Hyundai i10 vs. Kia Picanto: which is better?
Are you after a small city car but aren't sure whether the i10 or Picanto is better? Let us help point you in the right direction
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Choosing between the Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto is like choosing between apples and pears; they both come from the same family but taste different.
Exterior design aside, they’re almost identical underneath, with only a few changes.
Find out which is better for you.
Styling
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Look at both of these superminis side-by-side and you’ll notice many design differences that you otherwise wouldn’t notice if you saw them in isolation.
Yes, they’re both the same underneath, but from the outside they look different. The Hyundai i10 has a large mouth-like front grille with two lights in them that wouldn’t look out of place on a classic Mini.
The Kia Picanto has a sportier look, with sharper angles and LED running lights. The same goes for its rear, which takes design elements from the new Sportage and Niro models.
Based on looks alone, the best way to differentiate the two is by thinking of the i10 as the cute innocent one and the Picanto as the youthful teen.
What are they like to drive?
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When you get behind the wheel, you’ll notice that they’re both very similar in that they’re playful and great for nipping around town, making them ideal for city driving.
But just because they dominate low-speed driving doesn’t mean they can’t handle a motorway stint.
In fact, both cars are happy to cruise at 70mph for long periods of time, made even easier by cruise control, which comes as standard on both models.
The Hyundai i10 is available with either a 1.0-litre or a 1.2-litre petrol engine that produce 67hp and 84hp respectively.
The Kia Picanto can be had with two three-cylinder engine options – one with a turbocharger and one without. These produce 97hp and 65hp respectively.
But with either car, you’re getting a solid engine with great power and strong fuel efficiency no matter which engine you pick.
Interior and technology
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Inside, the Hyundai i10 is very simple, yet it’s fitted with all the usual gubbins you’d expect to find in a modern supermini.
This includes features such as a four-inch screen in the centre, but opt for a higher spec and you’ll find a higher-quality eight-inch screen that has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a smartphone wireless charging pad and a sat-nav.
As for the Picanto, it’s very similar, offering a smaller 3.8-inch display in base models and a larger eight-inch screen in top spec editions.
It comes with all the smartphone integration you’d need as well as a reversing camera, which is always welcome to increase safety.
Boot space and practicality
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With both being small cars, cabin space is always going to be at a premium – that’s just a fact. But Hyundai and Kia have both been very smart to create as much room as possible.
They’ve done this by pushing the wheels out as far as they can, meaning the seats are wider . Speaking of which, up to five people can fit in both cars, but we’d recommend sticking to four where possible as it gets a bit tight on longer drives.
Move to the rear and you’ll find a 252-litre boot in the i10 and a 255-litre boot in the Picanto. Neither are close to what you’d get in an SUV, but for city cars, it’s plenty.
Safety and reliability
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Being smaller and cheaper cars, the i10 and Picanto are never going to be able to rival larger SUVs in terms of safety features, but they still hold up well.
In their most recent Euro NCAP crash tests, both cars scored three out of five stars. This is partly due to the stricter rules that were introduced in recent years, but it’s also due to their size.
Despite this, they’re safe for what they are and stack up well against competitors.
South Korean car manufacturers very rarely make unreliable cars– thanks to some great engineering and tried-and-tested engines, we believe you’ll be fine. Just make sure to keep up with regular maintenance and don’t miss scheduled services.
Size and dimensions
Hyundai i10
Length: 3,670mm
Width: 1,680mm
Height: 1,480mm
Boot space: 252 litres
Kia Picanto
Length: 3,595mm
Width: 1,595mm
Height: 1,485mm
Boot space: 255 litres
Verdict: Hyundai i10 vs. Kia Picanto: which should you buy?
If you still can’t decide which car is for you, then perhaps our short verdict will help guide you in the right direction.
Being so mechanically similar, choosing between the Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto is purely down to looks and interior tech.
As we highlighted above, both cars come with great infotainment systems that have smartphone integration and plenty of other features.
The main difference is outside, where the i10 is a rounder-looking city car and the Picanto features more aggressive, sporty styling. So, what's it going to be – cute or cool?