2022 Kia Picanto vs 2024 Mazda 2

What's the difference?

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By not being feeble, flimsy, expensive or hopelessly outdated like all the rest, the Picanto is serious about treating budget buyers with respect while offering consumers real choice.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.

The entry-point into one of Australia's most popular brands has been around for almost 10 years in its current generation, but the Mazda2 has had a refresh.

Possibly for the last time in its current lifespan, the small hatchback gets a facelift to remain appealing, Mazda hopes, to first-car-buyers.

Mazda's up against not only direct rivals, like the Suzuki Swift and Toyota Yaris, but also the shifting market.

Mazda has sold just over 3500 Mazda2s so far this year, but almost 11,000 CX-3 small SUVs, the latter based on our friend here's platform.

It's a name with a little over two decades behind it, but can it be a first-car-favourite in an increasingly difficult small car market?