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Kia Venga 1.4 petrol & CRDi EcoDynamics road test report

1.4 petrol & CRDi EcoDynamics

The new Venga uses the Kia small car platform first used on the Soul. Unlike the mini SUV-style Soul, the Venga is a B-segment supermini with mini MPV styling and more interior space than the funky, youth-orientated Soul, and as much space as some bigger, C-segment cars.

Road Test Reports Says 3 star rating
A front-facing image of the Kia Venga 1.4 petrol & CRDi EcoDynamics

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TOM SAYS

Performance Performance - 2 stars

The Venga offers a choice of three engines: 1.4 and 1.6-litre 4cyl petrol units plus a 4cyl 1.4-litre CRDi. I drove the 5-sp manual 89bhp 1.4 petrol and the 6sp-manual 89bhp 1.4 ‘EcoDynamics’ diesel and, of the two, the petrol version feels the more refined and sweeter, although the diesel delivers substantially more torque – 163lb/ft @ 1,750-2,750rpm versus 101lb/ft @ 4,000rpm. That said, in a drag race the petrol would get the better of the CRDi with 0-62 in 12.4 secs – 1.6 secs ahead of the CRDi – while both have a top speed of 104mph. Figures and running costs aside (see below) the 1.4 petrol would be my choice.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 3 stars

Most new superminis now provide levels of ride comfort that would have been thought impossible only a few years ago, and the Venga is definitely up to speed in this respect. The ride is comfortable without being soft, and lumps and bumps are dealt with by a suspension system that’s obviously been carefully developed and finely tuned. The steering is well weighted, and predictably safe, and the Venga feels well-controlled in corners and stable at high speed, although neither the chassis nor the suspension have been tuned for the boy racer crowd.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 3 stars

It’s a sign of the times, the Korean Kia Venga has been designed by a German (the ex Head of Audi styling) and developed specifically for the European market. It’s assembled in the Czech Republic with its German designed and engineered CRDi engine manufactured in Slovakia. One assumes that Kia is capable of keeping tabs on all this multinationalism, especially given the confidence it shows in its fantastic 7yr/100,000-mile warranty. But on a more down-to-earth level, I was left unimpressed by the look and feel of some of the interior plastics; eg. the lower, floor-mounted part of the centre console and much of the door trim and fittings.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 5 stars

Traction and Electronic Stability Control come as standard together with Hill Assist Control, while all Venga models also feature ABS and emergency Brake Assist. Inside there are dual front, side and full-length curtain airbags (passenger side front airbag with cut-off switch), height-adjustable front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and belt load-limiters, active front seat head restraints plus a trio of three-point seatbelts in the rear. All models have two ISOFIX points with top tether anchorages in the two outer rear seats, while remotely operated deadlocks should foil the light-fingered. At the time of writing Kia is confident that the new Venga will achieve the maximum 5-star Euro NCAP rating.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 5 stars

Sitting in the either of the Venga’s two front seats reveals nothing unusual – it’s both adequately roomy and comfy. It’s in the rear that the Venga’s creativity shows. There’s almost an excess of headroom, while the 60/40 split rear seats slide fore and aft by up to 130mm to allow for extra rear passenger space. A two-tier boot means that the standard 444-litres of space can be expanded to 570-litres by moving the floor trim. The rear seats can also ‘Fold & Dive’ (without removing the headrests) to create a flat, 1,552mm-long load deck area of some 1,253 litres.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 4 stars

Venga prices start at £11,495 and rise to £15,395. The models I drove are priced at £12,695 (petrol, trim 2) and £13,995 (CRDi, trim 2). The 1.4 petrol achieves 45.6mpg (combined) with 147g/km CO2, while the £1,300 dearer 1.4 CRDi manages 62.8mpg and 117g/km. If you average 12,000 miles a year you’ll not recover the extra cost of the diesel for almost 5 years, though you will have spent less time in filling stations. All Vengas come with aircon, electric front windows and a 6-speaker audio system with MP3-compatible CD player and Aux, USB and iPod connectivity. The top, level 3 spec includes climate control and a full panoramic electric sunroof. The Venga’s not a car you’d choose with your heart, but if your head rules your heart then you’ll probably not regret it.

Submitted: 08/02/2010 09:10:24

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