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Kia

Kia Picanto (2023)

664 real MOT outcomes analysed • 95.8% first-time pass rate

2023 Kia Picanto

CarHunch analysed 664 real MOT records for the 2023 Kia Picanto. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2023 Kia Picanto is a genuinely reliable car, with a first-time pass rate of 95.8% — well above the UK average of 80% — and only 2.7% of vehicles showing a dangerous defect. This is the kind of result you'd expect from a new model that's been built to a consistent standard.

At 12,725 miles median, these cars are still very young and low-mileage, so don't read too much into the excellent results yet; what matters is that when faults do appear, they're minor (0.08 average failures per car, 0.5 advisories), suggesting good build quality rather than just luck. If you're considering one, run a pre-purchase inspection anyway, but you're looking at a car with a solid early-life MOT record.

The 2023 Kia Picanto passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (95.8% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

First-time pass
95.8%
UK average ~80%
Better than average
Dangerous (ever)
2.7%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
0.08
Over 1.1 tests on record
Low
Typical mileage
13k
Middle half: 8k–19k
For context
✅ Good baseline reliability. A 95.8% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

These stats describe 664 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

A solid choice — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 664 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 22.8%
Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Suspension & steering 3.8%
Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement
Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.
Brake wear 2.5%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Other issues 2.4%
Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt
Wipers & washers 2.3%
Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively · Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively · Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2023.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 664 Kia Picanto cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2023 Kia Picanto

Based on MOT data from 664 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 2.7% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
    Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
  • 🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection ClickMechanic →
  • 📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 225,923 Kia Picanto vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 21.7%
49,074
Silver 19.4%
43,885
Black 18.7%
42,223
Blue 16.5%
37,382
Red 15%
33,846
Yellow 2.6%
5,871
Orange 2.6%
5,764
Green 1.2%
2,736
Pink 1%
2,344
Grey 0.8%
1,709
Beige 0.5%
1,056
Bronze 0%
33

Mileage Distribution

Most 2023 Kia Picanto vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

12,725
typical
8,251
low mileage
19,461
high mileage

Half of all 2023 Kia Picanto vehicles fall between 8,251 and 19,461 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
✓ Under 8,251 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.
✓ 8,251–19,461 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2023 Kia Picantos sit.
⚠ Over 26,272 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

1.1
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.08
Avg failures per vehicle
0.5
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Kia Picanto: All Picanto years → Which year to buy? →
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Or browse all models: Kia →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2023 Kia Picanto stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?