![]() It offers truly back-to-basics motoring, with a low TCO to match - at just 27.6p per-mile. The Ami is under 2.5 metres long, has a turning circle of 7.2 metres and weighs less than half a tonne. ![]() ![]() It’s propelled by an 8bhp motor, fed by a 5.5kWh battery pack that takes four hours to charge. With a lack of creature comforts, a range of only 46 miles and a top speed of 28mph, it wouldn’t be suitable for longer trips and those cost savings demand real compromises. There’s a slight caveat, however, because very few Ami owners will end up doing as many as 10,000 miles a year, because the French quadricycle is a vehicle that has been built specifically for those who clock up lower mileages in built-up urban environments. As a final bonus, every model in the Kia range is sold with a brilliant seven-year warranty. It’s also very comfortable and refined for such a small car, and fun to drive, even if the Volkswagen Up! has it beaten for dynamics overall. The Picanto feels well made inside, with a spacious cabin featuring an abundance of premium-feeling materials. The ‘2’ trim level features a four-speaker sound system, USB and aux-in ports, and you do at least get 14-inch alloys, air-con and all-round electric windows as standard. You will have to compromise on performance – the derivative we’re looking at here uses the entry-level 1.0-litre engine, which produces just 66bhp. Further helping running costs, the least polluting and most efficient Picanto versions puff out 110g/km of CO2 and can achieve up to 58.9mpg, which makes for low fuel bills and keeps the first year of vehicle excise duty pegged at £170. Strong values for the car on the used market mean Kia Picanto owners – even those with the most wallet-friendly 1 models – stand to lose only a fairly modest sum through depreciation after three years. The i10 also sits in insurance group 4, meaning it shouldn’t break the bank when it comes to getting insurance. Fuel economy stands at 56.5mpg and CO2 figures of 119g/km. The Hyundai has everything stacked in its favour when it comes to reducing its TCO figure and at 37p per-mile this is a very affordable car. There are better-driving or handling city cars in this dwindling class, but you’ll have to pay more to buy and run them. The current generation i10 has a longer wheelbase than the car it replaced, which helps to improve the ride and handling. In this SE Connect trim, you get a limited amount of kit, including cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity and an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Again, though, it’s very well made, and spacious. Unfortunately, it’s not quite as smart inside, with a pretty plain interior design and layout. The i10 is based on the same platform as Kia’s Picanto, sharing the same 1.0-litre, 66bhp engine, but features slightly sportier and more aggressive exterior styling.
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