Top 6 Kia Picanto articles on AutoTrader

Small cars have always been very popular in South Africa, and the little Kia Picanto is no exception. Its first generation gained many fans, thanks to its strong value proposition, but the second- and third-generation models really propelled this Korean tyke into the limelight. We’ve rounded up 6 of the best articles about the Picanto, to tell you everything you need to know about this model.

Martin Pretorius

30 Oct 2019 · 14:37Buying a Car

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The Kia Picanto is a little car with the heart of a lion, so it’s not surprising that local buyers have embraced it with such enthusiasm. In spite of its diminutive size, the Picanto has many of the features you’d only expect in larger, more-expensive cars, and the latest one even has up-to-date safety equipment (in higher-trim variants). We take a closer look at various aspects of this small wonder.

1. 2017 Kia Picanto Smart Review

“The model tested is the 1.2 Smart and it's packed to the hilt with big-car tech and creature comforts. Despite this, the price is still respectable with the 1.2 Smart coming in at under R200 000.” In his video review, Chad Lückhoff shows off five great features of this higher-trim Picanto, and also highlights some of its drawbacks.

2. Hyundai Grand i10 vs KIA Picanto vs Suzuki Celerio: which one has the lowest running costs?

While comparing the running costs of the Kia Picanto against its two closest opponents, Farzana Chaumoo noted that “the Picanto offers a well-rounded package and the latest ones not only look great but also perform well.” This has been a traditional Picanto strong suit, and still makes it a very well-balanced buy in its market segment.

3. Is the Kia Picanto good for new drivers?

Stuart Johnston looked at the Picanto from the point of view of its suitability for new drivers. He mentions that “... the Picanto has style to go with its small nippy dimensions, and build quality that puts it right up there with the best in class. What’s more, it ticks most of the boxes that parents will be looking at when deciding which new small car to buy for their children about to leave the family nest.” But he also cautions against buying the base-trim Picanto, because its lack of ABS (and only one airbag) means that inexperienced drivers may not be so well taken care of in an emergency situation.

4. Hyundai Grand i10 vs Kia Picanto vs Suzuki Swift: here's our winner.

Stuart also pitched the Picanto against its mainstream opponents to decide which one would be the best buy in its class. He chose the Picanto, mainly based on its good reputation and very attractive styling: “...our winner here is the Kia Picanto, followed by the Suzuki Swift and then the Hyundai Grand i10.” But again, he cautions against the entry-level variant, because it doesn’t have ABS and only features one airbag...

5. Is the Kia Picanto any good for families?

Our resident mom-in-action, Ané Theron, casts a critical eye over the Kia Picanto to decide if it will suit the needs of a family. She found that it’s really more of a single-person’s car, or maybe best meant for a young adult, because it doesn’t really have enough room for children, child seats, and their attendant paraphernalia. “The Picanto will suffice if you don't travel with the stroller (many moms opt for a baby carrier instead to save themselves the hassle), but there are a multitude of other compact cars out there that may cause less of a headache when you are folding and stowing prams and child seats.”

6. Compact hatchback infotainment Comparison – Toyota Aygo vs KIA Picanto vs Volkswagen Polo Vivo

Comparing the in-car entertainment systems of the Kia Picanto with those of two similarly-priced rivals, Chad Lückhoff came away very impressed by the feature-laden Picanto Smart’s infotainment arrangement. “The Picanto Smart infotainment system trumps the competitors by offering both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (although the local functionality of Android Auto is limited) with voice-activated controls so that your hands never have to leave the wheel.”