Used car guide · 2017–2024

Kia Picanto Mk3: best and worst years, and what goes wrong

How every year of the Kia Picanto Mk3 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 69,365 MOT tests.

2018best year: 83% pass first time, 2 points above all 2018 cars
2021weakest year: 86% pass first time, 1 points below all 2021 cars
Daytime running lightsthe weak spot that shows up in 3 different years

Year by year

First-time MOT pass rate for each year of the Kia Picanto Mk3, against all cars registered the same year. Older cars fail more, so the comparison with cars the same age is what matters.

60%80%100%2017: 80% pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%) 80% 2017*2018: 83% pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%) 83% 20182019: 84% pass first time (all 2019 cars: 84%) 84% 20192020: 86% pass first time (all 2020 cars: 86%) 86% 20202021: 86% pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%) 86% 20212022: 88% pass first time (all 2022 cars: 89%) 88% 20222023: 92% pass first time (all 2023 cars: 92%) 92% 2023
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
2017*80%78% +2Ball joint 1.9× usual13,261
201883%81% +2Daytime running lights 17.5× usual16,345
201984%84% +0Daytime running lights 20× usual16,297
202086%86% +0Suspension arm bushes and joints 3.7× usual7,883
202186%87% -1Tyre condition 1.6× usual8,414
202288%89% -1Tyre condition 2.1× usual6,657
202392%92% +0Tyre condition 2.1× usual508

Weak spots across the Kia Picanto Mk3

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.

  • Daytime running lightsup to 21× usual

    Stands out in 3 years: 2021, 2019, 2018.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Suspension arm bushes and jointsup to 5.8× usual

    Stands out in 3 years: 2022, 2021, 2020.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Tyre conditionup to 2.1× usual

    Stands out in 3 years: 2023, 2022, 2021.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges. Uneven wear can point to tracking or suspension problems.

  • Washersup to 3× usual

    Stands out in 2 years: 2022, 2019.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

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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