Picanto News: Pricewatch: Picanto v Swift

In a recent fleet pricewatch comparison by Fleetnewsnet the Kia Picanto went head to head with the Suzuki Swift and came out the winner.

Data is taken from used car experts CAP Motor Research, to see how new cars taken on to a typical fleet might perform over the next three years/60,000 miles.

Tale of the tape.

In the red corner fighting out of Korea, the Kia Picanto 1.1 SE 5dr weighing in at a trim £7,182. And in the blue corner, all the way from Japan, the Suzuki Swift 1.3 GL 5dr weighing in at a slightly heavier £7,248.

Miles by months analysis:

• At 20,000 miles or 12 mths, the Picanto retained 58% of its value at £4,200 pounds compared to 44% or £3,175 for the Swift. That's a 14% or £1,025 advantage to the Picanto.
• At 30,000 miles or 18mths, the Picanto scores another round by retaining 51% of its value compared to 37% by the Swift. Again another 14% advantage to the Picanto.
• At 40,000 miles or 24 mths, things were still looking good for the little Kia with a retention of 45% compared to 32% for the Suzuki.
  
• At 50,000 miles or 30 mths, the percentages started to drop slightly for the Picanto, but at 39%, still over shadowed the 28% by the Swift.
• And finally at 60,000 miles or 36 mths, the Picanto dealt the knockout blow by retaining a very respectable 34% of its original value compared to 24% for the Swift.

So despite the Swift's marginally higher new price, the Picanto was still worth £750 more after 3 yrs. Add to that the fact that the Picanto SE also comes with air conditioning, alloy wheels and front fog lamps over and above the Swift GL specification, then it's clearly a no brainer.

No wonder they call the Picanto the thinking persons small car.

Source: CAP Motor Research