Kia Picanto review

The Picanto’s entry engine option might seem a bit meagre on paper, but in practice it’s a great little motor that suits the Picanto’s peppy character. Of course, if you’re in anything approaching a rush, the only option is to go for the more powerful 1.2 number in the GT-Line S car, though shaving the 0–62mph time down from 15.4s to 13.1s is hardly the stuff of hot hatch legend.

In many ways the Picanto is a delightful analogue riposte to the easy torque of electric vehicles everywhere: it’s light, and you feel a direct connection to the mechanical elements of the car, whether it’s the steering wheel, gearstick or pedals. The Picanto feels chuckable, and has that rental car quality of feeling like it can take a bit of abuse. None of which can be said of any EV at the moment.

Will I be allowed on motorways?

Well, there’s no need to be dramatic about it. The entry engine has a heady top speed of 90mph, while the 1.2 knocks that up to 98mph if you’re considering some autobahn running. That won’t help you reach the 54.3mpg/51.4mpg fuel consumption figures of the two engines when paired with the five-speed manual gearbox.

The Picanto feels perfectly happy to bop along a fast road at 65/70mph, as long as you plan your overtakes in advance. It’s obviously a tiny little car though, so it’s as prone to sidewinds and skittishness as you would imagine. But it’s not an effort to drive. 

What else do I need to know?

It's easy to get comfortable behind the wheel and the driving controls are all sensibly laid out: the Picanto is perfect as a first car for those building up their hours on the road or for someone who just wants to jump in and go.

It nails its brief, but similar cars occasionally go beyond that. The Hyundai i10 is a better companion on longer journeys, for instance.