Kia Picanto (04-11) - Review

Review by Dan Harrison on
Last Updated: 05 January 2010
The Picanto is a great small car that's big on value and interior space. Like all Kia's it is well put together and generously equipped, while light steering and a tiny turning circle make it ideal for nipping in and out of small spaces. Kia injected new life into the model with a facelift in 2008, giving it new lights and bumpers. As before, it is still available exclusively as a five-door, making it ideal if you have young children. It's been a surprise hit as a new car, which means that there's now a wide range of models available at budget prices. One of the few black marks against its name is a less than impressive three star Euro NCAP crash safety rating. However, all cars sold from the beginning of January 2010 come with a seven-year warranty, making it a great buy.
3.5 out of 5

Other Kia reviews

4.5 out of 5

Running costs

Low list prices and high desirability due to affordable insurance and excellent equipment levels mean that the Picanto has been a star when it comes to depreciation. In fact, our figures show that its one of the best small cars around for keeping its value. Its small engines are quite economical plus servicing and insurance are low, but parts costs can be a little expensive. The seven-year warranty, introduced in January 2010, is another reason why it's such good value.

Summary Running Costs

Servicing period

10,000 miles.

Warranty

Three years/unlimited miles. From January 2010 this was increased to seven years/100,000 miles.

Road tax (12 months)

£30.00 - £135.00

Vehicle excise duty (VED) varies according to the CO2 emissions and the fuel type of the vehicle. For cars registered after March 1st 2001 VED or road tax is based on the car's CO2 emissions. For cars registered before March 1st 2001 it is based on engine size.

Full running costs data

4 out of 5

Green credentials

  • A
  • B
  • C
    114
  • D
  • E
  • F
    143
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M

CO2 emission figure (g/km)

Fuel economy rating

The arrows indicate the best and worst CO2 bands for this model.

Emissions summary

The Picanto is eco-friendly and easy on the environment - although newer rivals are greener. With an average of 126g/km CO2 across the model line-up, its emissions are acceptable for a small city car. It's worth noting that the line-up does not feature any diesel models, which typically produce less carbon dioxide than petrol engines with similar power outputs. Eco-conscious buyers should consider the 1.0-litre petrol, which is the greenest model in the range.

Find the exact engine and CO2