The Kia Picanto Proves the City Car Isn't Dead Yet

All three reviews agree on something increasingly rare in this class: a genuinely fun, characterful small car that hasn't been engineered down to pure appliance status.

Illustration for editorial purposes

A Dying Breed, Still Doing It Right

City cars have been quietly disappearing from most manufacturers' lineups for years, squeezed out by thin margins and rising safety costs. Reviewers keep treating this model's continued existence, let alone its quality, as something worth celebrating.

Specs at a Glance

Body style	City car hatchback
Engines	1.0L 3-cyl (62bhp), 1.2L 4-cyl (77bhp)
Transmission	5-speed manual or automated manual (AMT)
0–60mph	13.1–15.4 sec depending on engine and gearbox
Fuel economy	Up to 57.6mpg (tested, manual)
Warranty	7 years / 100,000 miles

Full Review Summary

Auto Express

Auto Express named it their 2026 City Car of the Year for the second year running, praising a genuinely engaging manual gearbox and a smooth-enough engine despite modest power. They rated the 77bhp 1.2-litre engine as easier to live with day-to-day than the base 62bhp unit, though noted it's only available from pricier trims upward, pushing up the effective cost of getting the better engine.

What Car?

What Car? was blunt about the car's core limitations — weedy engines and a firm ride — while still rating it favourably against key rivals like the Toyota Aygo X. Reliability survey results placed it near the top of the small car class specifically, an important distinction from Kia as a manufacturer, which finished a more middling 11th out of 31 brands overall. The seven-year warranty was flagged as a genuine practical advantage over rivals from Dacia and even Hyundai, its closely related platform-mate.

🎬 Watch: What Car?'s Kia Picanto review

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Top Gear

Top Gear called it one of the last remaining true city cars and one of the best of a shrinking breed, praising genuinely enjoyable, eager handling that makes it a hoot to drive around town regardless of modest power. They noted pricing has crept up meaningfully from the car's more genuinely bargain-basement earlier years, and found the larger engine notably louder under load than they'd like, though this didn't undermine their overall enthusiasm for the car.

Trims & Engines at a Glance

The 1.2-litre engine is reserved for the range-topping GT-Line S — every other trim gets the smaller 1.0-litre, with an automated-manual gearbox available as an option throughout.

Derivative	Engine	Power	Transmission	Body	0–62mph
Picanto 1.0 Pure / GT-Line / 3	1.0L 3-cyl petrol, FWD	67bhp	5-speed manual or automated-manual	Hatchback	14.6s (manual)
Picanto 1.2 GT-Line S	1.2L 4-cyl petrol, FWD	77bhp	5-speed manual or automated-manual	Hatchback	13.1s (manual)

Trim walk runs Pure → GT-Line → 3 → GT-Line S. A handful of exterior colours are offered, including a premium paint option on higher trims. Check Kia's UK configurator for current pricing.

Strengths

Genuinely enjoyable, eager handling for a city car
Excellent seven-year warranty
Strong reliability survey placement within its class
Good real-world fuel economy

Weak points

Both engines feel underpowered, especially the base unit
Firm ride on rougher surfaces
Pricing has risen well beyond its once-bargain positioning

Who It Actually Suits

Buyers who want a genuinely fun, characterful small car for city driving and don't need motorway pace. The 1.2-litre engine is worth the trim upgrade if you'll spend meaningful time outside town limits.

Common Kia Picanto Parts & Costs

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Kia Picanto review ↗ (same video, watch above ↗)