What Car? Personal Shopper: small automatic car for less than £14,000

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Darren Moss

Updated06 December 2017

Buying new

Our recommended choice: Kia Picanto 1.25 3 auto
List price: £13,645
What Car? Target Price: £13,006

From 2014 to 2017, we consistently named the smart and practical Hyundai i10 as our City Car of the Year, but this year that crown was taken by the Kia Picanto. That's because it's deceptively spacious, has a tidy interior and handles well.

We'd recommend opting for the 1.25-litre petrol engine over the entry-level 1.0-litre. The latter is fine if you only drive in the city, but the 1.25's extra power and pace are welcome for those occasional trips further afield. We'd normally suggest sticking with the standard five-speed manual gearbox, but the four-speed automatic doesn't cost much more.

Where the Picanto really impresses is in its handling. It feels more at home on winding country lanes than many of its rivals and darts into bends with surprisingly little body lean. It also has light steering and a tight turning circle, so parking around town won't be a chore. Speaking of parking, the 3 trim level we recommend comes with rear parking sensors and even a rear-view camera. Other luxuries include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, climate control and sat-nav. There's smartphone mirroring, too, in case you change your mind about using your phone in the future.

This version of the Picanto would normally cost you £13,645, but What Car?'s New Car Buying service can reduce that to £13,006.

To find out more about the Picanto, read our full 16-point review or view our Picanto deals.