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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.

What Car? readers say

4.5

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The full Kia Picanto review


There are 11 Kia Picanto versions available

Hatchback 1.0 City 3dr TBA
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.25 White Auto 3dr TBA
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.25 White ISG 3dr TBA
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.0 1 3dr £8,045
What Car? says:2 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.0 1 5dr £8,245
What Car? says:2 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.0 1 Air 3dr £8,645
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.0 1 Air 5dr £8,845
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.0 2 5dr £9,845
What Car? says:2 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.25 2 ISG 5dr £10,445
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.25 3 5dr £11,445
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.25 Equinox 3dr £11,945
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.

Reader test team says:

Kia Picanto Hatchback 1.0 1 3dr

So you want a supermini that's cheap to run, is fun to drive and has some practical ability. Forget the three cylinder 1.0 variant of the Picanto -…

Ian Bland

5 out of 5 stars

Kia Picanto Hatchback 1.25 2 ISG 5dr

This is the wife's run around, the 5th Kia we have had in the last 6 years. No problems at all with the little beast except sticking rear brake…

stephen gowling

4 out of 5 stars
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Kia Picanto Hatchback

Read the definitive Kia Picanto Hatchback review from the expert What Car? team. Check specs, prices and compare with similar cars.

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