kia Picanto has a classy cabin and a fine driving position. Most versions are decently equipped and there’s a market-leading seven-year warranty.

Against It's jerky in traffic and suffers from numb steering and a knobbly ride. The entry-level engine is weedy.

Kia Picanto Hatchback
33 5stars

This is one of the cheapest cars on the market and its interior shames more expensive models. If only the Kia Picanto was better to drive.

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The full Kia Picanto review


There are 11 Kia Picanto versions available

Hatchback 1.0 1 3dr £7,795
What Car? says:2 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.0 1 5dr £7,995
What Car? says:2 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.0 1 Air 3dr £8,395
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.0 1 Air 5dr £8,595
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.0 2 5dr £9,595
What Car? says:2 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.25 2 ISG 5dr £10,195
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.25 2 auto 5dr £10,795
What Car? says:2 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.25 3 5dr £11,195
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.25 Equinox 3dr £11,695
What Car? says:2 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.25 Halo ISG 3dr £11,695
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.25 Halo auto 3dr £12,295
What Car? says:2 stars out of 5

Buyer's notes

Target Price team says:

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.

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