Kia Picanto 2015–2017 car dimensions: 3595 mm long, 1595 mm wide and 1480 mm high. Unladen weight is 855 kg. Braked towing is 700 kg.
The cabin offers air conditioning as standard on most grades, with automatic climate control on higher ones. Bluetooth audio is available from mid grades. A touchscreen sat-nav appears on top trims and includes the reversing camera. Cruise control with speed limiter is limited to the highest grade. Rear parking sensors feature on mid and higher grades. No advanced driver aids like emergency braking or lane keep are listed.
Boot space measures 200 litres with seats up. Fold the rear seats for 870 litres. The opening is wide and well shaped for a city car.
Towing is limited to 400 kg unbraked and 700 kg braked. Payload sits around 475 kg. This is a light city car suited to urban use rather than heavy loads or frequent towing.
The cabin feels surprisingly roomy and refined for a city car, with contoured seats offering good support, a height-adjustable driver's seat, tilt steering and plentiful storage. Higher grades add heated front seats and a heated steering wheel for cold days, plus an electric tilt/slide sunroof that opens up the space. Dual door seals, hydraulic mounts and sound deadening keep noise low for a quiet, comfortable drive.
Combined fuel economy reaches 62.8 mpg on the 1.0-litre manual with CO2 as low as 105 g/km.
1.25-litre manuals return 60.1-61.4 mpg. automatics around 50.4 mpg.
Service interval every 10,000 miles or 12 months.
Seven-year/100,000-mile transferable warranty.
Standard safety includes six airbags, ABS with EBD and BAS, ESC with VSM and HAC.
Euro NCAP four-star rating. five-star ANCAP in some markets.
Fuel economy is a strong point. The 1.0-litre three-cylinder manual delivers over 60 mpg combined with low CO2, ideal for city and short trips. The 1.25-litre four-cylinder is similar on manuals with ISG, though the four-speed automatic is thirstier. A 35-litre tank keeps range practical.
Servicing is straightforward at 10,000-mile or 12-month intervals. Fixed-price Care-3 packages cover the first three or five services and transfer with the car. The long warranty reduces ownership worries.
Safety kit is comprehensive across the range: six airbags (front, side, curtain), ABS/EBD/BAS, electronic stability control with vehicle stability management and hill-start assist. Crash tests gave four Euro NCAP stars (five ANCAP in markets like New Zealand).
Living with the Picanto is easy and low-cost. The stiff body and NVH measures make it refined day-to-day, while the warranty and service plans keep running costs predictable. It is simple to maintain and holds value well for a city hatch.
Length 3595 mm, Width 1595 mm, Height 1480 mm, Wheelbase 2385 mm (Picanto 2015–2017)
Sources: manufacturer data, Kia NZ Picanto Brochure 2015, autoevolution.com Kia Picanto 5 doors 2015-2017, cataloge.eu Picanto 2015-TA.