• Dinky engines and light weight
• Strong fuel economy and low CO2
• Electric rivals are cheaper to run, though

Given the Picanto’s tiny size, it should come as no real surprise that all three engines can offer great fuel economy.

The best economy comes from the basic 1.0-litre petrol engine – in most circumstances. With just 67hp, it’s at its best when lightly loaded and performing low-speed town driving. We saw in excess of 60mpg during a week’s commuting. That’s easily on a par with what you’d get from a Toyota Aygo X or VW Up.

The 99hp turbocharged engine is much better suited to those who use their Picanto as a motorway commuter, or simply those who want a hot hatchback without hot hatchback running costs. We saw around 48mpg driving sensibly in this car, dropping to around 42mpg when we hit the country lanes and started to enjoy ourselves. Back in 2018, though, we ran a pre-facelift car and struggled to beat 35mpg.

CO2 emissions, meanwhile, are low but not as low as some hybrid rivals. And you’d enjoy lower running costs still with a full EV like a Fiat 500 Electric or Renault Zoe – albeit with considerably higher initial outlay.

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Servicing and warranty

Kia’s warranty is among the best in the business, covering the Picanto for seven years or 100,000 miles of motoring. Only the Toyota Aygo X offers a longer term.

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

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Kia’s carved itself a name for reliability especially in the last decade or so, and the 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, and doesn’t contain much in the way of sophisticated technology to go wrong.

The latest model has two safety recalls that affect it – one was issued in 2018 and concerns rubber hoses in the fuel filler that may crack over time, the latest was in 2022 and concerns some vehicles that were not fitted with an audible warning for the rear fog light.