Kia Picanto vs Honda Jazz
What's the difference?

Kia Picanto

$15,190 - $24,990

2024 price

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Honda Jazz

$9,999 - $19,999

2018 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Summary

2024 Kia Picanto

2018 Honda Jazz

By Tom White

By Peter Anderson

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Inline 4, 1.2L

Inline 4, 1.5L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

5.0L/100km (combined)

5.8L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Affordable
Available as a manual!
Deceptively well equipped

Capped-price servicing
Build quality
Huge interior space for its size

Dislikes

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

No Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
VTi-S very pricey
Lack of advanced safety features

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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2018 Honda Jazz Summary

Honda's Jazz is like the little engine that could.

It occupies a shrinking part of the market but has seen off a bevy of once-were competitors (most notably the Hyundai i20) and continues to battle gamely with the Mazda2.

Honda gave the range a little tweak in late 2017 to hand us the MY18 Honda Jazz. Some features were lost, and a few gained in an effort to keep up with Mazda's finest.

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Deep dive comparison

2024 Kia Picanto 2018 Honda Jazz

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.

Verdict

The Honda Jazz is an extremely capable small car, with an ace card of virtually unbeatable interior space. While it's hardly an excitement machine, or the best looking or equipped in its class (it is missing out on some useful safety gear), the Jazz deserves its status as a well-loved hatchback.

The best in the range is probably the VTi. There isn't anything compelling further up the variants unless you're keen on bigger wheels or leather trim. Its entry-level offering is a good-value, sturdy car that is packed with its best qualities, no matter which one you buy.

Kia Picanto vs Honda Jazz What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Kia Picanto vs Honda Jazz
What's the difference?