Kia Picanto review

The Kia Picanto is seemingly the ideal small car, because it’s cheap to buy and run, with great economy and tiny dimensions that make it nippy in town.

However, it’s a few years old now, and is starting to feel like a blu-ray player in a world of digital downloads, certainly when compared with more modern – and arguably more stylish – alternatives.

The Kia Picanto’s no-frills approach continues when you step inside. It’s perfectly spacious in the front and its smart – if slightly gloomy – dashboard is laid out sensibly so everything’s easy to use.

From 3-spec models and up you get an 8-inch infotainment screen that’s bigger and more colourful than that fitted to the VW Up. The Kia’s menus are simple enough to navigate and the system isn’t sluggish, plus you get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so you can use your smartphone’s apps on the Kia’s big screen.

All models get five doors as standard – unlike some even dinkier alternatives – so access to the back seats is good, although anyone approaching six-foot tall will feel cramped. The same goes for the Kia Picanto’s boot, which is big enough for a few bags of shopping but not much else.

The Kia Picanto is a quirky-looking thing that’s great around town. It’s just a shame that it doesn’t fill you with confidence on the motorway.

If you want a massive interior, though, you’re better off looking elsewhere. The Picanto is built to zip through city streets and it does that really rather well – slipping through gaps in traffic that bigger cars can’t and breezing through width restrictions like they’re not there. Parking couldn’t be simpler because all four corners of the car are easy to judge when you’re slipping into tight spaces.

You can choose from two petrol engines – a non-turbo 1.0-litre with 67hp, or, one with a turbo and 100hp. The first is cheaper to buy and marginally cheaper to run than the turbo 1.0, however the turbo version is still the better bet because it’s stronger and still economical.

Whichever engine is fitted, the Kia never feels that at home on faster roads. Gusts of wind turn its slab-sided body into a big sail, pushing and pulling the car down the road. Jiggly suspension doesn’t help you and your passengers relax and nor does the pronounced amount of wind and road noise that makes its way into the cabin.

So, there are better city cars for venturing out on the motorway and carrying rear passengers, but if you do neither regularly then you’ll enjoy lots of standard equipment and the peace of mind that long warranty brings.

Read on for our in-depth interior, practicality and driving review sections or head over to our Kia Picanto deals page to see how much you can save on your next new car.

Common Kia Picanto questions
What insurance group is a Kia Picanto? 
Insurance groups run from 1, being the cheapest, to 50, the most expensive. Because the Kia Picanto is small and cheap, it’s not expensive to insure, although some models are cheaper than others. The cheapest is the non-turbo 1.0-litre 1 model which is in group 4, while the most expensive is turbo 1.0-litre engine in GT-Line, GT-Line S, X-Line and X-Line S trims which all sit in group 10.

What is a Kia Picanto car?
The Kia Picanto is a small city car with five doors. It comes with three different small petrol engines and various trim levels.

Does the Kia Picanto come in automatic?
Yes, the Kia Picanto is available with an automated manual transmission. However, it’s slow to swap cogs so isn’t particularly pleasant to drive.

What is the engine size of a Kia Picanto?
There is one engine size available with the Kia Picanto – a 1.0-litre petrol with 67hp, or a turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol with 100hp.

Make sure you check out our Kia Picanto deals pages.