Most 2017 Picantos in Ireland are fitted with simple naturally-aspirated 1.0 or 1.25-litre petrol engines; the manual gearbox is straightforward and cheap to service. Kia sold these with a long factory warranty originally, but that will usually be expired by now, so check for wear items — the small engines are economical but can feel strained at sustained motorway speeds and heavy urban stop-starts accelerate wear on clutch and brakes.

• Clutch engagement and any slipping or judder on take-up (common on high-mileage manuals)
• Gearbox for crunching or worn synchros when changing gears, especially into 1st/2nd
• Tyre manufacture date and condition — rubber older than ~5–7 years becomes unsafe even if tread remains
• Suspension and front strut tops for knocks/noise and wheel-bearing play
• Bodywork around sills, wheelarches and the tailgate for corrosion or poor panel gaps