Kia Picanto vs smart forfour
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
The Kia Picanto wins on money kept: 65% retained after three years vs 53%, worth about R 57 922 at trade-in time.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| Picanto | forfour | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 236 995 | R 179 900 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 4 142/m | R 3 144/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 81% | 73% |
| Retained after 3 years | 65% | 53% |
| Value after 3 years | R 153 941 | R 96 019 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 83 054 | R 83 881 |
| Value after 5 years | R 120 843 | R 70 603 |
| Our tier | Budget & entry level | Orphan & discontinued |
Kia Picanto →
South Africa's favourite Kia and a fixture near the top of the entry-car sales charts since 2004. Buyers pick it for city-friendly size, decent spec and the long warranty, and a panel van version serves fleets. Used examples sell quickly and hold value well for a budget car.
Known for: affordable city car with strong demand
smart forfour →
The four-seat smart came to SA first as a Mitsubishi-based hatch in the mid-2000s and again from 2016 as a rear-engined Renault Twingo twin priced from R179,900. Neither generation sold in meaningful numbers before the brand withdrew around 2019. It survives as a niche used buy at low prices.
Known for: four-seat smart that never caught on
Common questions
Which holds value better, the Kia Picanto or the smart forfour?
The Kia Picanto. It keeps about 65% of its price after three years against 53% for the smart forfour, a gap of 12 points.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The Kia Picanto loses about R 83 054 over three years and the smart forfour loses about R 83 881. Fuel, insurance and servicing can narrow or widen that, but the depreciation gap is the number to start from.
What do they cost per month?
On typical finance (10% deposit, 72 months, 11.75%), the Kia Picanto runs about R 4 142 per month and the smart forfour about R 3 144, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.