Survival Guide: Kia Picanto Mk2
Small in size, big in stature – and cheaper to run than many European rivals.
Finding new and used parts for the 2011-2017 city car.
The no-frills, first-generation Picanto made quite a splash here in 2004, and subsequent makeovers made it look more attractive to budget car buyers as time went by. However, it was the Mk2 from 2011 with its roomier interior and well-appointed cabin that really stirred things up among the European car manufacturers. Oh, and the fact that its chunky, up-to-date looks were created by Kia’s European design team in Germany.
The multi-award-winning, secondgeneration Picanto was available in both three- and five-door guise, and its high spec, low purchase price and minuscule running costs made it stiff competition for pricier city car rivals like Volkswagen’s up!, Skoda’s Citigo and Fiat’s 500. Not only that, but buyers were attracted by the firm’s generous seven-year/100,000-mile warranty, which means the most recent cars in the classifieds will still be covered.
Not that you’ll need to worry too much about reliability because very few things go wrong. And when they do, as you can see from our price comparison, parts won’t be expensive.
Don’t panic if a high-mile Picanto belches out white smoke occasionally and starts using more fuel – it’s likely to be the PCV valve. There was a modified part, and it’s a five-minute job to swap.
Otherwise, problems are few and far between. Soon after the car was launched, some owners experienced cold-start issues, but these were mostly solved with a dealer software update – or fitting a replacement battery.
Transmissions are strong, and the clutch is cable-operated so, if the biting point is too close to the floor, there’s scope for adjustment.
Steering & suspension
Expect a certain amount of banging and crashing over rough surfaces in the Picanto, but anything more could be
down to worn anti-roll bar droplinks or, at worst, a broken spring. Beware too of excessive rear tyre wear, particularly on the outer edges. There’s no conclusive evidence as to why this happens – there’s no adjustment at the rear – and it’s only been noted in a few instances, but it’s worth carrying out a regular inspection.
Brakes
There are discs all round, so the brakes are strong and easy to maintain. There was a recall on Picantos made between March 2011 and March 2012 due to seized rear calipers causing the handbrake to stick on – but by now, the chances are the work will have been done. As you can see from the prices here, a brake service won’t be expensive.
Other issues
Batteries on cars with ISG Stop-start take a bit of a hammering but should be good for five years or more. If the ISG stops kicking in, the battery could be on its way out. If it’s draining quickly, suspect a boot lock sensor failure that’s causing the boot light to stay on all the time. Something like a 60Ah, 640A battery should be in a 1.25 with ISG.
The factory-fitted speakers in the Picanto weren’t much cop; there are 4in ones in the dash and 5.25-inchers in the rear doors. The solution for occupants who actually want to hear the CD player over the noise of the engine is to fit uprated replacements. The front ones are easy to change but the rears are not quite as straightforward.
Annoying rattles from left side of the dash are a common issue on the
Mk2 Picanto. They’re usually from the speaker area so, armed with some thin card (to wedge between the trim, speaker housing, etc) you may have to do a bit of detective work to effect a cure.
Finally, a spare wheel was an option. Because most owners prefer to fit a spare than try to solve a flat with sealant, it’s a good idea to buy a spare wheel, jack and brace. The good news is, we’ve seen spacesaver kits online for as little as £40.