Overview

The Kia Picanto is one of the last remaining petrol-powered city cars on sale. This market sector was at its peak in the late 2000s and early 2010s but, now that you can buy compact, affordable electric cars with 200-mile ranges (such as the Hyundai Inster or Fiat 500 Electric), the need for small, ruthlessly fuel-efficient town-based runabouts has waned.

Despite this (and the fact that petrol-powered city cars aren’t anywhere near as profitable for manufacturers as small SUVs or family cars), Kia has stuck with the segment. Plus, because the Picanto has managed to outlast cars like the Skoda Citigo and Volkswagen Up, it now finds itself jostling for the lead in the class.

To make sure the Picanto stays ahead of the pack, Kia updated the car in 2024 with bold new styling, fresh alloy wheel designs, a new digital gauge cluster and an updated colour palette. Sadly, Kia also ditched the car’s most entertaining turbocharged 99hp engine as part of the update, leaving just a 63hp 1.0-litre and 78hp 1.2-litre in the line-up.

Still, at least you still have plenty of trim levels to choose from. There are five in total, starting with the billy basic 2 model. It’s priced from £15,845 and comes as standard with 14-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, an 8.0-inch infotainment screen, wired phone mirroring and a reversing camera. That’s not bad for the money.

At the other end of the spectrum there’s the £18,695 GT-Line S – and it’s packed with the sort of gear you’d normally find on a well-equipped executive car. You get a sunroof, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, alloy pedals and fancy safety tech such as front collision avoidance assist with pedestrian recognition.

The Picanto makes an ideal first car for young drivers, or for older motorists looking to downsize. However, it still offers just enough space for four adults. A seven-year warranty also makes it a stonking used buy – if you can pick up a deal on a car that’s fresh off a three-year PCP deal, it’ll still have more cover remaining than a brand-new Suzuki Ignis.

But should you opt for a Kia Picanto over the mechanically similar Hyundai i10 or the arguably trendier Toyota Aygo X? Scroll through the next few pages to find out – I’ll explore the Kia’s practicality, interior technology, comfort, driving experience and running costs before offering my final verdict on the car.