Kia Picanto Review 2023
The compact car segment is a highly competitive one, but Kia has managed to make a significant impression with the new Kia Picanto. This stylish and feature-packed vehicle offers a blend of practicality, efficiency, and affordability.
Rivals to the Kia Picanto include the Volkswagen Up, Hyundai i10 and Toyota Aygo.
Our Kia Picanto review covers:
- Sporty appearance with its sharp lines and athletic stance
- Spacious and well-designed interior.
- 255-litre boot, expanding to 1,010 litres with rear seats down
- Choice of efficient engines that strike a balance between power and fuel economy.
- Six trim levels are available: 1, 2, GT-line, 3, X-Line S and GT-line S
Pros:
- Stylish and modern design
- Nimble handling, making it enjoyable to drive
- Affordability and excellent value for money
Cons:
- Compact size
- The ride quality
- Limited engine options
The design of the new Kia Picanto is one of its standout features. It combines a modern and stylish aesthetic with a sporty flair. The sharp lines, sculpted body, and athletic stance give the Picanto a dynamic and youthful appearance. The front end is characterized by Kia's signature "tiger nose" grille and well-integrated LED headlights, which add a touch of sophistication. Overall, the Picanto's design is eye-catching and sets it apart from other vehicles in its class.
Despite its compact size, the Kia Picanto offers surprising practicality. It is an ideal car for navigating crowded city streets and manoeuvring into tight parking spaces. The compact dimensions make it agile and easy to handle, enhancing its practicality for urban driving. The Picanto's well-designed interior maximizes space utilization, providing ample headroom and legroom for both front and rear passengers. The seating is comfortable and supportive, making longer journeys more enjoyable. The car's controls are intuitively placed, and the cabin layout is ergonomic, enhancing overall practicality and ease of use.
In terms of boot space, the Kia Picanto offers a competitive capacity for a vehicle in its segment. With the rear seats upright, it provides a usable 255 litres of cargo space. This is sufficient for everyday needs such as groceries, small luggage, or shopping bags. Additionally, the rear seats can be conveniently folded down in a 60/40 split configuration, expanding the cargo area further. With the seats folded, the Picanto's boot space increases to a generous 1,010 litres, allowing for larger items or increased storage capacity during trips or when moving larger items.
The interior of the new Kia Picanto is thoughtfully designed, providing a comfortable and functional space for occupants. Despite its compact size, Kia has maximized the use of available space to create an interior that feels surprisingly spacious. The materials used throughout the cabin are of good quality, with soft-touch surfaces and appealing textures.
The dashboard layout is well-organized and intuitive, placing essential controls within easy reach of the driver. The centre stack features a user-friendly infotainment system, typically equipped with a touchscreen display that offers smartphone integration, Bluetooth connectivity, and other modern features. The system is straightforward to navigate, ensuring ease of use while on the go.
Six trim levels are available: 1, 2, GT-line, 3, X-Line S, and GT-line S.
The entry-level model, Picanto 1, is the most affordable option in the lineup. Its distinguishing feature is the plastic wheel trims. Inside, it offers electric front windows, remote central locking, a basic two-speaker stereo, and automatic headlights. However, air-conditioning is not included in this variant.
For a more stylish appearance, the Picanto 2 comes with 14-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured wing mirrors, and a chrome-trimmed radiator grille. The equipment level is quite good, featuring air-conditioning, electric windows all around, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear knob. The four-speaker stereo supports Bluetooth music streaming.
If you prefer a sportier aesthetic, the GT Line models are the top choice. With their sporty bumpers, twin exhaust pipe, and 16-inch alloy wheels, they give the Picanto a pocket rocket look. Equipment-wise, they are based on the Picanto 2, offering front and rear electric windows, a four-speaker stereo with Bluetooth music streaming, air conditioning, heated door mirrors, faux leather upholstery, and electrically adjustable door mirrors.
The Picanto 3 models come packed with technology to keep you entertained. An eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB radio, and automatic air conditioning are included. Additionally, you get a central armrest and cruise control for added comfort and convenience.
For a more rugged appearance, the X-Line S features chunky front and rear bumpers, 16-inch alloy wheels, and chrome door handles. It also offers convenient features such as a wireless charging pad for your phone, cruise control, keyless entry, and heated seats.
For those seeking a sporty appearance combined with impressive features, the GT Line S models are a standout. With revised bumpers, a twin exhaust pipe, and 16-inch alloy wheels, they exude sportiness. Notably, the kit levels are generous, including climate control, sat-nav with a seven-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, wireless charging, faux leather upholstery, cruise control, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, and a reversing camera.
The new Kia Picanto offers a selection of two petrol engines to choose from. The first option is a non-turbo 1.0-litre engine, delivering 67 horsepower. Alternatively, there is a turbocharged version of the 1.0-litre engine, providing 100 horsepower. While the non-turbo engine is more affordable to purchase and slightly more cost-effective to operate, the turbocharged variant remains the preferable choice due to its stronger performance while still maintaining good fuel efficiency.
While the Picanto's primary focus is on efficient urban commuting, it offers a nimble and agile driving experience. It's compact size and responsive steering make it easy to manoeuvre through tight city streets and parking spaces. The suspension setup strikes a good balance between comfort and handling, providing a composed ride over various road surfaces.
Overall, the new Kia Picanto is an exceptional choice in the compact car segment. It impresses with its stylish design, comfortable interior, efficient performance, and wide range of features. Whether you are a first-time car buyer, a city commuter, or someone seeking a practical and affordable vehicle, the Kia Picanto should be on your radar to lease. With its combination of value, reliability, and overall versatility, the Picanto proves to be a worthy contender in its class.
The Kia Picanto is now available for purchase at a starting on-the-road price of £14,595.00*, or it can be leased with monthly payments starting from £135.03.
If you're considering leasing a Kia Picanto, we proudly offer excellent car leasing services in the UK. Our leasing deals include a manufacturer's warranty, road tax, breakdown insurance, and free delivery to most areas of the UK mainland (excluding specific regions).
Leasing a Kia Picanto can often be a more financially advantageous option compared to purchasing outright, thanks to the fixed monthly payments, variable mileage options, low initial rental, and flexible contract durations.
It's important to note that the 'on-the-road' price mentioned includes a year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee, and a number plate fee. Please be aware that this price is accurate at the time of publication and is subject to change. To get the most up-to-date information, we recommend contacting your nearest Audi retailer.
