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 March 2022, the Picanto has an Expert Rating of 73%, 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 praticality, 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.
Key specifications
Body style: Small five-door hatch
Engines: petrol
Price: From £11,450 on-road
Launched: Spring 2017
Last updated: Summer 2018
Replacement due: TBA
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 Mk3 builds on the stylish design of the Picanto Mk2, but with a higher quality and better equipped interior, more space, a grown-up driving experience and extra personalisation.”
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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.”
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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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Which?
Model reviewed: Range review
“Certain versions of the Kia Picanto only have a three-star Euro NCAP rating, so we can’t recommend them. Otherwise, the Picanto is a surprisingly good-to-drive little runabout with plenty of equipment and some sophisticated technology.” Rated a DON’T BUY.
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Safety rating
Independent crash testing and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall rating: 3 stars
Date tested: September 2017
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 emissions and efficiency ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of March 2022, the Kia Picanto has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Kia Picanto has received
2022
- Company Car Today CCT100 Awards – Best City Car
2021
- Company Car Awards – Best City Car
2020
- What Car? Awards – Best Value Car
- Auto Express Driver Power – Best City Car
2019
- What Car? Awards – City Car of the Year
- News UK Motor Awards – Value Car of the Year
- Auto Express Driver Power – Best City Car
2018
- What Car? Awards – Best City Car
- Fleet World Honours – Best City Car
- Red Dot Awards – Car Design award
- iF Design Awards – Product Design awards
2017
- Carbuyer Awards – Best Car for less than £150 a month
- Car Tech Awards – Most User-Friendly Car
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Kia Picanto, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Citroën C1 | Fiat 500 | Fiat Panda | Hyundai i10 | Peugeot 108 | SEAT Mii | Skoda Citigo | Smart Forfour | Toyota Aygo | Volkswagen Up!
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