BMW 1 Series vs Kia Picanto
What's the difference?

BMW 1 Series

$44,997 - $89,900

2025 price

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Kia Picanto

$15,190 - $24,990

2024 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Summary

2025 BMW 1 Series

2024 Kia Picanto

By Chris Thompson

By Tom White

Safety Rating

Engine Type

—

Inline 4, 1.2L

Fuel Type

—

Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

—

5.0L/100km (combined)

Seating

—

Likes

Driving dynamics and performance
Front-row layout
Pricing remains competitive

Affordable
Available as a manual!
Deceptively well equipped

Dislikes

New face might divide opinion
Second-row amenities lacking
A tad thirsty

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

2025 BMW 1 Series Summary

Can you believe the 1 Series is already in its fourth generation? It might not look incredibly like it, because this new car looks a little like the third.

But it’s been more than half a decade since the F40 1 Series debuted, so BMW decided it was already time for a new kid on the block. Meet the F70.

It’s just landed in Australia and it promises new-gen tech and features compared with its predecessor. We checked out BMW’s new baby at its Australian launch to find out if it delivers.

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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

2025 BMW 1 Series 2024 Kia Picanto

Verdict

A brief dalliance with the 1 Series has left me impressed, if wanting to spend more time with it to get a better assessment of the day-to-day liveability of BMW’s entry-level model.

It’s a compelling offering if you’re after a premium small car, and even without the performance of the M135, the 118 is feature-packed.

Keeping pricing competitive should help the 1 Series buck the trend of buyers opting for small SUVs, but ultimately it’s just refreshing to see BMW putting effort into keeping a hatchback relevant (and up-to-date).

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.

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.

BMW 1 Series vs Kia Picanto What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

BMW 1 Series vs Kia Picanto
What's the difference?