Kia Picanto review

The Picanto’s single 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 higher powered turbo version of the engine in the GT-Line and GT-Line S specs. The 66bhp motor only manages 0–60mph in 14.1secs in manual guise and the automatic does it in a glacial 16.6secs. Ouch. Unleash the 99bhp monster and you’ll get there in 9.9secs though. Phew.

How’s the standard 66bhp engine to drive?

It doesn’t feel quite so slow in real terms – it’s not like we’re all drag racing out there – and the Picanto does its city car job well, with plenty of verve for dashing about town particularly if you’re travelling solo, the 3cyl motor happy to rev as long as you’re happy to indulge the noise.

Kia has balanced the engine well, and there’s minimal evidence of the sort of vibration that early downsized three-pots suffered from. Warm up your gear changing arm and keep your right foot pinned, that seems to do the trick. Great fun.

And the 99bhp turbo option?

As well as only being found in the GT-Line and GT-Line S cars the more powerful engine can only be combined with the notchy five-speed manual transmission too. But that 9.9secs 0–60mph time is in a different league and the Picanto benefits greatly from the extra power. You might even consider the odd overtake on a particularly long stretch of motorway.

This version of the car is the only one to sneak over the tonne mark at 1,030kg – the others all tip the scales around the 980kg mark – but you’re hardly likely to notice. 

So many cars have got bloated and overweight these days – whichever version you’re in, a lot of the Picanto’s driving enjoyment comes from its low weight. Steering is sharp and there’s a hugely chuckable feel to it that makes city driving (and B roads) a bit of a blast. 

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. In fact it nails its brief, but where similar cars occasionally go beyond that – the Volkswagen Up and Hyundai i10 are surprisingly good companions on longer journeys – the lesser-powered Kia’s talents do essentially stop there.

Over city speeds the weedier 66bhp Picanto runs out of puff and starts to fall back. Motorway and A-road driving is about conserving momentum, and at any rate the somewhat elevated cabin noise does encourage you to maintain a more sedate pace.