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
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.
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.
