Used Kia Picanto buying guide (2004 to present): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Kia Picanto should you buy?

A 3rd Gen Picanto (2017 on) is the one to go for, because the only known fault against it is clutch judder on manuals, while the 2nd Gen carries two serious ones. Two owners have had the judder, worst in cold or wet weather and when reversing uphill, and dealers haven't accepted it as a fault. These are the newest Picantos, so that's no promise of a trouble-free car, and it's worth testing the clutch properly.

A 2nd Gen (2011 to 2017) is a step down. Its rear brake calipers corrode and stick between 40,000 and 80,000 miles, so the handbrake won't hold on a hill or the brakes drag, and one owner needed the rear calipers replaced twice. Manual clutches on these cars have also failed at 5,500 and 7,500 miles, which isn't normal wear.

A 1st Gen (2004 to 2011) carries the fault that does the most damage. On the 1.0 and 1.1 petrols, the crankshaft pulley bolt can snap between 40,000 and 80,000 miles, destroying the crankshaft and timing belt and stopping the engine dead. It's got weaker crash protection too, with a three-star occupant rating and one star for pedestrians.

Which Picanto engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 1.0 three-cylinder Kappa engine, fitted from the 2011 2nd Gen on, is the one to have, since no known engine fault names it and it's chain driven with a maintenance-free silent chain that has no scheduled replacement. That doesn't spare a 2nd Gen its corroding rear calipers. The 1.25 in 3rd Gen cars isn't named in a known fault either, though one 2018 1.25 was sluggish on the pedal between 3,000 and 4,000rpm, and a 2017 car needed a new throttle potentiometer at its first service.

A 1st Gen 1.0 or 1.1 is the engine to be wariest of. Its crankshaft pulley bolt can snap between 40,000 and 80,000 miles, wrecking the crankshaft and timing belt, and the signs only come when it goes: a sudden loss of power, a loud bang and an engine that won't restart. One owner's report puts the failures on 2004 to 2006 cars, but the known fault covers 2004 to 2011, so don't count on a later car being clear.

Manual clutches are the weak point on both newer generations. On a 2nd Gen, clutches have failed at 5,500 and 7,500 miles, so slipping under acceleration, trouble engaging gears or a burning smell should rule a car out. On a 3rd Gen, the clutch can shudder as you let it up, worst in cold or wet weather and reversing uphill, and one 2018 car's judder went away after 5 minutes of driving.

The 1st Gen's four-speed automatic has a dipstick, so you can check its fluid before you buy, but one 2008 car's gearbox failed at 35,000 miles and neither a new valve assembly nor a new ECU fixed it. On a 2014 2nd Gen with 13k miles, the owner found reverse hard to select when the car was cold, so try it before the engine's warmed up.

What should you check when viewing a used Picanto?

Stop a 2nd Gen on a slope and pull the handbrake on with normal force, because corroded rear calipers are its main known fault and a car that won't stay put points to them. On the drive, listen for grinding from the rear wheels and feel for the brakes dragging. A 2012 recall covered the same corrosion, because it could leave the handbrake not holding on a hill, so ask for proof that work was done.

Drive it from cold. A 3rd Gen that shudders as the clutch comes up, especially reversing up a slope, has the judder fault, and a 2nd Gen clutch that slips as you accelerate is on its way out, whatever the mileage. Ask whether the clutch has already been replaced, and when. Make sure the airbag warning light goes out, as one 2014 car failed its MOT on it.

On a 1st Gen, check the steering drop links, which have failed, and look underneath for corrosion on the sump, as one 2010 1.0 seized at 40k miles when its sump and oil pump corroded. Ask for proof of the fuel filler neck recall on 2009 and 2010 cars, which fixed a seal that de-icing material on the roads could damage and let fuel leak.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

Is a used Kia Picanto 1st Gen (2004 to 2011) a good buy?

A 1st Gen is a gamble because its 1.0 and 1.1 petrols can snap the crankshaft pulley bolt between 40,000 and 80,000 miles, taking the crankshaft and timing belt with it. The engine stops with a loud bang and won't restart. One owner's report ties the failures to 2004 to 2006 cars, but the known fault runs to 2011, and the power steering belt pulley has also sheared off the crankshaft, while crankshaft position sensors have failed as well.

Owners have reported a spread of other failures: a 2010 1.0 whose corroded sump and oil pump let the engine seize at 40k miles just 3 months on from a service, a 2009 car with a failed head gasket, and a 2007 1.1 whose brakes kept locking up even after new discs, pads, a caliper and a hose. One 58k mile 2006 car developed a graunching noise from underneath after 10 minutes of driving.

Crash protection's the other drawback, at three stars for occupants and one star for pedestrians. The four-speed automatic's dipstick is a plus, as it lets you check the fluid, but don't treat it as a guarantee, because one 2008 automatic failed at 35,000 miles. Water getting into the rear calipers led to a 2012 recall, as corrosion could stop the handbrake holding on a hill.

What goes wrong on the Kia Picanto 2nd Gen (2011 to 2017)?

Rear brake calipers are the 2nd Gen's main weakness, corroding and sticking between 40,000 and 80,000 miles so the handbrake won't hold on a hill, or the brakes drag and grind. One owner's rear calipers had to be renewed on two occasions once the handbrake had stuck on, and a 2011 1.0 had a rear caliper fail at 85,000 miles after a warning light came on, which was fixed under warranty.

Manual clutches have failed at very low mileage, with a February 2017 car's going at 5,500 miles and a 2015 car's at 7,500 miles. Owners have also reported a 2013 car whose air con failed and was replaced before its head gasket went, a 2014 car that failed its MOT on an airbag warning light, and a 2014 car whose wipers, electric windows and clock all stopped at once when started in the rain, then came back.

It earned four stars from Euro NCAP on a test car without stability control, and every UK car has it fitted. Try the driving position if you're tall, because the seats don't suit taller people, and see how the steering feels, since the quality of its electric power steering isn't consistent. One October 2015 car's screen, which ran the satnav, hands-free and reversing camera, stopped working a month after purchase.

How reliable is a used Kia Picanto 3rd Gen (2017 on)?

The 3rd Gen's one known fault is clutch judder on manuals, felt as a shudder when you let the clutch up, worst in cold or wet weather or reversing uphill. One 2018 1.25 juddered first thing in the morning and settled after 5 minutes of driving, and on a 2017 car the dealer tested it and wouldn't accept anything was wrong.

The rest are single owners' reports: a 2017 car's throttle potentiometer replaced at its first service and its screenwashers blocking, a 2018 1.25 that was sluggish to respond between 3,000 and 4,000rpm, one car that needed both front springs replaced under warranty, and a rattle in the front passenger area that turned out to be a loose, unused wiring block tapping the bodywork.

Practicality has its limits. Only the rear seatbacks fold, so the load floor isn't flat, and the boot's not the biggest. There's no spare wheel either, only a kit to repair a punctured tyre, so make sure it's in the boot and hasn't been used.

What does a used Kia Picanto cost to run?

What do Picanto owners like about them?

A 3rd Gen Picanto's properly fun to drive, and that fun doesn't come at the cost of comfort, because it rides well and handles well at the same time. Getting the ride, the handling and the enjoyment right all at once is what this car does best.

Adults can sit in the back row without a struggle, and the 3rd Gen fits noticeably more cabin and luggage space than the 2011 car into the same overall length, so there's more room inside without the car being any bigger to park.

• A 2010 consumer report by Which? magazine identified this generation of the Picanto as the most dependable small car.
• The 4-speed torque converter automatic transmission includes a dipstick for checking fluid levels.
• The car achieved a 4-star Euro NCAP result, with high scores for adult and child occupant protection.
• The 2017 Picanto provides ample room in the rear seating area, comfortably accommodating adult passengers on journeys.
• This model offers an outstanding combination of ride quality, handling, and driving enjoyment.