2009 KIA Picanto 1.1L Petrol · EA59 TSU

The 2009 Kia Picanto presents a stable and improving mechanical picture at its most recent MOT. The November 2025 pass certificate at 87,477 miles shows zero defects, a clean bill of health that directly follows a failure just six days earlier on 18 November 2025 at 87,446 miles. That failure flagged a non-working nearside front position lamp, an excessively worn offside front Macpherson strut top bush or bearing, and an excessively binding offside front service brake. The fact that all three items were rectified within a week and cleared at the subsequent retest indicates the previous owner addressed the faults promptly rather than ignoring them. This is a positive maintenance signal. The car has not presented a recurring single fault across multiple test cycles, suggesting the underlying mechanical condition is sound and the recent failures were isolated, rectified items rather than symptoms of chronic neglect. The mileage profile tells a clear story of very light use. At roughly 5,146 miles per year over 17 years, this Picanto has covered well below the UK average annual mileage of around 7,000 to 8,000 miles. The gap between the November 2024 pass at 83,106 miles and the November 2025 test at 87,477 miles shows a jump of 4,371 miles in 12 months, which is a modest uptick but still within normal light-use parameters. There are no suspicious mileage reversals or large unexplained gaps in the record. The sparse but consistent annual test pattern, with one minor failure in 2023 and one in 2025 both followed by prompt repairs, paints a picture of a car that has been used gently and maintained reactively rather than proactively, but without any evidence of serious deferred work. A buyer inspecting this car in person should focus on the front suspension and braking system, given the November 2025 failure flagged both a worn strut top bush and a binding front brake. Check the Macpherson strut top mounts and bushes on both sides for play, knocking, or deterioration, as these components can degrade with age regardless of low mileage. Inspect the offside front caliper for signs of sticking or uneven pad wear, and verify the brake disc surface condition and runout. The 2023 failure involved a split nearside front CV boot and an exhaust leak affecting emissions, so examine the inner CV joint boots for fresh splits or grease contamination, and check the exhaust system, particularly joints and flexi sections, for corrosion or leaks. On a 17-year-old city car, surface rust on subframes, sills, and suspension mounting points is a realistic concern even at low mileage, so a thorough underside inspection is advisable despite the clean recent test result.