Our 2022 Kia Picanto Review

By Libby Foster
14-09-2022
Our 2022 Kia Picanto Review

Fancy leasing a Kia Picanto?

The Kia Picanto is becoming a bit of an anomaly. This is because it is a tiny city car that uses petrol at a time when the vast majority of its competitors have either switched to electric or have been completely discontinued. You may be asking yourself why this is the case. Well, creating "value" petrol vehicles no longer generates as much profit for automakers. They would prefer you spend several thousand pounds more on a small SUV like the superb Ford Puma or an electric vehicle like the most recent Fiat 500.


These, of course, are very expensive, but the conventional little city car is still a very attractive option if you don't want to spend too much money (or are looking to lease a car) and don't require a lot of space. So, how does the Kia Picanto compare to its little rivals? Let’s take a look together. 


Kia Picanto Drive 

The non-turbocharged 66bhp 1.0 MPi engine from the Kia Picanto is essentially the standard option. This is because it is offered with the bulk of trims and both manual and automatic gearboxes. It seems slow, but the 0-60 mph time of just over 14 seconds (or 16.6 seconds for the automatic) is faster than the Volkswagen Up and suitable for cruising around town. It feels more eager than the stats indicate because the engine loves to be revved, even though you have to work it hard on quicker roads, such as motorways. 


The 99bhp turbocharged 1.0 T-GDi engine in the Picanto is the greatest one. The drawback is that it is only offered with the higher trims and is a manual drive. On the bright side, it feels substantially faster when you use it and is much more flexible at low revs (0-60mph takes 9.9sec).


The Picanto corners more aggressively than the bulk of its competitors because of its stiff suspension. It thrives on winding roads, exhibiting a level of agility and attentiveness that its closest competitors are unable to match. The Hyundai i10 and Up have leaner bodies.


Kia Picanto Interior 

The Kia Picanto's steering wheel adjusts for height but not reach, which is a common feature of compact cars. This is the only significant complaint about Kia Picanto's driving posture. However, it offers a more comfortable driving posture than the Volkswagen Up, which tends to cover the gauges with the steering wheel. Also despite the lack of lumbar adjustability, the driver's seat is comfortable and has adequate side bolstering to prevent sliding during turns.


Only an AM/FM radio, Bluetooth, and a modest (3.8in) monochrome screen are included with the 1 and 2 trims. It doesn't reflect the system you get in the comparably priced Dacia Sandero and has a rather dated feel to it. Luckily, the higher trim levels receive a more contemporary 8.0in colour touchscreen with a DAB radio and smartphone mirroring for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This also has an integrated sat-nav on the 3, X-Line S, and GT-Line S variants. It's considerably superior to Up's system in that it responds to inputs rapidly and has intuitive menus, making it easy to operate.


The cabin of the Picanto lacks luxurious soft-touch materials, just like every other vehicle in its price range. The texture of the plastics, though, prevents them from appearing or feeling too shabby.


Kia Picanto Space 

Tall adults may easily fit in the Kia Picanto's driver's seat because it slides back a little further than the Volkswagen Up does. The Picanto won't make you feel constrained in the shoulders, even if the Dacia Sandero is a much larger car overall and the i10 is a little wider. While all Picantos have five doors, the openings are smaller than those of an i10, making entry and exit more difficult.


Among its direct competitors, the Picanto features one of the more usable boots. It provides more than enough room for a few large shopping bags and is larger than that of the Toyota Aygo X or Volkswagen Up.


Conclusion 

The Kia Picanto is a really good compact car with a stylish interior, neat handling, and, if you choose one of our three recommended trims, a very user-friendly and feature-rich infotainment system. However, the Dacia Sandero offers greater capacity and the Hyundai i10 is slightly more refined in terms of ride and refinement. If you're still unsure of which car to choose, why not read our Kia Sportage review?


At MWVC, we provide a wide range of Kia Picanto car leasing offers to suit every driver's requirements for finding the perfect small car for them. Our knowledgeable sales team can assist you in finding the greatest price. Are you still unsure if a car lease is the best option for you? One of our representatives will be pleased to assist you if you call 0116 490 4113.


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