Skip advert
Advertisement

Hyundai i10 vs Kia Picanto: 2022 twin test review

These city cars are at home in town or on the motorway, but which is best?

Kia and Hyundai have wowed us in recent times with show-stopping EVs and clever tech designs in traditional segments. They’re worthy distractions, but they shouldn’t take away from the fact that the brands’ cheaper, more pragmatic models are among the most underrated cars in their respective line-ups. 

EVs offer zero tailpipe emissions, but there’s still very much a place for compact, efficient city cars, too. Both the Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto deliver a very grown-up experience with a small footprint.

Many of the similarly sized offerings from Kia and Hyundai derive their mechanicals from the same place; after all, it makes sense to make the most of economies of scale and share parts within the group where possible. And nowhere is that more important than in a segment which constantly faces a squeeze, because profits are hard to achieve with lower asking prices. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Kia’s Picanto was the first of this pair to launch in their current incarnations. Sales began in 2017, with the funky-looking competitor taking on the Volkswagen up! and Toyota Aygo. A subtle facelift in 2020 saw tweaks to the lights, grille and bumpers, while inside the infotainment screen increased in size from seven to eight inches.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The first thing that strikes you about our Picanto is just how much standard equipment you get. As standard, this top-spec GT Line S model has climate control, a touchscreen infotainment system, heated front seats and steering wheel, plus leather upholstery. Not too long ago an equipment list like that would be associated with a luxury saloon. 

Then there’s the safety tech, which reads like that of a modern executive car. Forward collision avoidance assist, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, and a driver-attention warning system all feature. There’s even lane-following assist, which can assume control of the vehicle’s steering, braking and throttle on the motorway.   

These features are also offered on the Hyundai, a car that appears slightly more mature than the Kia. Its dash looks a little more modern, and its five-door body is spacious inside. There’s little to split the two for storage; the i10’s boot capacity is 252 litres to the Picanto’s 255 litres.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Driving

The pair continue to impress once you get behind the wheel. Both models have the joyful character that make city cars great. They’re tiny, agile and joyfully easy to whip into tight parking spaces or through small gaps. 

Yet it’s the level of maturity that really stands out here. Both the Hyundai and Kia are fairly refined at a cruise, and neither would leave you even thinking twice about covering some long motorway miles.  However, the i10 has the edge on the open road, offering just a little more ride comfort and a touch more refinement than the Picanto. 

Despite the cars’ mechanical similarities, it’s the engines which provide the key difference, though. The Kia is offered with 1.0-litre three-cylinder units only, both with a turbo for a lively 99bhp output, or without for 66bhp. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The i10 comes with both of those motors, but also a 83bhp 1.2-litre four cylinder. Of those options, it’s the one we’d have, because it’s more refined and a little more easy to drive smoothly than the more powerful turbocharged triple. The 1.2-litre unit does have less torque than the turbo engine, though, so if you will be regularly making use of those back seats with extra passengers, then the turbocharged model will still be worth a look.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Place a £2,000 deposit on a three-year PCP agreement for our pick of the Hyundai range, the i10 1.2 Premium, and the monthly payments come to £255. The Picanto ‘3’ comes to £237 per month on matching terms, but it comes with the less powerful 1.0-litre triple-cylinder engine. For the extra power and refinement you’re getting, we’d stretch to the Hyundai if your finances allow it.

Verdict

First place: Hyundai i10

The third-generation i10 hit the ground running in the city-car segment. There really is very little to find fault with; it’s great to drive in town, yet has the maturity to be just at home on a long trip. The engine line-up is more varied than the Picanto’s, and there’s very little to separate the two when it comes to space, equipment levels or finances. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Second place: Kia Picanto

It takes second here, but the Picanto’s sense of fun still shines through. It’s great to drive, is packed with standard kit and has plenty of space inside. The engine range has a key gap between the underpowered entry-level models and the range-topping GT-Line S, though, and this is one of the key reasons the Kia can’t quite win this round. 

Figures

 

Hyundai i10 1.2 MPi Premium

Kia Picanto 1.0 T-GDi GT-Line S

On the road price

£16,480

£17.05

Residual value (after 3yrs/36,000)

£8,476/51.4%

£8,274/48.5%

Annual tax liability std/higher rate

£942/£1,883

£975/£1,949

Insurance group/quote/road tax cost

8/£375/£165

11/£359/£165

Servicing costs

£578 (3 years)

£429 (3 years)

   

Length/wheelbase

3,670/2,425mm

3,670/2,400mm

Height/width

1,480/1,680mm

1,500/1,625mm

Engine

4cyl in-line/1,248cc

3cyl turbo/998cc

Peak power

83/6,000 bhp/rpm

99/4,500 bhp/rpm

Peak torque

118/4,200 Nm/rpm

172/1,500 Nm/rpm

Transmission

5-speed man/FWD

5-speed man/FWD

Fuel tank capacity/spare wheel

36 litres/repair kit

35 litres/repair kit

Boot capacity (seats up/down)

252/1,050 litres

255/1,010 litres

Kerbweight

932kg

981kg

Turning circle

9.6 metres

9.4 metres

Basic warranty (miles)

5yrs (unlimited)/1yr

7yrs (100,000)/1yr

NCAP: Adult/child/ped./assist/stars

69/75/52/59/3 (2020)

87/64/54/47/4 (2017)

Driver Power manufacturer/dealer pos.

11th/12th

3rd/5th

   

0-62mph

12.6 secs

9.9 secs

Top Speed

106mph

112mph

WLTP mpg

51.4mpg

53.3mpg

Claimed CO2/tax bracket

124g/km/29%

120g/km/29%

Now read our twin test of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars will now pay £10 more per year, although the biggest gas guzzlers fare even worse
28 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Car Deal of the Day: updated Skoda Enyaq at 0% APR and a free home wallbox charger thrown in
Skoda Enyaq iV - front cornering
News

Car Deal of the Day: updated Skoda Enyaq at 0% APR and a free home wallbox charger thrown in

Skoda’s family-friendly EV with 348-mile range is our Car Deal of the Day for 26 March
26 Mar 2024