Used car guide · 2011–2017

Kia Picanto Mk2: best and worst years, and what goes wrong

How every year of the Kia Picanto Mk2 did at its MOT in 2025 compared with other cars the same age, the weak spots that keep coming up, and what to check before you buy one. From 89,456 MOT tests.

2015best year: 74% pass first time, 2 points above all 2015 cars
2012weakest year: 60% pass first time, 3 points below all 2012 cars
Rigid brake pipesthe weak spot that shows up in 5 different years

Year by year

First-time MOT pass rate for each year of the Kia Picanto Mk2, against all cars registered the same year. Older cars fail more, so the comparison with cars the same age is what matters.

40%70%100%2011: 57% pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%) 57% 2011*2012: 60% pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%) 60% 20122013: 64% pass first time (all 2013 cars: 66%) 64% 20132014: 70% pass first time (all 2014 cars: 69%) 70% 20142015: 74% pass first time (all 2015 cars: 72%) 74% 20152016: 75% pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%) 75% 20162017: 80% pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%) 80% 2017*
This model, first-time pass rate All cars registered that year · * changeover year: some cars are the previous or next generation
YearPass first timeAll cars that yearStands outMOT tests
2011*57%61% -4Rigid brake pipes 2.9× usual10,186
201260%63% -3Rigid brake pipes 3.5× usual12,875
201364%66% -2Rigid brake pipes 3.6× usual12,590
201470%69% +1Rigid brake pipes 3.5× usual14,407
201574%72% +2Rigid brake pipes 4× usual13,596
201675%75% +0Rigid brake pipes 4.1× usual12,541
2017*80%78% +2Ball joint 1.9× usual13,261

Weak spots across the Kia Picanto Mk2

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year of this generation. Repeat findings like these are much less likely to be chance.

  • Rigid brake pipesup to 4.1× usual

    Stands out in 5 years: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Braking performanceup to 2.2× usual

    Stands out in 5 years: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Seat beltsup to 6.1× usual

    Stands out in 4 years: 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock and retract smoothly.

  • Handbrake performanceup to 9× usual

    Stands out in 3 years: 2016, 2015, 2014.

    Rough price £80–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull the handbrake on a slope. It should hold the car within a few clicks.

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting each car's main test of the year (not retests). A weak spot needs at least 30 cars flagged and must stay 1.5× the usual rate even at the cautious end of a 95% confidence range. Generation years are approximate: cars registered in a changeover year (*) can be either generation. How we score

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