Review Kia Picanto hatchback

"Unless you’re on a very tight budget, we’d go for the 1.25-litre engine, fitted with stop-start" Latest-generation Picanto offers a more upmarket feel than the car it replaces. Bold, chunky styling helps to give a more premium appearance, while the classier interior is well laid out and looks expensive. It's now offered in three and five-door bodystyles – the former has a sporty appearance, the latter provides extra practicality. A longer wheelbase means that space inside has improved, too. The boot is far roomier than the tiny load area of its predecessor. Two frugal, clean petrol engines are offered, both offer decent performance, and the driving experience feels more grown up. An affordable price tag and industry-leading seven-year warranty make the city car a serious rival to the Ford Ka and Fiat 500. Drive4.0 /5 Punchy 1.25-litre car is nimble in town, competent on the motorway The Picanto is available with two petrol engines – a 68bhp 1.0-litre and a 85bhp 1.25-litre. We drove both cars and were impressed by the smooth, quiet progress they afford. We'd recommend the larger unit, combined with the optional stop-start system. As well as being clean and frugal, the 1.25-litre car provides effortless motorway overtaking, unlike the 1.0-litre, and you won't have to change down when going up steep hills. The steering is responsive and light, but the snatchy brakes and sensitive clutch mean a Hyundai i10 is easier to drive. Comfort4.0 /5 Quiet, refined and spacious The new Picanto is larger than its predecessor and has a more spacious interior. Legroom up front is greatly improved and the seats provide decent support. The rear cabin has good headroom and whilst not as comfortable as the front, the seats are large enough for adults. Road and wind noise is minimal, although the noise of the smaller three-cylinder 1.0-litre engine, takes a bit of getting used to. Ride quality is comfortable and soaks up imperfections well but there is considerable body roll in sharp corners. Reliability4.6 /5 Superb seven-year warranty and improved safety A seven-year (or 100,000-mile) warranty is incredible on a small car such as this, and provides real peace of mind. The cabin plastics look first-rate, although they feel a bit scratchy on closer inspection. The switchgear is well weighted and the fit and finish impressive. Safety equiment is plentiful, with six airbags, stability control and Isofix child-seat mounting. The Picanto scored four stars during Euro NCAP crash testing, only because entry-level European-spec models come fitted without ESP. Watch the Kia Picanto crash test here. Practicality4.3 /5 Roomy up front, cramped in the rear Practicality is much improved, thanks in part to Picanto's extended wheelbase – it's 60mm longer than its predecessor. Five-door option also makes access to rear seats easier. Up front, there's ample head and legroom. However, in the back, legroom suffers. Boot space is up from 157 litres to 200 litres – with the rear seats folded down, that jumps to 870 litres. A wide tailgate and low boot opening make loading simple. A reasonable size glovebox and cubbyholes offer handy storage space. Value for money4.6 /5 Extensive kit list and competitively priced There are three trim options – 1 Air, 2 and 3. Base-spec 1 Air includes 14-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning, tinted glass and daytime running lights, front electric windows and a radio/CD player. Bluetooth connectivity, USB input, steering-wheel mounted controls, rear electric windows are added in 2 spec. Range-topping 3 trim features heated front seats, LED running lights, six speakers for the audio system and automatic air-conditioning. Although prices have been hiked over the outgoing model, they are still extremely affordable. Long warranty only adds to Picanto's superb value for money. Running costs4.7 /5 Frugal, clean and cheap The 68bhp 1.0-litre unit returns 67mpg and emits 99gkm, making it exempt from road tax and London's Congestion Charge. Larger 84bhp 1.25 engine averages 60mpg and puts out 109g/km. Adding the fuel-saving ISG stop-start system slashes emissions to the magic 100g/km mark and boosts economy to 65.7mpg. Low insurance costs add to the baby Kia's appeal.