Say hello to…
…the updated Kia Picanto a manual, petrol, city car with everything you need and nothing more. While other brands are shying away from small hatchbacks, Kia is still investing in the sector not only because there’s demand, but because it has high enough EV sales to still provide petrol cars in a wide range of market segments.
The latest facelift for the third generation Picanto brings the car in-line with larger cars such as the EV9 and the soon to arrive EV3.
There are eight models in the range thanks to two engines either a 1.0 or 1.2 petrol, a manual or auto gearbox and four trim levels.
- 2
- GT-Line
- 3
- GT-Line S
Standard equipment on the 2 includes auto headlights, front fog lights, powered and heated door mirrors, powered front and rear windows, aircon, 60:40 split folding rear seats, 8-inch touchscreen navigation, 4.2-inch driver display screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 1x USB-A and 1x USB-C charging port, rear parking sensors and reversing camera and 13-inch alloy wheels.
GT-Line adds 16-inch alloys, power-fold door mirrors, rear privacy glass, 1x rear USB socket and day running lights.
Trim level 3 adds heated front seats, heated steering wheel and wireless phone charging.
GT-Line S adds a styling pack and a sunroof.
Is The Kia Picanto Suitable For My Fleet
Fleet suitability will come down to job need. While most fleets will be looking for a full hybrid or an electric car in this class, these will be more expensive up front. For those fleets and company car drivers looking for a small, well-equipped and low cost car on a cash basis, then the Picanto is highly appealing. The only thing to remember is that it’s strictly a four-seater and there isn’t a lot of rear legroom if there’s a tall driver.
What’s more, we saw a 47.7mpg fuel consumption figure with zero eco effort.
Leasing A Kia Picanto
Intelligent Car Leasing is offering the Picanto GT-Line with a manual gearbox for £226 a month on a 3+36 contract with 10,000 miles a year. Maintenance is forecast at £30 a month, according to Gensen Reports and Class 1A NIC comes in at £41 a month.
Driving A Kia Picanto
Driving the Picanto is, in the best way, like driving a car from a few years ago. In a world where everything is electrified and full of technology, the Kia Picanto is a breath of fresh air.
You get in, use a key to start the engine and three pedals plus a manual gearbox to make it go.
This doesn’t mean the Picanto is lacking in kit, despite weighing less than 1,000kg, there’s a good, clear and easy to use infotainment screen and there’s all the latest legally required (and slightly annoying) safety kit. However, Kia has made it easy to turn off these distracting noises.
The seats are comfy and the steering light. The steering is also wonderfully precise which, in a city car with a small turning circle, is a joy to use.
The suspension is comfy too but the Picanto never wallows. When you turn, there’s the right amount of body lean that lets you know exactly what the car’s doing.
The 1.0-litre petrol isn’t particularly powerful and as a result the car is on the slow side of things. However, this doesn’t really matter. At city speeds the Picanto is nippy enough and engine is responsive and happy to rev.
If there are downsides to the way the smallest Kia drives it’s that there’s no reach adjustment to the steering wheel and on our test car the accelerator pedal creaked if released quickly. A tiny point, but once you’d heard it, it did become a touch annoying.
However, the overall impression the Picanto leaves is one of fun and ease. It would be very hard to come away from a drive not feeling happy.
FleetandLeasing.com Verdict On The Kia Picanto
A brilliant city car. Includes everything you need and nothing more.
Kia Picanto
- Model: Picanto GT-Line 1.0 5-speed manual
- Power: 62hp
- Torque: 93Nm
- Max speed: 90mph
- 0-62mph: 15.4sec
- Official mpg: 52.3mpg
- Test mpg: 47.7mpg
- CO2 emissions: 121g/km
- BIK tax band 2024/25: 29%
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