Australia’s Best Micro and Light Cars in 2016

Australia’s best cars 2016: Best Micro Car

Winner: Kia Picanto Si

Kia Picanto epitomises what this class is all about. It is small, affordable, very easy to drive and has five-star safety. It gets the jump on its competitors in the value-for-money stakes with an attractive drive-away price of $14,990, low insurance costs, a class-leading list of standard features and an industry-leading seven-year-warranty.

The Kia’s 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine and a conventional four-speed automatic deliver a pleasing mix of relatively nippy performance and fuel economy well suited to this type of city-centric car. And it’s competent enough on the open road. You can see a few signs that this smart-looking European design and Korean-built car has been manufactured to a price, but generally speaking, it is solidly constructed.

Picanto is tiny but interior space is used efficiently. The front seats provide better than expected comfort and support, while all the controls are conveniently placed and simple to use. In the rear, there is more legroom than you’d imagine and the headroom is also quite good. Boot space is modest, but the split/fold rear seats add a little extra versatility. It was disappointing, although not surprising, to find that Picanto carries only a tiny space-saver spare wheel.