Skip advert
Advertisement

The Kia Picanto range has been tweaked, but now it’s more expensive

Kia’s city car has a new range structure matching its larger siblings

Kia Picanto - front tracking

Kia has announced changes to its Picanto city car range for the 2026 model year. The new line-up now matches the structure of the brand’s larger models, being split into three trim levels. The Kia Picanto is one of only a few models of this size still on sale in the UK, fewer still being petrol-powered, and remains our favourite having recently won our 2025 Best City Car of the Year award. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

The range, which is available to order now, kicks off with the Pure model at £16,695. It includes 14-inch alloy wheels and an eight-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s also heated and folding exterior mirrors, reversing sensors and even a reversing camera as standard. 

The mid-range £17,845 GT-Line adds different styling, 16-inch wheels, privacy glass, upgraded cabin materials with leather-look trim on the seats, LED headlights and an LED front lightbar. Topping the range is the GT-Line S at £19,545, which adds in a sunroof and more advanced driver safety features including blind-spot monitoring.

There’s just one engine available across all three models, a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine that produces 67bhp. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, but Kia also offers a five-speed automated-manual option for a £400 premium. 

Configure your perfect new Kia Picanto through our Find a Car service now. Alternatively, check out the best deals out there on a new Kia Picanto from stock or top prices on used Kia Picanto models...

The only other change for this 2026 model year update is the addition of a new Yachting Blue colour, bringing the paint options to six. All but the basic white are a £600 option. 

Deals on Kia Picanto rivals

Hyundai I10
Leapmotor T03
Dacia Spring
Skip advert
Advertisement
News editor

News editor at Auto Express, Jordan joined the team after six years at evo magazine where he specialised in news and reviews of cars at the high performance end of the car market. 

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

City Car of the Year 2026: Kia Picanto
Kia Picanto - City Car of the Year

City Car of the Year 2026: Kia Picanto

The Kia Picanto is the 2026 Auto Express City Car of the Year, with the Leapmotor T03 and Toyota Aygo X commended
Awards
3 Jul 2026
Kia Picanto review
Kia Picanto - front tracking

Kia Picanto review

The little Kia Picanto boasts plenty of kit and offers a grown-up drive to go with its sporty looks
In-depth reviews
4 Jun 2026
Kia Picanto marked for death as new hybrid is deemed impossible
Kia Picanto - front cornering left

Kia Picanto marked for death as new hybrid is deemed impossible

Kia bosses tell us the brand will update the city car for as long as possible, but there are no plans for a next-generation model
News
18 May 2026
Cheapest cars to buy 2026
Cheapest car to buy - April 2026 header image

Cheapest cars to buy 2026

Searching for a brand-new bargain? These are the cheapest cars in the UK right now
Best cars & vans
23 Apr 2026

Most Popular

New Dacia Striker 2026 preview: prices, specs and release date
Ellis Hyde with the Dacia Striker

New Dacia Striker 2026 preview: prices, specs and release date

The rugged yet athletic estate car is, in essence, an Audi A6 Allroad for a third of the price
News
10 Jul 2026
Car Deal of the Day: Big-battery Citroen e-C3 Aircross for a tiny £154 a month
Citroen C3 Aircross UK - full front

Car Deal of the Day: Big-battery Citroen e-C3 Aircross for a tiny £154 a month

The Citroen e-C3 Aircross offers space and a decent electric range for a low price. It’s our Deal of the Day for July 8
News
8 Jul 2026
New XPeng X9 seven-seat MPV to offer Lexus luxury for £25k less
XPeng X9 - front static

New XPeng X9 seven-seat MPV to offer Lexus luxury for £25k less

China’s latest premium electric MPV has 380 miles of range, ultra-fast 800v charging and space for the whole family
News
7 Jul 2026

Find a car with the experts