Skip advert
Advertisement

Kia Picanto hatchback (2011-2017) - MPG, running costs & CO2

As you’d expect, the Kia Picanto is cheap to buy and run. All versions will return around 60mpg

Carbuyer Rating

3.5 out of 5

Owners Rating
Be the first to review
MPG, running costs & CO2 Rating

4.6 out of 5

Kia Picanto MPG & CO2

The Kia Picanto will be a very cheap car to run, as both the 1.0-litre and 1.25-litre petrol engines return excellent mpg – Kia claims 64.2mpg and up to 61.4mpg respectively for manual-gearbox cars equipped with stop-start.

It's worth bearing in mind that these figures may not be achievable in everyday motoring, especially if you do a lot of driving on motorways or hilly roads, as these engines need to be revved hard to make decent progress. These numbers are a little behind those of rivals, though – the VW up! and Toyota Aygo both return a claimed 68.9mpg.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Choosing the four-speed automatic gearbox hurts fuel economy, too, reducing the 1.25-litre engine's figure to a claimed 50.4mpg.

Manual versions of all engines put out 102-106g/km CO2, for a tax charge of £20 a year if registered before April. Automatic versions emit a higher 130g/km, meaning their tax bill rises to £110 a year at current rates. Many rivals also cost £20 a year to tax at current rates unless you go for eco-friendly versions (like the up! with BlueMotion Technology), which dip below the 100g/km threshold.

From 1 April 2017, all new Picantos registered will cost £140 a year to tax.

Insurance

Like most city cars, all versions of the Kia Picanto fall into a low insurance group, so you won't be paying a high annual premium if you choose to buy one. Entry-level models are group 2, while Sport trim is in group 6.

Warranty

Kia's excellent manufacturer warranty ensures you won't be left out of pocket for repairs should something go wrong with the Picanto during the first seven years or 100,000 miles of ownership. As this warranty is fully transferable to another owner, it also helps boost the value of the car if you decide to sell it on after three or four years of ownership. Depending on your expected annual mileage and how long you plan to keep your car, Hyundai's five-year warranty on the i10 might be a better option, as although it doesn't last as long as the Kia guarantee, you're covered for unlimited mileage.

Servicing

The car's service schedule means you should only need to visit the dealer once every 10,000 miles, and you can take care of your first three or five services up front with Kia's Care-3 and Care-3 Plus pre-paid servicing plans. These allow you to pay a fixed amount at the time of buying the car to cover three or five years' maintenance, and you can also include the car's first MoT test for a small extra cost. This makes budgeting for the cost of ownership much easier in the long run.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

The best cheap cars in 2024
Best cheap cars
Best cars
27 Nov 2024

The best cheap cars in 2024

Kia Picanto review – facelifted city car with lots to offer
Kia Picanto facelift review
In-depth reviews
19 Jul 2024

Kia Picanto review – facelifted city car with lots to offer

Top 10 best first cars for new drivers 2024
The best first cars 2023
Best cars
17 Apr 2024

Top 10 best first cars for new drivers 2024

Most Popular

All-new Toyota Urban Cruiser revealed
Toyota Urban Cruiser
News
12 Dec 2024

All-new Toyota Urban Cruiser revealed

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
13 Dec 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers

Volkswagen Black Editions: T-Cross and Tiguan get a stylish upgrade
Tiguan Black Edition
News
10 Dec 2024

Volkswagen Black Editions: T-Cross and Tiguan get a stylish upgrade

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
21 Oct 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps
Charging station
Tips and advice
23 Jul 2024

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
Best electric cars
Best cars
16 May 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024