Kia Picanto Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Kia Picanto passes its MOT first time on 70.9% of tests, 5.6 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (76.4%). That puts it ahead of 15% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2018 Picanto does best (beats 32% of cars) and the 2021 worst (beats 9%).

Of its engines, the 1.2 Petrol does best (beats 28%) and the 1.0 Petrol worst (beats 12%).

Watch these weak spots

Brakes2.1×as often as a typical car

Tyres1.3×as often as a typical car

Handbrake performance5.9×as often as a typical car

Sidelights2.1×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Kia PicantoTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

Beats 24%

Beats 18%

Beats 12%

Beats 16%

Beats 20%

Beats 10%

Beats 12%

Beats 9%

Beats 13%

Beats 15%

Beats 26%

Beats 28%

Beats 14%

Beats 24%

Beats 32%

Beats 14%

Beats 22%

Beats 9%

Beats 6%

Beats 9%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	2004–2023	808,390	71.5%	Beats 12%	E
1.2 Petrol	2011–2020	363,643	80.5%	Beats 28%	D
1.1 Petrol	2004–2011	288,481	56.8%	Beats 15%	E

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Brakes: 10.2% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Brakes

10.2% vs 4.9%

Lights & electrics

9.6% vs 8.6%

Suspension

6.9% vs 6.7%

Tyres

6.7% vs 5.2%

Visibility

6.3% vs 4.3%

Body & structure

3.3% vs 2.2%

Emissions & leaks

3.0% vs 2.0%

Steering

1.2% vs 1.2%

Seat belts & airbags

0.8% vs 0.6%

Wheels

0.2% vs 0.2%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Handbrake performance 5.9× typical
Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope.
Sidelights 2.1× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
Windscreen wipers 1.6× typical
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
Exhaust emissions (catalyst) 2.7× typical
Check past MOT emissions readings in the car's history: rising readings can mean catalyst or sensor problems.
Brake performance 2.1× typical
On the test drive, brake firmly: the car should stop straight with no pulsing through the pedal.
Exhaust system 2.0× typical
Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look for heavy corrosion underneath.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Kia PicantoTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Handbrake performance	6.3%	1.1%	5.9×
Tyre damage & cracking	4.1%	3.1%	1.3×
Sidelights	3.6%	1.8%	2.1×
Windscreen wipers	3.5%	2.3%	1.6×
Windscreen washers	2.5%	1.7%	1.5×
Tyre tread depth	2.3%	1.8%	1.3×
Headlight aim	2.1%	2.4%	0.9×
Brake performance	2.0%	0.9%	2.1×
Coil springs	1.7%	2.1%	0.8×
Exhaust emissions (catalyst)	1.7%	0.6%	2.7×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defect	per 1,000
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen	35.3
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement	35.0
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	34.7
A tyre seriously damaged	26.2
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	25.2
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	23.0
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	22.1
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	21.4

Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2023 Kia Picanto1 engine88.7% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	7,215	88.7%	Beats 9%	E

2022 Kia Picanto1 engine87.5% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	18,668	87.5%	Beats 6%	E

2021 Kia Picanto1 engine86.8% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	31,035	86.8%	Beats 9%	E

2020 Kia Picanto2 engines87.4% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	19,921	87.0%	Beats 17%	E
1.2 Petrol	14,390	88.0%	Beats 30%	D

2019 Kia Picanto2 engines85.4% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	47,232	86.6%	Beats 20%	E
1.0 Petrol	37,936	83.9%	Beats 8%	E

2018 Kia Picanto2 engines85.6% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.2 Petrol	55,853	87.0%	Beats 46%	C
1.0 Petrol	39,688	83.6%	Beats 16%	E

2017 Kia Picanto2 engines83.4% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	48,386	82.0%	Beats 17%	E
1.2 Petrol	42,131	85.1%	Beats 35%	D

2016 Kia Picanto2 engines80.0% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	58,577	79.4%	Beats 13%	E
1.2 Petrol	39,936	80.9%	Beats 15%	E

2015 Kia Picanto2 engines79.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	81,371	78.9%	Beats 24%	D
1.2 Petrol	38,962	82.0%	Beats 37%	D

2014 Kia Picanto2 engines76.3% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	94,202	75.5%	Beats 25%	D
1.2 Petrol	34,225	78.3%	Beats 32%	D

2013 Kia Picanto2 engines70.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	79,597	68.8%	Beats 12%	E
1.2 Petrol	33,776	73.7%	Beats 26%	D

2012 Kia Picanto2 engines65.4% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	78,543	63.7%	Beats 9%	E
1.2 Petrol	38,912	68.9%	Beats 23%	D

2011 Kia Picanto3 engines61.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.0 Petrol	54,593	60.5%	Beats 8%	E
1.1 Petrol	22,741	59.6%	Beats 5%	E
1.2 Petrol	18,226	65.6%	Beats 20%	D

2010 Kia Picanto2 engines59.7% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.1 Petrol	66,316	61.5%	Beats 15%	E
1.0 Petrol	54,010	57.5%	Beats 8%	E

2009 Kia Picanto2 engines57.5% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.1 Petrol	61,257	59.1%	Beats 13%	E
1.0 Petrol	57,388	55.9%	Beats 7%	E

2008 Kia Picanto2 engines57.0% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.1 Petrol	26,219	57.6%	Beats 21%	D
1.0 Petrol	5,275	53.5%	Beats 14%	E

2007 Kia Picanto2 engines54.5% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.1 Petrol	20,369	55.8%	Beats 19%	E
1.0 Petrol	10,664	52.0%	Beats 12%	E

2006 Kia Picanto2 engines50.4% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.1 Petrol	33,883	51.0%	Beats 13%	E
1.0 Petrol	16,505	49.1%	Beats 11%	E

2005 Kia Picanto2 engines50.7% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.1 Petrol	37,147	51.3%	Beats 19%	E
1.0 Petrol	9,515	48.3%	Beats 14%	E

2004 Kia Picanto2 engines50.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.1 Petrol	20,549	50.9%	Beats 24%	D
1.0 Petrol	5,301	50.8%	Beats 23%	D

FAQ

What is the Kia Picanto MOT pass rate?

70.9% of MOT tests on the Kia Picanto were passed first time, based on 1,460,514 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2004–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 76.4% of the time.

Is the Kia Picanto reliable?

On MOT results it rates E (poor): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 15% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Kia Picanto year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2018 Picanto does best for its age and mileage: it beats 32% of cars on UK roads. The 2021 does worst: it beats 9%.

Which Kia Picanto engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.2 Petrol does best: it beats 28% of cars on UK roads. The 1.0 Petrol does worst: it beats 12%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Kia Picanto?

The most common failure items are handbrake performance, tyre damage & cracking, sidelights. Compared with similar cars, handbrake performance comes up 5.9× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.

Kia Picanto reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ