New – used car check: Kia Picanto (Type JA) – Waiver looks different

Many manufacturers have said goodbye to their small cars because the margins are too low and the technical specifications are too high. However, Kia remains loyal to its smallest. The current Picanto has been in its third generation since 2017.

Quality: In the current TÜV report 2025, the Kia Picanto won the class among small cars. 92.6 percent of the vehicles examined completed their first general TÜV inspection without any defects (average: 90.1 percent). At the second test date, the Picanto also performed better than the average (85.9%) with 88.9 percent defect-free vehicles. The small car achieves average results when checking the brakes, lighting system and oil loss.

Body and interior: The designers have given the 3.60 meter short Picanto a chic metal dress. But it can also be sporty or SUV-like. Those interested in these styles are looking for GT-Line or X-Line vehicles. The front and back are quite comfortable considering the dimensions. The seats are comfortable and offer a comparatively large seat cushion. The trunk volume holds between 255 and 1,010 liters, depending on the position of the asymmetrical 60:40 split rear seat backrest.

In 2021, the Picanto received its first facelift, which can be seen, among other things, with a modified radiator grille design and changed rear lights. A larger touchscreen was installed inside. At the beginning of 2024, Kia gave another facelift and optically adapted the Picanto to the current model range.

Engines and drive: The engine range initially includes three petrol engines, two naturally aspirated engines and a turbo. The basis is a one-liter three-cylinder with 49 kW/67 hp (since 2024: 46 kW/63 hp), which does not require turbo support. A 1.2-liter four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine delivers 62 kW/87 hp (since 2024: 58 kW/79 hp) and is suitable for longer journeys on country and federal roads as well as for detours on the motorway. By the end of 2022, Kia had a one-liter turbo with 74 kW/100 hp on offer, thus competing with the VW Up-GTI. Power is transmitted for all engines via a manual five-speed gearbox; an automatic transmission is also available for the 1.2-liter and the turbo. On average, between 4.2 and 5.7 liters flow through the pipes.

Equipment and safety: At the market launch, Kia offered the Picanto at prices under 10,000 euros. This version was intended more for those willing to do without and for delivery and care services. Otherwise, there was and is quickly everything for the small car that Kia also offers for other models. Depending on the equipment, there are also numerous customization options to choose from; These include LED daytime running lights, a 7-inch map navigation system, connection to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, reversing camera and an inductive charging station for smartphones. The range of driver assistants is impressive, but not everything was standard, many of them had to be added to the original purchaser.

Conclusion: Small cars are not only popular with new drivers, they also have advantages in urban environments due to their small dimensions. The Kia Picanto is also one of the good-looking models and scores points for its reliability. Around 2,500 used third-generation Kia Picantos are currently offered at mobile.de. It starts at around 6,000 euros.

The article “Used car check: Kia Picanto (type JA) – waiver looks different” was published on December 16, 2024 in the News category by Holger Holzer/SP-X with the keywords Used car check: Kia Picanto (Type JA), News, published.