Name: Kia Picanto (2017 – present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Kia Picanto
Rating: 62

Summary

The Kia Picanto is a city car five-door hatchback, closely related to the Hyundai i10. The current model was launched in the middle of 2017 and is the third generation model to wear the Picanto name.

The latest Picanto is considered a significant improvement over its predecessor, reflecting Kia’s progression from a budget brand that competed purely on price to a mainstream brand that rivals established European manufacturers.

As of January 2024, the Picanto has an Expert Rating of 62%, which puts it right among the midfield of the city car segment. However, it has received an unusually broad variation of review scores from the UK motoring media, ranging from full marks and a “City Car of the Year” award from What Car? to a very poor score and “Don’t Buy” recommendation from rival Which?.

The GT-Line models have also tended to receive better scores than the more basic models, which don’t get the same level of safety equipment.

The Picanto has received praise for its practicality, interior quality and driving dynamics. However, it has been criticised for its poor three-star safety rating (four stars with the extra safety pack), which falls well short of the five-star rating from several of its rivals.

In its 2021 owners’ survey, What Car? rated the Picanto third in its list of the least reliable small cars.

A facelifted version of the Kia Picanto is due to arrive in UK showrooms before the end of 2023. It features some dramatic styling changes, but the underlying mechanicals will remain much the same.

More Kia ratings, reviews, news and features

Key specifications

Body style: Small five-door hatch
Engines: petrol
Price: From £13,665 on-road

Launched: Spring 2017
Last updated: Summer 2018
Next update due: Late 2023

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

The Car Expert+

Score: 8.2 / 10
“The new Kia Picanto is improved in all areas and remains a top contender in the city car market.”
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Auto Express+

Model reviewed: Mk3
Score: 8 / 10
“The Kia Picanto city car has plenty of kit and offers a grown-up drive to go with its sporty looks.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Kia Picanto city car has plenty of kit and offers a grown-up drive to go with its sporty looks.”
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Auto Trader+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“While its compact dimensions, light controls and tight turning circle ensure it’s a doddle to drive around town and park in the tightest of spaces, the Kia Picanto is also an impressively stable car on the motorway, making it feel considerably more grown up than many of its rivals.”
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Autocar+

Model reviewed: 1.0 DPi AMT 2021
Score: 7 / 10
“The Kia Picanto is a pleasingly well-rounded and charming value offering.”
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Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“The GT Line’s sports styling may be a bit over-the-top for more mature buyers but will more likely be approved of by the twenty-something clientele that Kia is directly courting.”
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre T-GDI manual GT-Line
Score: 8 / 10
“Whether or not the racy aesthetics of this flagship model are enough for the Picanto to shake off its rather anodyne image remains to be seen. But its spacious and well-made interior, punchy engine and sorted driving dynamics mean that, cost aside, this is a very capable city car.”
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Car+

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual 2
Score: 6 / 10
“The Kia Picanto has all the makings of an excellent city car. It’s small, nimble, cheap to run and punches well above its weight for refinement and standard equipment on higher-trim cars.”
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Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual GT-Line
Score: 8 / 10
“City-dwellers are spoiled for choice in the current small car market. Working in the Kia Picanto’s favour are an enjoyable driving experience, a practical, well-made interior and a strong ownership proposition.”
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Carbuyer+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.4 / 10
“The Kia Picanto is a practical and polished city car, with great specs and infotainment options.” (Ben Custard)
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Carwow+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Kia Picanto looks great, costs peanuts to run and has a generous boot, but other city cars are better at carrying rear passengers and less strained on motorways.”
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Heycar+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Kia Picanto is a compact city car with a spicy attitude and styling, but a sensible approach to practicality and interior design. It’s available as a five-door hatch with space for five, and a line-up of little petrol engines. It’s a brilliant all-rounder and one of the best in its class.”
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Honest John+

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 10 / 10
“If you want a small, fun, affordable car the Kia Picanto is probably the next best thing after a Volkswagen Up. The Picanto is fun to drive, affordably priced, cheap to run and does everything you’d hope a small car should do.”
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“The 2017 Kia Picanto is a bit special. So what have they done to make the car so good? Partly a new electric motor-assisted steering that replaces the rather dead and wooden system in the previous Picanto. And partly some clever rear suspension work.”
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Parkers+

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8.2 / 10
“Kia’s smallest car has big style and kit”
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The Telegraph+

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“With the latest Picanto, Kia has seriously closed the gap on the Hyundai i10 and Volkswagen Up.”
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Top Gear+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Another string to Kia’s ever more impressive bow, the Picanto is a fun and interesting city car.”
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What Car?+

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 10 / 10
“The Kia Picanto is one of the very best city cars, with a smart interior, tidy handling and decent practicality.”
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Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 3 stars
Date tested: September 2017
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 79%
Child protection: 64%
Vulnerable road users: 54%
Safety assist: 25%

Note on safety rating

The Kia Picanto received a three-star safety rating from Euro NCAP in standard specification, which is how the car is sold in the UK as the ‘1’ and ‘2’ spec models.

Standard on ‘3’ spec and upwards, and optional on ‘2’ spec models, is extra safety kit that upgrades the Picanto’s safety rating to four stars.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of January 2024, the Kia Picanto has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

Total claims: 35
Average repair cost: £192.68
Last updated: January 2024

Reliability score

All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims

The Kia Picanto has an excellent overall reliability score of 85%, according to exclusive extended warranty data provided by our partners at MotorEasy.

MotorEasy reports that Picanto drivers usually reported faults from two different claim categories. The first relates to the car’s braking system, although fortunately these tend not to be too expensive with an average repair cost of about £160. Warranty holders have also claimed for suspension repairs, which also cost around £140 on average.

If you’re looking at a used Picanto, make sure any extended warranty cover you purchase covers all of these potential problem areas.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	55 mpg	B	49 – 59 mpg	A – C

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	116 g/km	A	109 – 131 g/km	A – A

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	4	A	1 – 11	A – A

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£124	A
Year 2	£332	A
Year 3	£517	A
Year 4	£692	A
Year 5	£931	A
Overall	£2,596	A

The Kia Picanto is an exceptionally cheap car to run. It’s fuel consumption is very good, with a ‘B’ score, and that’s the worst result here. Road tax (which is based on CO₂ emissions), insurance and servicing are all excellent.

There are fewer new cars on the road that wil cost you less to own than a Picanto, regardless of which version you choose.