Fiat Panda vs Kia Picanto: Citycar challenge

A few months ago, the Fiat Panda was updated in terms of technology and we compare it with its rival Kia Picanto.

Photo by: Motor1 Italy

By: Massimo Grassi

Nov 18, 2024 at 4:04am ET

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The Fiat Panda remains a best-seller in the Italian market, queen of sales despite Fiat's downturn. A success that has lasted a long time, between new generations and restyling, like the one presented in July, focused not on style or engines but on technology. A renewal to keep up with European directives and the competition.

Competition comprised of fewer and fewer models - the A segment is depopulating - represented also by the Kia Picanto, the small Korean car updated some time ago. Here they are now against each other in a stationary comparison.

Exterior

With the latest restyling, the Fiat Panda has not changed in terms of dimensions - the length is 3.65 metres - and proportions, with reduced overhangs and a vertical rear end, to optimise interior space. Standard are 14-inch steel wheels while the top of the range, the Pandina, sits on 16-inch alloy wheels and features daytime running lights and LEDs. In the UK, the Garmin trim sits on the top of the range.

Fiat Panda 2024

Kia Picanto

Compared to its rival, the Kia Picanto is 6 cm shorter (3.59 metres) with a more elaborate styling in line with its bigger brothers. The front end is more aggressive than the previous version, with the 'tiger nose' grille ideally connected to the light clusters, with horizontal and vertical development and the option of full LED headlamps. At the rear, the lines are vertical and sharp. Just like the base Panda, there are 14-inch wheels, but these are alloys instead of steelies. On the higher trim levels these go up in size to 16 inches.

Model	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase
Fiat Panda	3.65 metres	1.64 metres	1.55 metres	2.3 metres
Kia Picanto	3.59 metres	1.59 metres	1.48 metres	2.4 metres

Interior

Internally, the new features of the revamped Fiat Panda concern the richer versions, while the base version is decidedly basic and remains among the few cars not to offer any kind of center monitor, while a digital cluster is still standard. To get it, you have to turn to the Pandina version (Garmin in the UK), which gets a 7-inch touchscreen compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard.

In terms of space, the Panda 2024 is homologated for four seats in the base version, while the higher trim levels can accommodate five people. Both have a one-piece fold-down rear seat, a flaw in terms of modularity. Given the exterior dimensions, the boot doesn't work miracles, but neither is it particularly stingy as far as space is concerned, with 225 litres minimum capacity, which becomes 870 when the rear seats are folded down.

Fiat Panda 2024, the interior

Far more impactful is the interior of the Kia Picanto, thanks mainly to the standard 8-inch touchscreen that dominates the dashboard, flanked by the digital instrument cluster with a 4.2-inch screen in the middle. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, along with various USB sockets.

Five-passenger homologation is also standard, but space is naturally not abundant and four can travel comfortably, while a third passenger in the middle of the rear bench seat is a bit cramped. However, there is no lack of centimetres in both height and length. The luggage compartment is in line with the segment average and offers a minimum of 255 litres of capacity, more than 1,000 by folding down - in a 60:40 arrangement - the rear seats.

Kia Picanto 2024, the interior

Model	Digital instrumentation	Central monitor	Luggage compartment
Fiat Panda	Yes	7"	225 - 870 litres
Kia Picanto	Yes	8"	255 - 1,010 litres

Engines

The engine selection for the 2024 Fiat Panda is reduced to a minimum and consists only of the 1.0-litre mild hybrid (70 bhp), combined only with a 6-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive. The Fiat Panda 4x4 has long disappeared from the list.

Fiat Panda 2024, the rear

Kia Picanto 2024, the rear

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The Kia Picanto, on the other hand, offers a wider choice of engines. You can choose the 1.0 3-cylinder petrol or bifuel petrol/LPG 63 bhp version, with manual or automatic transmission, or opt for the 1.2 4-cylinder 78 bhp petrol, also available with manual or automatic transmission.

Model	Petrol	LPG	Mild hybrid
Fiat Panda	n.a.	n.a.	1.0 70 bhp
Kia Picanto	1.0 63 bhp 1.2 78 bhp	1.0 63 bhp	n.a.

Prices

In the UK, prices of the Fiat Panda start at £14,750 for the base model and £17,775 for the range-topping Garmin trim. The Italian city car will soon be discontinued from the UK market, though. The Kia Picanto, in turn, starts at £15,595 for the base '2' trim and goes up to £19,145 for the GT-Line S powered by the 1.2-litre with automatic transmission.