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Honda Civic vs Kia Picanto

What's the difference?

VS
Honda Civic
Honda Civic

$47,200 - $72,600

2024 price

Kia Picanto
Kia Picanto

$16,888 - $24,999

2022 price

Summary

2024 Honda Civic
2022 Kia Picanto
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 2.0L

Turbo 3, 1.0L
Fuel Type
-

Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
8.9L/100km (combined)

5.2L/100km (combined)
Seating
4

5
Dislikes
  • Price, maybe
  • Limited availability
  • Likely a swansong

  • Not a hot hatch
  • No auto option
  • Lacking some driver-assist safety tech
2024 Honda Civic Summary

Before we dive in, this isn’t your typical road test. 

That’s because there’s no road, per se. Instead, the majority of what you’re about to read comes from The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia.

You’ve read the headline, though, so you’re probably putting it all together: a Honda Civic Type R on a well-liked race track must be bliss. Let’s find out.

A very quick catch-up for those not in the know. The Honda Civic Type R (or CTR if you like) is the brand’s only performance model on sale after the demise of the NSX supercar. 

The current (FL5) CTR is a little over a year old, having been launched internationally in late 2022, but has only been on Aussie shores for a little while. In fact, we’ve already reviewed it for the road, back in April.

But Honda Australia was keen to get media behind the wheel in a setting it says the CTR thrives in - a racetrack. Its predecessor was a car loved almost universally, can this one live up to the new standard?

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2022 Kia Picanto Summary

The difference between ‘cheap’ and ‘inexpensive’ is the difference between the Kia Picanto and most sub-$20,000 cars.

Kicking off from $15,990 before on-road costs (ORC), the popular hatch represents Australia’s only complete sub-B supermini experience, with a full range, affordable pricing, excellent aftersales and a welcome absence of obvious cost-cutting measures.

By not being feeble, flimsy, expensive or hopelessly outdated like all the rest, the Picanto is serious about treating budget buyers with respect while offering consumers real choice. Nobody else seems to provide such qualities quite like Kia can.

To that end, we take a long look at the most-expensive – or, if you like, Australia’s least-expensive sporty hatch – version of the Picanto, the intriguing GT.

 

 

 

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    Deep dive comparison

    2024 Honda Civic 2022 Kia Picanto

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