2018 Kia Picanto

Kia Picanto

Kia’s Picanto is a city car that’s always just got what local buyers actually need: a small petrol hatch, pitched at folks who care more about cheap running costs than badge prestige. That’s why you’ll spot it on every Jozi block and parked outside student digs in Stellenbosch. The competition is fierce—think Suzuki S-Presso, Renault Kwid, Hyundai i10—but on paper at least, Kia’s still got a card to play with interior fit and finish that feels a cut above the usual econobox fare. You won’t find new ones on showroom floors anymore, though. Kia’s moved on, so if you’re shopping, it’s secondhand or nothing. Thirty-two used options stretch from R71,500 up to R248,888, but most hover around R155,000. That’s a serious chunk of change for a car that’s not exactly dripping with spec, but if you pack smart, there’s value to be had. Mileage sits at an average of 89,192 km, covering model years as far back as 2006 and as recent as 2025. Cheap and cheerful describes the 1.1 LX A/C trims—oldest, clocked and basic—at R71,500 to R72,500. Newer 1.0 Style Auto and 1.0 MT LS push past the R229,000 mark, which you’ll only pay if low mileage matters more than anything else. The 1.2 EX A/T is where things get interesting: R128,500 to R139,995 lands you a bigger engine and an auto ‘box, which is a win for anyone facing bumper-to-bumper Gauteng traffic. What tips the scales for many? It’s the Picanto’s polish, because the cabin’s put together with more care than its rivals, and the gearbox options actually make sense for daily city life. Sometimes, that’s the point.