The Picanto is small in size but big on space, value and style. It’s fun to drive, too, and is perfect for nipping down narrow city streets and slotting into tiny parking spaces. It’s one of the most practical city cars, with five doors and enough space for four adults. Every model comes well equipped and insurance costs are affordable, thanks to low group ratings. You also benefit from a seven-year warranty from new, which transfers to future owners.
The current version of the Picanto has been sold since 2017, replacing an older version that was on sale from 2011 to 2017. The current version is only available as a five-door hatchback.
There are three petrol engines to choose from, and manual or automatic gearboxes are available. The 1.0-litre and 1.2-litre engines give good acceleration in town and even on high-speed roads. But, if you do lots of long journeys, the top-of-the-range 1.0-litre ‘T-GDi’ engine is the better choice as it gives more rapid acceleration.
You can choose from several equipment and trim packages. The most popular are numbered 1, 2 and 3 – the higher the number, the more equipment you get. There’s also the sporty GT-Line and the X-Line, which features SUV-like styling details, and Titanium Edition, Wave and Zest special edition models are available, too.
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The entry-level Picanto 1 model is pretty basic but the next model up, the Picanto 2, comes better equipped with air con, front and rear electric windows and heated door mirrors. The Picanto 3 gets sat nav, cruise control and rear parking sensors.
GT-Line and X-Line equipment mirrors that of the Picanto 3. The Zest special edition is the most well equipped, with climate control, a sunroof and heated leather seats.
Running costs for the Picanto are low. Official figures show the Picanto can give average fuel economy of 50-60mpg with a manual gearbox. By contrast, automatic models give around 43mpg. Road tax and insurance costs are low and the Picanto costs less to buy than some rival compact hatchbacks.
Other city cars like the Picanto include the Hyundai i10, the Volkswagen Up! and the Citroen C1. The Picanto is one of the more stylish, generously equipped options, but it’s the practical interior and seven-year warranty from new that really sells it.
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The Picanto is one of the most practical cars of its type, with five doors, either four or five seats, and lots of head and legroom for you and your passengers. Five-seat models aren’t a lot more practical as the Picanto is quite narrow and three children could feel squeezed on the back seat. But there’s plenty of room for four people, even if they’re tall. And the boot is larger than most rivals’.
The Picanto is Kia’s smallest ‘conventional’ non-SUV model. Above it are the Rio supermini, the mid-size Ceed hatchback, the large Optima saloon and the luxurious Stinger.
Safety organisation Euro NCAP gave the Picanto a three-star rating. It lacks the driver safety systems found in larger, more expensive cars and Euro NCAP takes that into account. High-spec models get four stars because they have automatic emergency braking.
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