This is the cheapest new automatic car that you can buy – the 2017 Kia Picanto Si. At just $14,990 on the road, the pint-sized Picanto undercuts all of its similarly-sized automatic rivals. The Kia is about $4,000 cheaper than a Holden Spark; about $2,500 cheaper than a Mitsubishi Mirage, and about $2,000 less than a Suzuki Celerio.
The catch is that the other city cars often can be had for less if you don’t mind a manual gearbox. But these cars are meant for zipping around town, so an automatic can’t be beat. Kia smartly offer the Picanto in just one spec – and it’s a real bargain, combining a willing four-cylinder engine, a simple four-speed auto, cute looks, a decent interior and a seven-year warranty.
At fifteen grand you expect the Picanto to be pretty basic – and it is. So, after spending a week with the smallest Kia, is the Picanto all the city car you need – or is it worth stepping up to a more expensive and larger car?
