Costs & verdict
Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is
Costs, insurance groups, MPG and CO2
If you’re paying with cash, the Kia Picanto is a slightly cheaper alternative to an equivalent Hyundai i10 or Volkswagen Up, but is pricier than the supremely good value (and bigger) Dacia Sandero. While PCP finance deals are competitive, the i10 has slightly better resale values.
Running costs should be cheap, and the Picanto generally costs less to insure than an i10. The 1.0 MPi engine is really frugal.
Reliability
The Picanto proved to be less dependable than the Up in our 2021 What Car? Reliability Survey, although it wasn’t the least reliable car in the small car category. It was better news for Kia as a manufacturer, with the brand placing a respectable ninth out of 30. Even so, it finished below Dacia, Hyundai and Toyota.
For peace of mind, every Kia comes with the brand’s famous seven-year/100,000-mile warranty as standard. No competitor comes close to this, although Hyundai offers a five-year warranty.
