Which is the best small Kia car?
The Korean firm makes some of the best cars on the market today, but which is its best small car?
The Cazoo editorial team
Published on 07 March 2025 | 1 min read
Kia is one of the most thriving car makers in the world right now. It churns out some of the best SUVs and EVs on the market, and its Sportage is one of Britain’s best-selling cars.
Kias offer decent practicality, efficient powertrains, good looks, reliability, dependability and above all else, they all come from new with a seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty.
Small cars are not as popular as they once were, but Kia thinks differently and still competes in the A-segment category, and there are plenty of second-hand examples of their small hatchbacks and crossovers on the market.
But, which is the best small Kia car? Well, in this article, we explain the smallest Kias available on the second-hand market and how they differ from one another.
Kia Picanto
The Picanto is the brand’s smallest model in its range, competing in the A-segment city car class and rivalling the Hyundai i10 and Fiat 500.
It comes with five doors as standard and is available with a range of 1.0-litre and 1.25-litre petrol engines that are frugal and peppy.
Expect to achieve around 54mpg on the combined cycle for the 1.25-litre model which is also more refined at higher speeds than the three-cylinder 1.0-litre car.
Second-hand prices make the Picanto a very tempting proposition as all models come very well equipped. Expect to pay around £8,000 for a sub-25,000-mile entry-level car from 2022, or around £11,000 for a sporty GT-Line model which gives you beefier exterior and interior details.
Search used Kia Picanto on Cazoo
Kia Rio
The Rio was the rather forgettable alternative to the Ford Fiesta, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook this Korean option.
The standard five-door body style is very practical and passengers will have no issues getting comfortable in the back.
Second-hand prices for a Kia Rio vary depending on the age and mileage. If you go for a later 2022 model, expect to pay around £10,000 for an entry-level model or around £13,500 for a top-spec GT-Line S with 25,000 miles on the clock.
Kia Soul
It’s been around for several years, but the funky Soul’s design has aged very nicely.
There are two battery packs on offer, but the Long Range model with the 64kWh unit is the preferred choice as it can take the car a total distance of 280 miles.
Meanwhile, for those who don’t want to go electric, there is a range of petrol and diesel power plants to suit many more buyers.
Second-hand prices for an internal-combustion-engined Soul start at around £12,000 for a 2018 example with under 10,000 miles on the clock, or if you want to go electric, expect to pay around £14,000 for the latest model of Soul EV with 25,000 miles on the clock.
Kia Ceed
When the Ceed first went on sale back in 2007, it was seen as the kickstarter for Kia’s new evolution of cars. It's evolved over time but remained true to its budget-friendly roots.
There is a range of frugal engines that offer decent economy to make all versions of the Ceed cheap to run.
If you’re thinking about buying a second-hand Kia Ceed, used prices are more than affordable, with a 2022 entry-level model with 26,000 miles on the clock up for £12,000, or a sportier GT-Line model for £15,000.
Kia Stonic
Another car that has fallen off people’s radar is the Kia Stonic.
But, despite this, the Stonic shouldn’t be overlooked as it still is a great alternative if you want something a little bit different.
There is a lot of standard equipment, while interior space isn’t at a premium due to the taller roofline and the 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine can achieve decent fuel economy.
Looking at the used market, there are plenty of options out there if you want a Stonic with later cars on low mileage priced from £12,000 and rising to £13,500 for a GT-Line car.
Search used Kia Stonic on Cazoo
Which one is the best?
All the cars on this list are good, as they represent great value for money, come fully loaded with kit and are cheap and easy to run.
But, the best small Kia has to be the Picanto as not only is it the cheapest to buy and run, it’s also the most fun to drive, comes with lots of character, looks good and holds its money on the second-hand market.