Toyota Aygo vs Kia Picanto
Figures updated
The Toyota Aygo and Kia Picanto are two of the UK's most popular city cars. We compare the Aygo X (2022–) and the Mk3 (2017–) Picanto on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 437,851 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Toyota Aygo for the better MOT record, lower fuel costs and more performance, or the Kia Picanto for the lower price and the bigger boot.
- The Kia Picanto is the cheapest to buy new: from £17,095, £4,550 less than the Toyota Aygo.
- The Kia Picanto has the biggest boot: 255 litres, 24 more than the Toyota Aygo.
- Euro NCAP safety: Toyota Aygo 4 stars (2025), Kia Picanto 3 stars (2017). Ratings from different years aren't directly comparable, as the tests get tougher.
- The Toyota Aygo has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Kia Picanto fails its MOT about 22% more often.
- The Toyota Aygo is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £102 a year less than the Kia Picanto at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the brakes on a Toyota Aygo: it fails on them 1.5 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 | Toyota AygoAygo X (2022–), 5-door hatchback (crossover) | Kia PicantoMk3 (2017–), 5-door hatchback |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £21,645 to £26,945October 2026 price list | £17,095 to £20,645October 2026 price list (best) |
| Body | 5-door hatchback (crossover) | 5-door hatchback |
| Seats | 4 | 5 (best) |
| BootSeats up / folded | 231 litres | 255 litres / 1,010 (best) |
| Length | 3,776mm | 3,595mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,740mm | 1,595mm |
| Height | 1,525mm | 1,485mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 116 PS (best) | 68 PS |
| 0–62mph | 9.2 sec (best) | 14.6–17.2 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2025) | ★★★★★ (2017) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Hybrid, Petrol | Petrol |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 54.3–74.3 mpg | 48.7–58.9 mpg |
| CO2 | 87–117 g/km | 109–136 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.4p a litre, today's UK average | £1,015 (57.6 mpg) (best) | £1,117 (52.3 mpg) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,015 (petrol) | £1,117 (petrol) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200 | £200 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 99Average (best) | 81Well below average |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 24.6% (best) | 29.5% |
| Failed at 3 years old | 9.0% (best) | 12.1% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 13.6% (best) | 16.3% |
| Failed at 10 years old | 26.3% (best) | 30.8% |
| Most common MOT fault | Service brake performance (2.7% of tests) | Rbt (sp) (3.7% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Brakes (1.5×) | Brakes (2.1×), Visibility (1.6×) |
| MOT tests analysed | 256,136 | 181,715 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | City car | City car |
| Owners' average miles a year | 5,700 | 5,200 |
| On sale | 2022 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 Toyota Aygo or the Kia Picanto more reliable?
The Toyota Aygo. Like for like on age and mileage, the Kia Picanto fails its MOT about 22% more often (reliability scores 99 and 81, where 100 is average). 24.6% of Toyota Aygos and 29.5% of Kia Picantos failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Toyota Aygo or the Kia Picanto?
The Toyota Aygo is 181mm longer (3,776mm against 3,595mm). The Kia Picanto has the bigger boot: 255 litres against 231.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Toyota Aygo or the Kia Picanto?
The Kia Picanto: new prices start at £17,095, £4,550 less than the Toyota Aygo (from £21,645). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Toyota Aygo or the Kia Picanto?
Comparing petrol versions, the Toyota Aygo costs about £102 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£1,015 against £1,117), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Toyota Aygo or the Kia Picanto?
Euro NCAP gave the Toyota Aygo 4 stars (2025) 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 Toyota Aygo or the Kia Picanto?
Pick the Toyota Aygo for the better MOT record, lower fuel costs and more performance, or the Kia Picanto for the lower price and the bigger boot. 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.