Used Kia Picanto Hatchback 2004 - 2011 review
Hard to fault, other than the fact that it's not a great drive
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What's the used Kia Picanto like?
Ownership cost
Our recommendations
Reliability
Stuart Milne
Updated: 1 January 2006
How we test cars
What's the used Kia Picanto like?
Value for money is the most important weapon in the armoury of any city car, but the Kia Picanto offers impressive value even among its peers.
Prices are affordable, and for such a nominal outlay you'll get a car with an impressive load of equipment. And a surprsing amount of space.
Overview
Hard to fault, other than the fact that it's not a great drive
Pros
- Lots of car for the money
- spacious and well equipped
Cons
- Tiny boot
- sluggish performance
- choppy ride
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£849
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There's plenty of room in any of the four seats, and six-footers will have no problem travelling in the back The five-door body style means easy access to the rear, and only the tiny boot limits its practicality. The dash is good, too: solidly built and logically laid out, even if the materials aren't particularly appealing.
If there is a problem, it's that the Picanto isn't a car for keen drivers. The engines are underpowered, there's too much body roll in corners and the steering is short of feel. The ride is a bit choppy, too, but for drivers who just want A-to-B city transport, it's fine.
Tips & Advice
Make sure you’re insured for the test drive
Short-term car insurance – also called test-drive insurance – will ensure you’re legal when you’re shopping for your next car
Ownership cost
How much does cost to run a Kia Picanto?
As a new car, the Picanto's great strength is its value for money - you get a well kitted and roomy city car for a relative pittance - and as a used buy, it's exactly the same story.
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Residual values aren't great, so there are some good deals to be had on used examples, and there's only one problem: since the car has only been around since 2004, many of the used cars for sale won't have had enough time to shed a decent chunk of their value.
The Picanto's claimed running costs are pretty good, too. Officially, the 1.0-litre cars will return an average of 55.4mpg and the 1.1 cars will manage 54.3mpg. Be careful, though, because many owners have contacted us complaining that these figures are extremely hard to get near in the real world.
Insurance groupings stand at 2 for the 1.0-litre and 3 for the 1.1-litre, so whichever version you buy, premiums will be low.
Tips & Advice
Organise your motoring life
Whether you need to keep tabs on your insurance renewal, sort breakdown cover, or book a service, My What Car? has you covered
Can I buy a car with cash?
Paying cash isn’t always an easy way to a new car – and you may not be able to get the big discounts you might expect
Our recommendations
Which used Kia Picanto should I buy?
There are four versions to choose from, and the most basic S and GS trims come with the 60bhp 1.0-litre engine, which is only really suitable for city driving. It struggles to keep up with traffic on faster routes. The S comes with central locking and a CD player, while GS versions add electric front windows.
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If you want a car with the slightly more powerful 1.1-litre engine, you'll be getting either LX or SE+ trim. The engine itself isn't too bad and, with 64bhp, the extra power makes motorway driving less of a chore. However, it still needs to be worked hard to get up to speed.
All in all, the entry-level 1.1-litre model, the LX, is our pick of the range, and comes with got air-con, electric rear windows and remote central locking. SE+ models add alloy wheels.
Tips & Advice
Avoid ULEZ and clean-air zone fines
If you regularly drive into a clean air zone, you’ll want to ensure your next car is compliant to avoid costly fines
Kia Picanto owner reviews
Sort by: Most Recent Star rating
steve
Kia Picanto 1.2 petrol hatchback
Likes: Value, Reliability, Servicing, Running costs
May 21, 2025 12:04 PM
its a very good best car i have owned
steve
Kia Picanto 1.2 petrol hatchback
Likes: Value, Reliability, Servicing, Running costs
Feb 15, 2025 12:27 PM
its a 61 plate kia picanto i have owned for 10 years and its the best car i have brought no problems what so ever touch wood very good on fuel and very nippy for its age its and very low milage
How reliable is the Kia Picanto ?
Kia Picanto
Read reliability
Used cars available now
In partnership with
Kia Picanto
1.1 Graphite 5dr
£849
Kia Picanto
1.0 VR7 Euro 5 3dr
£849
Kia Picanto
1.0 1 5dr
£990
Kia Picanto
1.1 Chill 5dr
£995
Kia Picanto
1.0 1 5dr
£1,195
Kia Picanto
1.0 1 5dr
£1,250
Kia Picanto
1.0 1 Euro 5 5dr
£1,290
Kia Picanto
1.0 5dr
£1,290
Kia Picanto
1.0 VR7 Euro 5 3dr
£1,350
See all available cars
About the writer
Name: Stuart Milne
Title: Digital editor
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Stuart has been a motoring journalist for more than 25 years, writing and editing for a wide range of consumer titles. Today, Stuart is responsible for the smooth running of whatcar.com and all of its related social and digital channels. And he’s the man responsible for making sure you're able to find What Car?’s industry-leading content whenever you search for it.
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