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Fiat Panda vs Kia Picanto comparison

Compare performance (70 HP vs 68 HP), boot space and price (14,100 £ vs 15,100 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Fiat Panda or Kia Picanto?

Fiat Panda vs Kia Picanto: Key differences

Fiat Panda

4.5 (3 Reviews)
rate
  • barely cheaper
  • very slightly more power
  • very slightly more efficient
  • barely quicker 0–100 km/h
  • marginally lighter
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Kia Picanto

4.4 (4 Reviews)
rate
  • moderately more trunk space
details

By Achim Sedelmaier

Panda

Fiat Panda VS Kia Picanto: quick city‑car face‑off

Fiat Panda VS Kia Picanto frames a familiar trade‑off: a charming, no‑frills urban workhorse against a more fully equipped, modern small car. The Fiat Panda leans into simplicity, ultra‑tight manoeuvrability and a very wallet‑friendly entry, while the Kia Picanto pushes value through richer equipment, a larger boot and a long factory warranty. Both are aimed squarely at city use, but they arrive with different priorities — Panda prioritises low running costs and ease of parking; Picanto prioritises everyday convenience and reassurance. That sets the tone for everything from how they drive to how they feel inside.

Picanto

Character and driving feel

The Fiat Panda feels pragmatic and honest behind the wheel: upright seating, excellent visibility and a gearbox that keeps things simple rather than sporty. The Kia Picanto, by contrast, feels crisper in town with a more direct steering feel and a lighter, more eager chassis—until the AMT gearbox or the small engine exposes its limits. The Panda’s three‑cylinder pops and drones when pushed, which makes spirited motorway running tiring, while the Picanto tends to sound busy but remains composed in urban speeds. In short, the Panda is contentedly utilitarian; the Picanto tries to be the sharper, better‑equipped city companion but still admits its A‑segment limitations when you ask more.

Panda

Comfort and long‑distance behaviour

For short hops and daily errands, both Fiat Panda and Kia Picanto are easy to live with, yet their differences show beyond the 20‑minute commute. The Panda’s suspension and compact seats can feel a bit choppy over uneven urban surfaces and it becomes noticeably loud and strained on sustained higher speeds. The Picanto is generally a touch more settled for everyday pothole filtering and offers a slightly more comfortable driving position, but it too gets loud and runs out of pull at motorway pace. If you expect regular long trips, neither is a relaxed autobahn cruiser, but the Picanto will feel marginally less wearing on mixed roads.

Picanto

Practicality and everyday usability

Practical needs highlight a clear split: the Kia Picanto gives you a larger, more usable boot and folding rear seats that make loading everyday kit easier, whereas the Fiat Panda’s load space is boxy but shallower with a higher sill and less versatile rear seat layout. Rear room in both cars is tight—adults will feel cramped—so family buyers should view either as a two‑adult + occasional passengers solution rather than a roomy five‑seater. The Panda can still surprise with sensible touches for city life and a slightly higher payload tolerance, but the Picanto wins if you need flexible luggage space and easier everyday loading.

Panda

Cabin feel, features and perceived quality

Step inside and the Kia Picanto reads as the more modern package: a bigger touchscreen, standard camera and neater trim give it a more complete, reassuring impression in town‑car terms. The Fiat Panda trades perceived quality for clear, tactile controls and an honest, functional layout that’s immediate to use but felt in harder plastics and simpler finishes. Safety assist features are now available on the Panda, narrowing the gap, but Kia’s longer warranty and standard conveniences leave the Picanto feeling like the more polished choice. If tactile, fuss‑free controls are your thing, the Panda pleases; if you want kit and a more finished cabin, the Picanto will satisfy sooner.

Picanto

Who should buy which car?

Choose the Fiat Panda if you want the cheapest, most straightforward city car with superb manoeuvrability, low running appetite and minimal fuss — ideal as a tight‑space commuter or a sensible second car. Opt for the Kia Picanto if you prioritise a roomier boot, a better‑appointed cabin out of the gate and the peace of mind of a long warranty, making it a stronger everyday single‑car choice for urban families or new drivers. Both cars carry the usual A‑segment compromises on noise and long‑distance refinement, so your daily route and priorities should decide which compromises you can live with. Read on to compare the technical details and equipment levels that underline these real‑world differences.

Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

Panda

Costs and Efficiency:

Looking at overall running costs, both models reveal some interesting differences in everyday economy.

Fiat Panda is barely cheaper – starting at 14,100 £ , while the Kia Picanto costs 15,100 £ . That’s a price difference of around 943 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Fiat Panda uses 5 L/100km and is very slightly more efficient than the Kia Picanto with 5.5 L/100km. The difference is about 0.5 L/100km.

Picanto

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration say a lot about how a car feels on the road. This is where you see which model delivers more driving dynamics.

When it comes to engine power, the Fiat Panda offers very slightly more power – delivering 70 HP compared to 68 HP. That’s roughly 2 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the Fiat Panda is barely quicker – completing the sprint in 13.9 s, while the Kia Picanto takes 14.6 s. That’s about 0.7 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Kia Picanto delivers very slightly more torque with 96 Nm compared to 92 Nm. That’s about 4 Nm more.

Panda

Space and Everyday Use:

Whether family car or daily driver – which one offers more room, flexibility and comfort?

Seats: Kia Picanto offers more seats – 5 vs 4.

In terms of curb weight, Fiat Panda is marginally lighter – 1,055 kg compared to 1,124 kg. The difference is around 69 kg.

Looking at boot space, the Kia Picanto offers moderately more boot space – 255 L compared to 225 L. That’s a difference of about 30 L.

When it comes to payload, the Fiat Panda carries barely more – 365 kg compared to 332 kg. That’s a difference of about 33 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Fiat Panda sits just ahead overall in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

£14,134
Panda

Fiat Panda

  • Engine Type Petrol MHEV
  • Transmission Manuel
  • Drive Type Front-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP 70 HP
  • Consumption L/100km 5 L/100km
Fiat Panda
Kia Picanto

Costs and Consumption

View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance

View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body

View detailed analysis

Fiat Panda

The Panda is a charming, no-nonsense city companion that mixes cheerful Italian flair with genuinely useful practicality, making tight streets and daily errands feel less of a chore. Its honest simplicity, clever packaging and a dash of cheeky character make it a smart, low-stress buy for people who prefer sensible perks over showroom flash.

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Kia Picanto

Kia Picanto is a cheeky city hatch that squeezes surprising style, practicality and a smile-inducing drive into a pocket-friendly package. It’s ideal for urban buyers who want fuss-free running, effortless parking and a car that punches above its class without pretending to be anything it’s not.

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Fiat Panda
Kia Picanto

Costs and Consumption

Price
14,100 £
Price
15,100 - 19,500 £
Consumption L/100km
5 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
5.5 - 5.9 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
-
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
113 g/km
co2
126 - 134 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
38 L
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body

Body Type
Hatchback
Body Type
Hatchback
Seats
4
Seats
4 - 5
Doors
5
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,055 kg
Curb weight
1,124 - 1,131 kg
Trunk capacity
225 L
Trunk capacity
255 L
Length
3,635 mm
Length
-
Width
1,643 mm
Width
1,595 mm
Height
1,551 mm
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
870 L
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
365 kg
Payload
253 - 332 kg

Engine and Performance

Engine Type
Petrol MHEV
Engine Type
Petrol
Transmission
Manuel
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Automated Manual
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive
Power HP
70 HP
Power HP
68 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
13.9 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
14.6 - 17.2 s
Max Speed
164 km/h
Max Speed
-
Torque
92 Nm
Torque
96 Nm
Number of Cylinders
3
Number of Cylinders
3
Power kW
51 kW
Power kW
50 kW
Engine capacity
999 cm3
Engine capacity
998 cm3

General

Model Year
2024
Model Year
2025
CO2 Efficiency Class
C
CO2 Efficiency Class
D
Brand
Fiat
Brand
Kia
DriveDuel uses data analysis and artificial intelligence to evaluate vehicle data and create content. Content is regularly reviewed and improved. The displayed prices are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted to the respective country’s VAT. Country-specific registration taxes are not included. This information is not legally binding.