Kia Picanto (2011 - 2017) 1.0 City 3d (2013/13) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

It says I regularly drive in a city but I'm interested in things that are a bit less conventional. The looks of the car are much for striking than that of the Toyota Aygo or Citroen C1, which are almost identical.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

They think the car looks different, bit not in a bad way.

Would you buy this car again and why?

I would buy this car again. Kia gives you a lot for your money compared to other manufacturers and the spec on the Picanto City is very nice.

What are you likely to buy next?

I'm going to keep this car til its around 6 years old, with the 7 year warranty reducing the risk of large maintenance costs and also maintaining the vehicle's residual value. Cars that still have warranty are very attractive to people in the market for a used car. I would probably then buy something very similar.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchised

Did you buy this car new?

Yes

What price did you pay?

£10,000

When did you buy the car?

June 2013

Did you get a good deal and why?

Kia was offering a discount which made the Picanto City cheaper than the next model down in the range. I believe I'm write in saying the Picanto 2? Also we got a low rate of interest on the finance.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

To replace my aging Fiesta.

What was the dealer like?

The dealer gave me a very fair price on my 7 year old Ford Fiesta and the salesman was very informative on my test drive. I'm allergic to sales patter and inflammatory nonsense and I'm pleased to say I didn't suffer any sneezing or anaphylaxis as a result of the salesman trying too hard.

What's it like to drive?

The handling is fantastic. It has good acceleration considering it only has a one litre engine. The power steering is very responsive and its a dream to drive on the city run. It also has a surprisingly throaty tone coming from the exhaust and its funny when you put your foot down and see people on the street turning around expecting to see a sports car.

What's it like to park?

The Picanto City comes with rear parking sensors that work very well. They start with a slow beep and speed up as you get closer to an obstacle. Also the car has good visitbility and the power steering is very good. It is possibly one of the easiest cars to park due to its size and handling.

Have you had any problems with the car?

The audio playback on the CD player randomly cuts out but as the car has a 7 year warranty I could easily have this rectified for free. As CDs and CD players are fading into insignificance thanks to the likes of music streaming and download services, I'd have to say that a working CD player isn't a priority for me.

What's most practical about your car?

Its cheap to run, which is exactly what I wanted. It is exempt from road tax, it has good fuel economy and I can fill the tank for around £40.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

My favourite accessory is the Hollywood-style lights on the sides of the driver's vanity mirror when you open the mirror cover. Pointlessly brilliant!