Fiat 500 vs Kia Picanto
Figures updated
The Fiat 500 and Kia Picanto are two of the UK's most popular city cars. We compare the 500e (2020–) and the Mk3 (2017–) Picanto on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 515,931 real MOT tests.
The short answer
The Kia Picanto comes out ahead, with the lower price; the Fiat 500 is close on everything else.
- The Kia Picanto is the cheapest to buy new: from £17,095, £1,900 less than the Fiat 500.
- Euro NCAP safety: Fiat 500 4 stars (2021), Kia Picanto 3 stars (2017). Ratings from different years aren't directly comparable, as the tests get tougher.
- Their MOT records are close: once age and mileage are taken into account, they fail about as often as each other.
- Running costs are close: the petrol versions cost within £39 a year of each other to fuel at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the suspension on a Fiat 500: it fails on them 1.9 times as often as the average car.
- Watch the brakes on a Kia Picanto: it fails on them 2.1 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Fiat 500500e (2020–), 3-door hatchback | Kia PicantoMk3 (2017–), 5-door hatchback |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | from £18,995October 2026 price list | £17,095 to £20,645October 2026 price list (best) |
| Body | 3-door hatchback | 5-door hatchback |
| Seats | – | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | – | 255 litres / 1,010 |
| Length | 3,632mm | 3,595mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,683mm | 1,595mm |
| Height | 1,527mm | 1,485mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | – | 68 PS |
| 0–62mph | – | 14.6–17.2 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2021) | ★★★★★ (2017) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Electric, Petrol | Petrol |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 53.3–61.2 mpg | 48.7–58.9 mpg |
| CO2 | 105–129 g/km | 109–136 g/km |
| Electric range | 118–209 miles | – |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.7p a litre, today's UK average | £1,080 (54.2 mpg) (best) | £1,119 (52.3 mpg) |
| Electric, charged at home26.3p per kWh standard tariff | £438 (5 mi/kWh) | – |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £438 (electric) | £1,119 (petrol) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200 | £200 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 79Well below average | 81Well below average |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 32.1% | 29.5% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | 12.1% | 12.1% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 17.3% | 16.3% (best) |
| Failed at 10 years old | 35.9% | 30.8% (best) |
| Most common MOT fault | Pins and bushes (5.5% of tests) | Rbt (sp) (3.7% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Suspension (1.9×), Body and structure (1.4×) | Brakes (2.1×), Visibility (1.6×) |
| MOT tests analysed | 334,216 | 181,715 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | City car | City car |
| Owners' average miles a year | 5,800 | 5,200 |
| On sale | 2020 on | 2017 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Fiat 500 or the Kia Picanto more reliable?
There's little in it. Once age and mileage are taken into account, both fail their MOT about as often as each other (reliability scores 79 and 81, where 100 is average).
›Which is bigger, the Fiat 500 or the Kia Picanto?
The Fiat 500 is 37mm longer (3,632mm against 3,595mm).
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Fiat 500 or the Kia Picanto?
The Kia Picanto: new prices start at £17,095, £1,900 less than the Fiat 500 (from £18,995). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Fiat 500 or the Kia Picanto?
Comparing petrol versions, fuel costs are within £39 a year of each other at 7,500 miles, using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Fiat 500 or the Kia Picanto?
Euro NCAP gave the Fiat 500 4 stars (2021) and the Kia Picanto 3 stars (2017). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Fiat 500 or the Kia Picanto?
The Kia Picanto comes out ahead, with the lower price; the Fiat 500 is close on everything else. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.