The Kia Picanto won last year. It won this year. Back to back titles for a sub-two-meter hatch.
Why?
Money talks. The Kia Picanto starts at £17,095. It’s cheap to buy, cheap to tax, cheap to insure. The 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine doesn’t sip fuel, but it sips it efficiently. That’s the pitch. It hits.
It’s not just about savings, though. Kia shoves big-car tech into this tin box. The cabin feels adult. Not cheap plastic. Not rattly. You’d think twice looking at the badge if the price wasn’t so low.
Driving it? Well. 77bhp is not quick. You aren’t passing trucks on motorways. But it weighs less than a tonne. It turns in sharp. The manual gearbox? Actually engaging. The auto option is there, too, for those who hate shifting. It feels planted. Agile in bends where bigger cars wallow.
The boot is decent. The rear seats aren’t for giants, but they’re usable.
If you want bling, spec the GT-Line. The equipment list rivals family hatches that cost twice as much. Is it worth the upgrade? Debatable.
“Despite its size, it feels grown-up.”
The Winner
Kia Picanto 1. So.
You only really get one engine now. Every trim drives identical. The Pure spec at £17,095 gives you an 8-inch screen, sat-nav, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a reversing camera. You even get alloys. That’s the baseline. It’s a hard deal to beat.
The Also-Rans
The competition had a field day, mostly from the East.
Leapmotor T03 took a commendation. It’s electric. Chinese. It costs £14,495. You get a panoramic roof, a huge 10-inch screen, and 15-inch wheels for less than the Kia. But the range? 165 miles. Realistically. That’s fine for city stops. Long weekend away? Good luck. They make a van version, too. Weirdly convenient.
Then there’s the Toyota Aygo X.
Big update in 2025. New hybrid powertrain. More power. Looks better than it ever has. The price killed its chances, though. Over £21,500. When a Kia Picanto exists? Hard to justify the jump. Toyota got the engineering right but lost on the calculator.
So we give it to the Kia. Again.
Not because it’s the best car ever built.
Because it’s the most sensible choice for 2026 urban survival. Efficient. Connected. Cheap enough not to worry if someone dents it.
Does the Picanto need another facelift?
Probably soon.
Until then, it’s holding the trophy.
You can see the rest of the awards elsewhere, or buy a magazine. The choices are yours. The city waits.
