Pros

  • Great fun to drive, especially in GT guise
  • Excellent levels of equipment and safety tech
  • Kia’s superb 7-Year warranty, capped priced servicing and road-side assist
  • Proving to show excellent reliability and longevity

Cons

  • Naturally aspirated with automatic transmission not all that inspiring
  • 4-star ANCAP rating may put some off
  • X-Line has near zero off-roading credentials

Verdict

If you require a little city car that is loads of fun to drive, offers near bulletproof reliability and has its own quirky personality, absolutely.

The Picanto is our pick for cars in this segment. Yes a Fiat 500 might win for aesthetics and image but the Kia blows it...

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Cheap and cheerful. Few motoring nameplates fit the bill quite as neatly as the Kia Picanto.

The Korean marque’s smallest and cheapest model arrived in Oz in third-generation guise in 2017.

At under four metres in length, the diminutive five-door hatch brought cute Pokemon looks, hub caps and all, to the city car segment. And with a little over a 5.0L/100km combined consumption form its naturally aspirated 1.2-litre (though technically 1.25L) four-cylinder it proved suitably thrifty as the urban runabout it clearly positioned itself as.

With its practical packaging, handy 200-litre boot, essentials-ticking features and long seven-year warranty, the Picanto struck chords as both as seductive first-car proposition and as a handy third-car grocery-getter and went on to become the biggest selling city car in Australia…by a country kilometre.

The Picanto’s first-car credentials were boosted over the second-ten Picanto by no small measure in third-gen JA guise by the introduction of standard all-speed AEB and forward collision warning, with ANCAP awarding the range a decent four-star safety rating in its launch year.

It was now more modern, too. The outgoing version offered Bluetooth and USB power as tech highlights, but for gen-three even the penny-pinching ($14,190) entry S manual version fit a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto mirroring and a reversing camera. Auto versions commanded an extra $1500. Bootspace, too, had grown to 255 litres.

Things got more cheerful, if not quite as cheap, further upstream. In 2018, an up-spec GT-Line version ($15,690-$17,290) ) brought a sporty makeover to

Cheap and cheerful. Few motoring nameplates fit the bill quite as neatly as the Kia Picanto.

The Korean marque’s smallest and cheapest model arrived in Oz in third-generation guise in 2017.

At under four metres in length, the diminutive five-door hatch brought cute Pokemon looks, hub caps and all, to the city car segment. And with a little over a 5.0L/100km combined consumption form its naturally aspirated 1.2-litre (though technically 1.25L) four-cylinder it proved suitably thrifty as the urban runabout it clearly positioned itself as.

With its practical packaging, handy 200-litre boot, essentials-ticking features and long seven-year warranty, the Picanto struck chords as both as seductive first-car proposition and as a handy third-car grocery-getter and went on to become the biggest selling city car in Australia…by a country kilometre.

The Picanto’s first-car credentials were boosted over the second-ten Picanto by no small measure in third-gen JA guise by the introduction of standard all-speed AEB and forward collision warning, with ANCAP awarding the range a decent four-star safety rating in its launch year.

It was now more modern, too. The outgoing version offered Bluetooth and USB power as tech highlights, but for gen-three even the penny-pinching ($14,190) entry S manual version fit a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto mirroring and a reversing camera. Auto versions commanded an extra $1500. Bootspace, too, had grown to 255 litres.

Things got more cheerful, if not quite as cheap, further upstream. In 2018, an up-spec GT-Line version ($15,690-$17,290) ) brought a sporty makeover to the line-up, if without as much as a tickle under the bonnet, and an ‘upmarket’ X-Line version ($16,190-$17,990) arrived in 2019. Both versions were offered as manuals and autos. Tennis fans were offered an AO Edition (Australian Open), with mostly cosmetic fettling, between 2017 and 2019.

The top dog, though, is the GT. A turbocharged 1.0-litre three-pot, good for 74kW/172Nm, manual-only and sport-tuned suspension, the GT arrived in 2019 as the most fun you peel off the showroom floor for its $18k ask.

For such a small package there’s a lot to like. The N/A four-pot is struggler on the open road, but its tuned-for-Oz suspension packages are fit and fun, appointments are thoroughly modern for the sort of money Picanto commands on the used market, and they’re all still covered by Kia’s long factory warranty.

What do you look for and what’s to avoid? Read on…

Cheap and cheerful. Few motoring nameplates fit the bill quite as neatly as the Kia Picanto.

The Korean marque’s smallest and cheapest model arrived in Oz in third-generation guise in 2017.

At under four metres in length, the diminutive five-door hatch brought cute Pokemon looks, hub caps and all, to the city car segment. And with a little over a 5.0L/100km combined consumption form its naturally aspirated 1.2-litre (though technically 1.25L) four-cylinder it proved suitably thrifty as the urban runabout it clearly positioned itself as.

With its practical packaging, handy 200-litre boot, essentials-ticking features and long seven-year warranty, the Picanto struck chords as both as seductive first-car proposition and as a handy third-car grocery-getter and went on to become the biggest selling city car in Australia…by a country kilometre.

The Picanto’s first-car credentials were boosted over the second-ten Picanto by no small measure in third-gen JA guise by the introduction of standard all-speed AEB and forward collision warning, with ANCAP awarding the range a decent four-star safety rating in its launch year.

It was now more modern, too. The outgoing version offered Bluetooth and USB power as tech highlights, but for gen-three even the penny-pinching ($14,190) entry S manual version fit a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto mirroring and a reversing camera. Auto versions commanded an extra $1500. Bootspace, too, had grown to 255 litres.

Things got more cheerful, if not quite as cheap, further upstream. In 2018, an up-spec GT-Line version ($15,690-$17,290) ) brought a sporty makeover to the line-up, if without as much as a tickle under the bonnet, and an ‘upmarket’ X-Line version ($16,190-$17,990) arrived in 2019. Both versions were offered as manuals and autos. Tennis fans were offered an AO Edition (Australian Open), with mostly cosmetic fettling, between 2017 and 2019.

The top dog, though, is the GT. A turbocharged 1.0-litre three-pot, good for 74kW/172Nm, manual-only and sport-tuned suspension, the GT arrived in 2019 as the most fun you peel off the showroom floor for its $18k ask.

For such a small package there’s a lot to like. The N/A four-pot is struggler on the open road, but its tuned-for-Oz suspension packages are fit and fun, appointments are thoroughly modern for the sort of money Picanto commands on the used market, and they’re all still covered by Kia’s long factory warranty.

What do you look for and what’s to avoid? Read on…

  • Sporadic reports regarding the keyless entry not working and the electric mirrors failing to adjust, however these complaints are few and far between.
  • A few reports that the Apple CarPlay can be quite glitchy and phone connectivity in general can be faulty.
  • Some reports that the handbrake on some examples requires a serious pull to stop the car rolling away.
  • Minor and rare reports of window motors making loud/harsh noises when closing and that the leather can be prone to peeling on the steering wheel.
  • Occasional reports of coil pack issues.
  • It should be noted that these faults were generally repaired under warranty and again, we wouldn’t categorise the issues as “common” problems at all.
  • Sporadic reports regarding the keyless entry not working and the electric mirrors failing to adjust, however these complaints are few and far between.
  • A few reports that the Apple CarPlay can be quite glitchy and phone connectivity in general can be faulty.
  • Some reports that the handbrake on some examples requires a serious pull to stop the car rolling away.
  • Minor and rare reports of window motors making loud/harsh noises when closing and that the leather can be prone to peeling on the steering wheel.
  • Occasional reports of coil pack issues.
  • It should be noted that these faults were generally repaired under warranty and again, we wouldn’t categorise the issues as “common” problems at all.
  • Sporadic reports regarding the keyless entry not working and the electric mirrors failing to adjust, however these complaints are few and far between.
  • A few reports that the Apple CarPlay can be quite glitchy and phone connectivity in general can be faulty.
  • Some reports that the handbrake on some examples requires a serious pull to stop the car rolling away.
  • Minor and rare reports of window motors making loud/harsh noises when closing and that the leather can be prone to peeling on the steering wheel.
  • Occasional reports of coil pack issues.
  • It should be noted that these faults were generally repaired under warranty and again, we wouldn’t categorise the issues as “common” problems at all.

Body Styles

  • 5 door Hatchback

Engine Specs

  • 1.25 litre, 4-cylinder petrol, 63kW / 120Nm (Si 2016 – 2017)
  • 1.25 litre, 4-cylinder petrol, 62kW / 122Nm (S 2017 – 2022, AO Edition 2017 – 2019, GT-Line 2018 – 2022, X-Line 2019)
  • 1.0 litre, 3-cylinder turbo petrol, 74kW / 172Nm (GT 2018 – 2022)

Transmission

  • 4-speed Automatic (Si, S, AO Edition, GT-Line, X-Line)
  • 5-speed Manual (S, AO Edition, GT, GT-Line, X-Line)

Fuel Consumption

  • 4.5 – 6.7 / 100km (Si)
  • 4.6 – 7.9 / 100km (S, AO Edition, GT-Line, X-Line)
  • 4.4 – 6.8 / 100km (GT)

Length

  • 3595mm – 3670mm (All Models)

Width

  • 1595mm – 1625mm (All Models)

Height

  • 1480mm – 1500mm (All Models)

Wheelbase

  • 2385mm – 2400mm (All Models)

Kerb Weight

  • 994kg (All Models)

Towing

  • Not listed (All Models)

Ancap Ratings

  • 5 stars (Si)
  • Not tested (S)
  • 4 stars, tested 2017 (S, AO Edition, GT-Line, GT, X-Line)

Body Styles

  • 5 door Hatchback

Engine Specs

  • 1.25 litre, 4-cylinder petrol, 63kW / 120Nm (Si 2016 – 2017)
  • 1.25 litre, 4-cylinder petrol, 62kW / 122Nm (S 2017 – 2022, AO Edition 2017 – 2019, GT-Line 2018 – 2022, X-Line 2019)
  • 1.0 litre, 3-cylinder turbo petrol, 74kW / 172Nm (GT 2018 – 2022)

Transmission

  • 4-speed Automatic (Si, S, AO Edition, GT-Line, X-Line)
  • 5-speed Manual (S, AO Edition, GT, GT-Line, X-Line)

Fuel Consumption

  • 4.5 – 6.7 / 100km (Si)
  • 4.6 – 7.9 / 100km (S, AO Edition, GT-Line, X-Line)
  • 4.4 – 6.8 / 100km (GT)

Length

  • 3595mm – 3670mm (All Models)

Width

  • 1595mm – 1625mm (All Models)

Height

  • 1480mm – 1500mm (All Models)

Wheelbase

  • 2385mm – 2400mm (All Models)

Kerb Weight

  • 994kg (All Models)

Towing

  • Not listed (All Models)

Ancap Ratings

  • 5 stars (Si)
  • Not tested (S)
  • 4 stars, tested 2017 (S, AO Edition, GT-Line, GT, X-Line)

Body Styles

  • 5 door Hatchback

Engine Specs

  • 1.25 litre, 4-cylinder petrol, 63kW / 120Nm (Si 2016 – 2017)
  • 1.25 litre, 4-cylinder petrol, 62kW / 122Nm (S 2017 – 2022, AO Edition 2017 – 2019, GT-Line 2018 – 2022, X-Line 2019)
  • 1.0 litre, 3-cylinder turbo petrol, 74kW / 172Nm (GT 2018 – 2022)

Transmission

  • 4-speed Automatic (Si, S, AO Edition, GT-Line, X-Line)
  • 5-speed Manual (S, AO Edition, GT, GT-Line, X-Line)

Fuel Consumption

  • 4.5 – 6.7 / 100km (Si)
  • 4.6 – 7.9 / 100km (S, AO Edition, GT-Line, X-Line)
  • 4.4 – 6.8 / 100km (GT)

Length

  • 3595mm – 3670mm (All Models)

Width

  • 1595mm – 1625mm (All Models)

Height

  • 1480mm – 1500mm (All Models)

Wheelbase

  • 2385mm – 2400mm (All Models)

Kerb Weight

  • 994kg (All Models)

Towing

  • Not listed (All Models)

Ancap Ratings

  • 5 stars (Si)
  • Not tested (S)
  • 4 stars, tested 2017 (S, AO Edition, GT-Line, GT, X-Line)

Warranty

  • 7 years / unlimited km (All Models)

Servicing

  • 15,000 km / 12 months (Si, S, AO Edition, GT-Line, X-Line)
  • 10,000 km / 12 months (GT)

Model range, pricing & features

Kia Picanto-GT-1

Si

Price when new: $14,990

Price used: $9,100 - $10,800

Equipment

  • 12V Socket(s) – Auxiliary
  • 4 Speaker Stereo
  • ABS (Antilock Brakes)
  • Adjustable Steering Col. – Tilt only
  • Air Conditioning
  • Airbag – Driver
  • Airbag – Passenger
  • Airbags – Head for 1st Row Seats (Front)
  • Airbags – Head for 2nd Row Seats
  • Airbags – Side for 1st Row Occupants (Front)
  • Alarm
  • Audio – Aux Input Socket (MP3/CD/Cassette)
  • Audio – Aux Input USB Socket
  • Audio – Input for iPod
  • Audio – MP3 Decoder
  • Bluetooth System
  • Body Colour – Bumpers
  • Body Colour – Door Handles
  • Body Colour – Exterior Mirrors Partial
  • Bottle Holders – 1st Row
  • Brake Assist
  • Brake Emergency Display – Hazard/Stoplights
  • CD Player
  • Central Locking – Once Mobile
  • Central Locking – Remote/Keyless
  • Chrome Grille Surround
  • Clock – Digital
  • Control – Electronic Stability
  • Control – Park Distance Rear
  • Control – Traction
  • Cup Holders – 1st Row
  • Daytime Running Lamps
  • Door Pockets – 1st row (Front)
  • EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution)
  • Engine Immobiliser
  • Flip/Fold Out Key
  • Footrest – Drivers
  • Handbrake – Fold Down
  • Headrests – Adjustable 1st Row (Front)
  • Headrests – Adjustable 2nd Row x3
  • Hill Holder
  • Illuminated – Entry/Exit with Fade
  • Inbuilt Flash Drive
  • Intermittent Wipers – Variable
  • Map/Reading Lamps – for 1st Row
  • Metallic Finish Dash Board
  • Metallic Finish Steering Wheel
  • Multi-function Steering Wheel
  • Power Door Mirrors
  • Power Steering – Electric Assist
  • Power Windows – Front & Rear
  • Rear View Mirror – Manual Anti-Glare
  • Remote Fuel Lid Release
  • Seat – Height Adjustable Driver
  • Seatback Pockets – 1st Row (Front) seats
  • Seatbelt – Adjustable Height 1st Row
  • Seatbelt – Load Limiters 1st Row (Front)
  • Seatbelt – Pretensioners 1st Row (Front)
  • Seats – 2nd Row Split Fold
  • Speed Dependant Volume Stereo
  • Storage Compartment – Centre Console 1st Row
  • Sunvisor – Vanity Mirror for Driver
  • Sunvisor – Vanity Mirror for Passenger
  • Trim – Cloth
  • Trip Computer

S

Price when new: $14,190 - $15,990

Price used: $10,600 - $17,000

Adds

  • Camera – Rear Vision
  • Cargo Cover
  • Cargo Tie Down Hooks/Rings
  • Cruise Control
  • Demister – Rear Windscreen with Timer
  • Disc Brakes Front Ventilated
  • Disc Brakes Rear Solid
  • Fog Lamp/s – Rear
  • Headlamps – Halogen
  • Headlamps Automatic (light sensitive)
  • Metallic Finish Door Handles – Interior
  • Metallic Finish Grille Surround
  • Metallic Finish Interior Inserts
  • Multi-function Control Screen – Colour
  • Parking Assist – Graphical Display
  • Power Door Mirrors – Heated
  • Rear Wiper/Washer
  • Remote Boot/Hatch Release
  • Seatback Pocket – Front Passenger Seat
  • Seatbelt – Pretensioners 2nd Row(Rear Outer seats)
  • Seatbelts – Lap/Sash for 5 seats
  • Smart Device App Display/Control
  • Smart Device Integration – Android Auto
  • Smart Device Integration – Apple CarPlay
  • Spare Wheel – Space Saver/Temporary
  • Speed Limiter
  • Spoiler – Rear Roof Mounted
  • Warning – Seatbelt Reminder
  • Wheel Covers – Full

MY21 update

  • Smart Device Integration – Android Auto Wireless
  • Smart Device Integration – Apple Carplay Wireless
  • Voice Recognition

AO Edition

Price when new: $16,190 - $17,290

Price used: $13,600 - $15,900

Adds

  • 16″ Alloy Wheels
  • 6 Speaker Stereo
  • Body Kit – Lower (skirts
  • F & R Aprons)
  • Chrome Door Handles – Exterior
  • Daytime Running Lamps – LED
  • Exhaust System – Dual
  • Fog Lamps – Front
  • Gloss Finish Inserts in Centre Stack/ HVAC
  • Leather Look – Gear Knob
  • Leather Look – Seats Partial
  • Leather Look – Steering Wheel
  • Pedals – Sports
  • Power Door Mirrors – Folding
  • Seats – Two Tone
  • Tail Lamps – LED

GT-Line

Price when new: $15,690 - $17,440

Price used: $13,700 - $18,500

Adds

  • Armrest – Front Centre (Shared)
  • Chrome Exterior Highlights

GT

Price when new: $17,990 - $20,490

Price used: $15,100 - $21,600

Adds

  • Gloss Finish Inserts
  • Suspension – Sports

X-Line

Price when new: $16,190 - $16,390

Price used: $14,600 - $16,500

If you require a little city car that is loads of fun to drive, offers near bulletproof reliability and has its own quirky personality, absolutely.

The Picanto is our pick for cars in this segment. Yes a Fiat 500 might win for aesthetics and image but the Kia blows it out of the water in every other sense.

The Picanto, especially in GT Line or GT nails it. It provides such a great balance of everything that a car in this category needs to deliver and even when used and with many kilometres on it, is genuinely bloody awesome.

If you require a little city car that is loads of fun to drive, offers near bulletproof reliability and has its own quirky personality, absolutely.

The Picanto is our pick for cars in this segment. Yes a Fiat 500 might win for aesthetics and image but the Kia blows it out of the water in every other sense.

The Picanto, especially in GT Line or GT nails it. It provides such a great balance of everything that a car in this category needs to deliver and even when used and with many kilometres on it, is genuinely bloody awesome.

If you require a little city car that is loads of fun to drive, offers near bulletproof reliability and has its own quirky personality, absolutely.

The Picanto is our pick for cars in this segment. Yes a Fiat 500 might win for aesthetics and image but the Kia blows it out of the water in every other sense.

The Picanto, especially in GT Line or GT nails it. It provides such a great balance of everything that a car in this category needs to deliver and even when used and with many kilometres on it, is genuinely bloody awesome.

Disclaimer

Please note that pricing information is subject to fluctuations in the automotive market.

Information correct as of Feb 23, 2024.

The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.

Read our full terms and conditions here.

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