3. Kia Picanto - Best city cars
The new Kia Picanto is good to drive, has a big-car kit list, is spacious and well-made - all factors that has helped it jump up the rankings in the city car class.
The new Kia Picanto is good to drive, has a big-car kit list, is spacious and well-made - all factors that has helped it jump up the rankings in the city car class. It builds on the stylish design of its predecessor, but with a higher quality and better equipped interior, more space, a grown-up driving experience and extra personalisation.
The Picanto is available with three or five doors, and both offer a decent amount of space – though it's not class-leading. There’s a choice of 1.0-litre three-cylinder or 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engines, though the smaller unit is very sluggish at higher speeds. We’d go for the 1.2-litre, as the extra fuel consumption is worth it for the greater flexibility on offer. It’s best to avoid the Picanto’s optional automatic gearbox, as it drops fuel economy drastically.
The Picanto’s soft suspension gives a comfortable ride, but the clutch and accelerator seem oddly out of kilter, making it difficult to pilot smoothly. The interior is above average for the class though – it’s got a smart design and is well built. Just try not to stare for too long at the ‘smiling clown’ steering wheel…
