Audi A1 vs Kia Picanto
What's the difference?

Audi A1

$18,998 - $29,990

2020 price

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Kia Picanto

$15,190 - $24,990

2024 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Summary

2020 Audi A1

2024 Kia Picanto

By Matt Campbell

By Tom White

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 1.8L

Inline 4, 1.2L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

5.9L/100km (combined)

5.0L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Character-filled car
Sporty performance
City-friendly dimensions

Affordable
Available as a manual!
Deceptively well equipped

Dislikes

Fuel use a bit high
Expensive
Back seat lacks amenities

Minimal interior upgrades for 2024
Feeling its age
Fuel consumption is so-so

2020 Audi A1 Summary

The Audi A1 2020 range offers something for everyone, and in the case of this particular variant, it’s the one you buy if you want as much grunt and gear as you can get.

It’s the top-of-the-range Audi A1 40 TFSI model, which gets the zestiest engine, the lengthiest equipment list, and offers performance to match some hot-hatches out there. It’s essentially an Audi-ised version of a VW Polo GTI.

This test wasn’t so much about the wow-factor, though. We put it through its paces as an urban runabout to see how it coped as a real-world city car.

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2024 Kia Picanto Summary

If you're feeling the cost of living sting, there's a good chance you've scaled back your ambitions for your next new car. You may have even looked at some of Australia's most affordable brand-new vehicles and the Kia Picanto is one of them.

It's one of the few brand-new options left with a before-on-roads starting price of under $20,000 and it's one of the few non-performance models left which can still be chosen as a manual.

It's one thing to be affordable, though, and quite another to be good value - so does the freshly updated 2024 Picanto have what it takes to stack up against more expensive options? Let's take a look.

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Deep dive comparison

2020 Audi A1 2024 Kia Picanto

Verdict

If you’re eager for a sporty compact hatchback with premium design and luxury car badges, the Audi A1 40 TFSI is a very, very strong contender. It’s fast, fun, and functional for a little hatchback. It’s just very expensive, and for most people the $10K cheaper 35 TFSI model will tick most of the boxes. I’d recommend you drive it before signing on for the top-spec model.

Verdict

Australians are moving into ever-larger vehicles when really we should be embracing the small car now more than ever. It's great Kia is still here, with its Picanto showing what can be offered in such a compact form-factor.

While it's not as affordable as it once was, it looks like it won't be long before Kia is the last torchbearer of sub-$20k starter cars. Even so, this is a great choice for buyers on strict budgets.

Audi A1 vs Kia Picanto What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Audi A1 vs Kia Picanto
What's the difference?