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Kia Picanto vs Mazda MX-5 Roadster comparison

Compare performance (68 HP vs 132 HP), boot space and price (15,100 £ vs 29,000 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Kia Picanto or Mazda MX-5 Roadster?

Kia Picanto vs Mazda MX-5 Roadster: Key differences

Kia Picanto

4.4 (4 Reviews)
rate
  • substantially cheaper
  • moderately more efficient
  • clearly more trunk space
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Mazda MX-5 Roadster

  • significantly more power
  • clearly quicker 0–100 km/h
  • only slightly lighter
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By Achim Sedelmaier

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

Picanto

Costs and Efficiency:

When it comes to price and running costs, the biggest differences usually appear. This is often where you see which car fits your budget better in the long run.

Kia Picanto is substantially cheaper – starting at 15,100 £ , while the Mazda MX-5 Roadster costs 29,000 £ . That’s a price difference of around 13,885 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Kia Picanto uses 5.5 L/100km and is moderately more efficient than the Mazda MX-5 Roadster with 6.2 L/100km. The difference is about 0.7 L/100km.

MX-5 Roadster

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 Mazda MX-5 Roadster offers significantly more power – delivering 132 HP compared to 68 HP. That’s roughly 64 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the Mazda MX-5 Roadster is clearly quicker – completing the sprint in 8.3 s, while the Kia Picanto takes 14.6 s. That’s about 6.3 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Mazda MX-5 Roadster delivers noticeably more torque with 152 Nm compared to 96 Nm. That’s about 56 Nm more.

Picanto

Space and Everyday Use:

Beyond pure performance, interior space and usability matter most in daily life. This is where you see which car is more practical and versatile.

Seats: Kia Picanto offers more seats – 5 vs 2.

In terms of curb weight, Mazda MX-5 Roadster is only slightly lighter – 1,078 kg compared to 1,124 kg. The difference is around 46 kg.

Looking at boot space, the Kia Picanto offers clearly more boot space – 255 L compared to 130 L. That’s a difference of about 125 L.

When it comes to payload, the Kia Picanto carries significantly more – 332 kg compared to 152 kg. That’s a difference of about 180 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Kia Picanto holds a slight edge 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.

from £15,100
Picanto

Kia Picanto

  • Engine Type Petrol
  • Transmission Manuel, Automatic
  • Drive Type Front-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP 68 HP
  • Consumption L/100km 5.5 - 5.9 L/100km
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Costs and Consumption
View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance
View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body
View detailed analysis

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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Reviews Kia Picanto

4.4 (4 Reviews)
rate

No reviews yet. Share your experience and help others decide.

Mazda MX-5 Roadster

The Mazda MX-5 is a featherweight, open-top sports car that turns ordinary roads into a grin-inducing playground thanks to razor-sharp steering and an engaging, tactile gearbox. It won’t swallow the weekly shopping or ski bags, but for anyone after pure driving fun and sun-on-your-face weekends, few cars match its sheer charm and value.

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Reviews Mazda MX-5 Roadster

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Kia Picanto
Mazda MX-5 Roadster

Costs and Consumption
Price
15,100 - 19,500 £
Price
29,000 - 34,300 £
Consumption L/100km
5.5 - 5.9 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
6.2 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
-
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
126 - 134 g/km
co2
140 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
Hatchback
Body Type
Roadster
Seats
4 - 5
Seats
2
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,124 - 1,131 kg
Curb weight
1,078 kg
Trunk capacity
255 L
Trunk capacity
130 L
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,595 mm
Width
1,735 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
253 - 332 kg
Payload
152 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Petrol
Engine Type
Petrol
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission
Manuel
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Automated Manual
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive
Power HP
68 HP
Power HP
132 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
14.6 - 17.2 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
8.3 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
96 Nm
Torque
152 Nm
Number of Cylinders
3
Number of Cylinders
4
Power kW
50 kW
Power kW
97 kW
Engine capacity
998 cm3
Engine capacity
1,496 cm3

General
Model Year
2025
Model Year
2025
CO2 Efficiency Class
D
CO2 Efficiency Class
E
Brand
Kia
Brand
Mazda
What drivetrain options does the Kia Picanto have?

The Kia Picanto is offered with Front-Wheel Drive.

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.