Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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With 218,981 currently licensed in the UK, the Kia Picanto is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Picanto 3 stars in 2017, with 69% adult occupant and 72% child protection scores.
It has a 81.5% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include lighting, tyres, brakes.
Annual running costs are estimated at £2,017 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £168/month or 25p/mile.
NCAP Safety
2017
MOT Pass Rate
81.5%
120,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£168
est. annual total
New From
£16,000
Euro NCAP tested the Picanto in 2017 and awarded it 3 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
69%
Child Occupant
72%
Pedestrian
57%
Safety Assist
55%
There are 8 known DVSA recalls affecting the Kia Picanto. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2024/465
The HECU hydraulic electronic control unit of affected vehicles equipped with Anti-lock Brake Systems ABS and Electronic Stability Control ESC could leak internally and cause an electrical short over time. In extreme cases the HECU could overheat with a possible risk of an under bonnet fire.
Build dates: 2009-12-17 to 2011-01-11
R/2024/367
The Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) system may not function properly due to an incorrect software version of the instrument cluster and the ISLA camera coding partially missing. As a result there may be no audible or visual warning on the dashboard when the speed limit is exceeded. Without this system the vehicle may not meet EU ISA legislation.
Build dates: 2024-04-01 to 2024-05-14
R/2024/317
On affected vehicles a short circuit inside the EGR (Exhaust Gas Circulation) valve may occur potentially causing the engine to stall before a warning light is displayed.
Build dates: 2024-01-11 to 2024-02-14
R/2024/317
On affected vehicles a short circuit inside the EGR (Exhaust Gas Circulation) valve may occur potentially causing the engine to stall before a warning light is displayed.
Build dates: 2024-01-11 to 2024-02-14
R/2022/122
The audible warning when the rear fog lamp is left switched on the ignition is switched off and the driver�s door opened on some vehicles does not function.
Build dates: 2020-04-01 to 2022-02-28
+ 3 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 120,000 MOT tests, the Picanto has a first-time pass rate of 81.5% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The Picanto is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Kia Picanto are estimated at around £2,017 per year, or £168 per month.
Fuel
£821
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£646
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The Picanto achieves a combined fuel economy of around 64.2 mpg (50.4 mpg urban, 76.3 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| PICANTO | PETROL | 50.4 mpg | 1.0L |
| PICANTO | PETROL | 57.6 mpg | 1.0L |
| PICANTO | PETROL | 56.5 mpg | 1.1L |
| PICANTO | PETROL | 43.5 mpg | 1.2L |
| PICANTO 3-DOOR | PETROL | 67.3 mpg | 1.0L |
| PICANTO 3-DOOR | PETROL | 60.1 mpg | 1.2L |
| PICANTO 5-DOOR | PETROL | 67.3 mpg | 1.0L |
| PICANTO 5-DOOR | PETROL | 53.3 mpg | 1.2L |
Starting from £16,000 new, a Kia Picanto typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £12,000 | −£4,000 |
| 2 years | 64% | £10,200 | −£5,800 |
| 3 years | 56% | £9,000 | −£7,000 |
| 4 years | 50% | £8,100 | −£7,900 |
| 5 years | 46% | £7,450 | −£8,550 |
| 6 years | 43% | £6,900 | −£9,100 |
| 7 years | 41% | £6,500 | −£9,500 |
| 8 years | 39% | £6,150 | −£9,850 |
| 9 years | 37% | £5,850 | −£10,150 |
| 10 years | 35% | £5,550 | −£10,450 |
There are currently 218,981 licensed and 6,113 SORN Picantos in the UK (225,094 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The Picanto has a 81.5% first-time MOT pass rate based on 120,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the Picanto 3 out of 5 stars when tested in 2017. It scored 69% for adult occupant protection, 72% for child occupant protection, 57% for vulnerable road users, and 55% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Picanto are estimated at around £2,017 per year (£168/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 8 known safety recalls affecting the Picanto. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
A new Picanto starts from around £16,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
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