Kia Picanto (2011 – 2017) Review

Kia Picanto (2011 – 2017) At A Glance

4/5

+Excellent small car for the money. High quality and neatly designed interior. Great to drive and cheap to run.

-Noisy on the motorway. Three-door 'Halo' automatic is pricey.

Insurance Groups are between 2–12
On average it achieves 75% of the official MPG figure

The Picanto may be Kia's smallest car but it's probably its most important model. The compact five-door hatchback has been the brand's best selling car for the last seven years and is one of the best small motors around offering great value for money. The second generation Picanto grows up with a sleeker style, more space and a higher quality interior.

It's a big step forward from the original Picanto and feels as good as many larger hatchbacks, particularly from behind the wheel where it's more comfortable and refined than before. It's a great looking car too with a sharp front end and a sporty profile, yet there's been no sacrifice in terms of interior space with particularly impressive headroom for rear seat passengers.

It's fun to drive with good handling in corners, a forgiving ride and responsive steering, yet still a doddle to park and slot into tiny spaces. There are just two petrol engines in the line-up - a 1.0-litre with 68bhp and a 1.25 with 84bhp - and both are very economical yet still deliver decent performance with a perky nature. The 1.0-litre is the one to go for if you're watching the pennies - it's free to tax thanks to a CO2 output of 99g/km plus it is capable of a claimed 67.3mpg.

As is standard across all the Kia range, the Picanto comes with the unique seven-year warranty as standard - something which no other brand can match. Combined with a starting price of around £8000 this makes the new Picanto amazingly good value for money, but there's more to the Picanto than merely a low list price.

It's simply one of the best small cars around - regardless of the price tag. Alongside the five-door model, a sportier three-door version was introduced in September 2011.

Real MPG average for a Kia Picanto (2011 – 2017)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

75%

Real MPG

30–60 mpg

MPGs submitted

600

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

What first car would you recommend for our teenage daughter?

"Our daughter turns seventeen next month and driving lessons are booked. The family car is an automatic. With a budget of between £5000-£6000, what would you recommend we focus our attention on for her to learn/practice with, and as a first car beyond, which are also 'insurance friendly'?"
We'd recommend a Kia Picanto. It's a great little car with low running costs. Your budget will get a 2015 example which should prove to be a reliable little runaround. Take a look at the very similar Hyundai i10, too, or the SEAT Mii/Skoda Citigo/Volkswagen Up trio.
Answered by Andrew Brady

What's a good first car for my daughter?

"My daughter has decided to buy a car. She lives in a seaside town where parking is at a premium. She needs a car that is small reliable and can get her about her town and about Cornwall where she lives. She has bought a Fiat Panda 2012 plate and it has already broken down twice and needs substantial work (so they say) I think she has bought a lemon what advice would you give her? . "
There might be potential on the Fiat Panda yet. All used cars usually need a little work doing to them... once this has been carried out, there could be plenty of life left in it. It's worth seeking a second opinion from another garage. If your daughter wishes to replace the Panda, we'd recommend looking at a Hyundai i10 or Kia Picanto. Both are great little cars that represent good value for money on the used market. Ideally, look for one being sold with as much history as possible - a genuine private seller is the Holy Grail.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Is a Kia Picanto a good first car?

"What should we look out for when buying a 2011 Kia Picanto (60k miles, £2995, two owners) for an 18 year old's first car? Seller has already said that it just failed MoT due to a spring which is being replaced, and that doesn't sound serious as it can happen to anyone."
The Picanto is a simple, fuss-free car perfect for a new driver, though if one spring needs replacing we'd consider asking the seller to also replace the coil spring on the other side as if it doesn't need replacing now, it's likely to need doing in the future. Otherwise, it's a sensible and fun choice for a new driver with a very solid reliability record. Once the MoT is renewed, it sounds like a pretty good buy at that price.
Answered by Craig Cheetham

What is the most reliable small automatic used car?

"I am looking to buy a small automatic used car (petrol). Budget of up to £9000 but ideally looking at something in the £5000 to £6000 range. Will be using it mainly for short city journeys and the odd longer trip on the motorway. My key concern is reliability (and I'm prepared to spend towards the top end of my budget for this). Based on other posts on this site I have been trying to focus on traditional torque converter automatics so looking at a 2016 Hyundai i10, but I'm open to other cars. What would you recommend?"
The Hyundai i10 is a good choice, as the first and second generation i10s use a torque converter automatic and have a good reliability record. Similarly the larger i20 offers similar attributes in a larger package, although it is worth noting that the 2014-on second generation i20 uses a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission when paired with the 1.0-litre T-GDi engine and a four-speed torque converter when matched to the 1.4-litre petrol. Alternatives include the Mazda 2, Kia Picanto and the 2012-on Dacia Sandero, all of which offer torque converter automatics, have a good reliability record and are well within your budget.
Answered by David Ross
More Questions

What does a Kia Picanto (2011 – 2017) cost?