Kia Picanto 1.0 Petrol

Average score for the 1.0 Petrol:

8.010

based on 4 expert reviews

The new Kia Picanto 1.0 Petrol reviews are really positive. The critics are mostly impressed with the car’s affordable asking price and running costs, yet are also fond of the engine’s surprisingly broad breadth of talents. However, if you regularly do long journeys, the larger engine option may the more suitable choice.

This entry level engine is a 1.0 three cylinder unit with 68bhp on tap, so performance was never going to be amazing, and can feel quite weedy when you really work it.

However, it’s still quite a peppy and characterful engine – one tester reckoned it’s more enjoyable to use than the larger 1.25 motor – and is surprisingly refined and civilised at higher speeds and on motorway journeys. It’s also quite an efficient engine as well – Kia claims up to 67 mpg is possible on the combined cycle, and the low CO2 emissions output means it costs nothing to tax.

If you regularly do longer journeys, you may want to look at the 1.25 petrol engine, as the extra premium may justify its superior performance and improved road manners at higher speeds. However, the 1.0 triple is still a very good little engine, and will most likely be more than enough for a majority of buyers’ needs.