Insurance Group: 3
MPG: 67.3
CO2: 99
0-62 Mph: 13.9 secs
BHP: 68 BHP
Range: 518 miles
Good handling and stability are part of what make the Picanto 1 1.0 3dr really good to drive. You will have to put up with low grip, very light steering and wind noise in exchange, but the good points overshadow the bad.
The car is packed with all the basic equipment. Safety levels are impressive too. There is enough space for you and your passengers to enjoy a road trip, provided you don't mind the engine's lack of pulling power.
The Kia Picanto 1 1.0 3dr is cheap to buy and equally cheap to run.
PROS: Fast around town. Attractive. Economical. Cheap.
CONS: Poor grip. Lacks refinement.
The Picanto 1 1.0 3dr's 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine produces 68bhp and 70 lb-ft of torque, which is satisfactory for city driving. The car is nimble on the streets and takes corners with ease, thanks to its small size and a small turning circle.
You will have to work it hard to get reasonable performance on the motorway. But even then, the engine will still feel sluggish. Top speed is a rather low 95mph.
Soft suspension ensures a comfortable ride and the Picanto is stable at speed. Ultra light steering is the biggest let down, offering precious little in the way of driver feedback.
Refinement is a significant issue. Even at idle, the engine likes to make its presence known and at speed, wind and road noise are always audible. However, the Picanto offers excellent all-round visibility.
The driver’s seat slides back and forth and can be adjusted for height, ensuring that you get a good driving position.
The dashboard is clear and well designed. The dials are large and easy to use and everything is within easy reach.
The Picanto 1 1.0 3dr is a small, three-door, five-seat hatchback. Its sporty, stylish design makes it appear more expensive than it is. It has a wide, modern grille and large, round headlights. Low profile tyres and soft bumpers complete the premium look. The cabin is also well finished and while some of the materials look like they could scratch easily, they give the interior a neat appearance all the same.
The car comes with basic equipment only. All you get is power steering, central locking, stability control, electric front windows, driver airbag, passenger airbags, front side airbags, alarm, immobilizer and a CD player. Cost options are limited to metallic paint, which costs £415.
Kia has proven to be a reliable car maker, with previous Picanto models being among the most popular of its cars. In the Euro NCAP test, the Picanto 1 1.0 3dr achieved a 4-star rating.
Kia offers the most generous warranties of all car manufacturers; you get 7 years’ warranty, up to 100,000 miles. With most car makers giving 2-3 and at most 5 years’ warranty, this is certainly a good deal. Service intervals of 10,000 miles are perfectly reasonable.
The cabin is spacious enough and will accommodate 6-footers well. There is adequate head and legroom. While the front seats are comfortable, the rear bench seat is very firm.
Storage space in the cabin is good. There are a number of cubby holes which can be used to store small items. The 200 litre boot is disappointing, however when the bench is down, you get an additional 405 litres.
This is one of the cheapest cars to own on the UK market. Servicing, insurance and fuel costs will all be low. Only a few cars can rival the Picanto’s 67.3mpg, and CO2 emissions of 99g/km make the Picanto 1 1.0 3dr exempt from VED and congestion charging.
At £7,795, practical, cost-effective motoring really doesn't come cheaper than this.
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