• It doesn’t use a lot of fuel
• Tiny engines and light weight
• EV rivals can be cheaper to run

What are the running costs?

Not a lot. But that shouldn’t come as a surprise in a car that weighs a third less than a Volkswagen Golf and whose engines have half as much capacity as a four-pint milk bottle.

You’ll get the best result from the most basic 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine, providing you don’t ask it to carry loads of people or stacks of luggage. Our testers achieved more than 60mpg during a week’s commuting – although it’s worth noting that was with just one person and a backpack on board.

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The 1.2-litre model makes better sense for those who need to use their Picanto on the motorway. I managed to get 50mpg from my test car when driving sensibly, but this plummeted to around 40mpg when I hit the country lanes and started to thrash it.

CO2 emissions, meanwhile, are low but not as low as hybrid rivals. Plus, you’ll enjoy even lower running costs with an electric city car such as the Leapmotor T03, as servicing costs should be less. Plus, the T03 costs the same as the entry-level Picanto.

Servicing and warranty

Kia’s warranty is one of the best in the business, covering the Picanto for seven years or 100,000 miles. Only the Toyota Aygo X offers a longer term, and at least you’re not saddled with having to go to the main dealer to keep it in warranty like you are with the Toyota.

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With nearly 200 UK dealers you should be able to find somewhere to service your car easily enough, and Kia dealer service is typically well-rated. Fixed-price servicing is available when you purchase your Picanto.

Reliability

• No reliability woes to speak of
• Kia dealers have a good reputation
• Seven-year manufacturer warranty

Kia’s carved itself a name for reliability, especially in the last decade or so. The Picanto’s long warranty should be reassuring, especially if you’re considering buying a used model. The Picanto uses proven technology used in a wide variety of other Kia models there isn’t too much technology in it to go wrong.

The latest model has two safety recalls that affect it. One was issued in 2018 for rubber hoses in the fuel filler that may crack over time. The second concerns a missing audible warning for the rear fog light. It was issued in 2022.