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Kia Venga 3 1.4 CDTi Ecodynamics road test report

3 1.4 CDTi Ecodynamics

The Venga is the latest model from the Korean car maker that’s seemingly set on shaking up the old order of the car industry. Following hot on the heels of the intriguing Soul in 2009 is this Kia’s new “hard to pigeonhole” car. Part mini-MPV, part supermini, the Venga might have a humorous name for people that remember the euro-pop “boys” of the late 1990s, but the Venga is pitched as a serious car for people wanting big space in a small car, sounds great but does it succeed?

Road Test Reports Says 4 star rating
A front-facing image of the Kia Venga 3 1.4 CDTi Ecodynamics

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Image number 2 of the Kia Venga 3 1.4 CDTi Ecodynamics Image number 3 of the Kia Venga 3 1.4 CDTi Ecodynamics Image number 4 of the Kia Venga 3 1.4 CDTi Ecodynamics
RICHARD SAYS

Performance Performance - 4 stars

In keeping with Kia’s refreshingly simplicity approach to car variants, the Venga on test, “3 1.4 CDTi Ecodynamics” is one of only seven available from launch. Kia trim levels of 1, 2, and 3 denote the level of extras you’ll get, while the Ecodynamics logo is a clear indication that this car has been tweaked to maximise fuel economy. Engine choice is similarly an unfussy affair – the only diesel option IS the Ecodynamics engine here, while petrol-lovers have their pick of a 1.4 unit, or a 1.6 unit if an automatic is your bag. The 1.4 litre diesel at the heart of this variant has been developed specifically for the new Venga, and is actually an evolution of the 1.6 diesel found in the Soul, coupled however to a six-speed manual gearbox, with gearing ratios very much designed to sip fuel rather than guzzle. Power and speed are very much not the watch words in a car such as this, but happily there’s plenty of torque to call upon immediately, none of the low rev problems which so often effect green-diesels. The six-speed gearbox is an inspired choice for people anticipating munching through lots of motorway miles, as it allows the revs to remain below 2000 while happily cruising at 70mph. The effect this has on fuel consumption is noticeable, in that you don’t notice the gauge dropping. Officially Kia quotes a figure of 62.8mpg on its combined cycle, and while you’ll be driving very conservatively to get that figure, getting above 50mpg regularly is a breeze. The gearbox isn’t the only item on the car to improve economy, the car is also fitted with an auto start-stop system when in neutral and the conditions are right. It’s a little disconcerting being stationary at the lights with the engine off to suddenly hear it kick into life of its own accord – be thankfully though as that’s better than having a flat battery! CO2 emissions of only 117g/km place it in band C for VED, which underlines its green credentials without being earth shattering.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 3 stars

Approaching the Venga for the first time and you’re immediately struck with the dimensions of the vehicle. It has a pretty high roofline, yet on a small floor plan, which instantly sound alarm bells that this car is going to roll around corners like there’s no tomorrow. Thankfully, and somewhat to my surprise it has to be said, the car displays very little roll when cornering – this is due to the stiffness of ride you’re getting. Which is great for cornering, but less so over an (insert collective noun) of potholes where the occupants feel most of the bumps and jolts. The car’s running gear is (again) something borrowed from the Soul and it shares many of the same characteristics – steering is very responsive with the right amounts of feedback to keep you engaged. It’s not as fun to drive as the Soul though, however this is possibly down to the different feeling you get behind the wheel of the Soul in comparison to the Venga. If the Soul has a youthful, zany and fun-loving outlook then the Venga is more sensible, family-orientated, and, well, just a little bit boring.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 5 stars

Although Venga isn’t the first “new generation” Kia, it is the first car that has been designed in its entirety by Kia's Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer (the man behind the design of the iconic first generation Audi TT), and is exclusively built for the discerning European consumer. It’s apparent from the off that this is a very well put together little car – externally the car gets better every time you look at it, the ‘wedge’ styling on the door panels is a nice design feature, as is the panoramic roof on ‘3’ trim cars. Internally everything looks and feels very durable, the fabric used on the seats especially so. The dash is simple and easy to use, although the quality of the plastics used here look a little on the cheap side. An excellent addition found across all the latest Kia models is the ability to connect up your ipod to the stereo – why all manufacturer’s don’t take this approach to in-car entertainment I’ll never know as it’s such a boon to able to plug the ipod into the cable provided and have instant access to your Barry Manilow tunes… Perhaps Kia greatest attraction for car buyers is their industry leading 7 year warranty, so buyers can be smugly confident that their new Kia has been built to last.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 3 stars

The Kia Soul, with which this shares much of the same underlying technology, scored an excellent 5 stars overall in its Euro NCAP crash test results back in 2009, and the Korean manufacturer was expecting much of the same this time around – however the start of 2010 has seen the bar raised for cars looking to top score in the tests which has resulted in the Venga attaining a solid 4 star overall award. The car is stuffed to the gills with technology to keep the car on the road – all Venga’s come with Electronic Stability Control as standard, as well as ABS and emergency brake assist. The car also benefits from a steel bodyshell construction, and comes with six airbags as standard – dual front, side, and full-length curtain airbags. You’ll also find remote central locking, immobiliser and an alarm on the car.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 5 stars

The car’s undoubted strength is perhaps being the ultimate little-big car you can drive today. While it shares the same underpinning structure as that of the Soul, the Venga is a more compact car – both in length and width terms, yet has a longer wheelbase as you’ll notice when viewing the car, the wheels really are pushed into the four corners. Obvious I know, but this really helps to maximise internal space – in all three areas of the car. So you’ll find plenty of legroom in the front and back, with a good sized boot space to boot! Comparing the Venga to the Soul and up front you’ll find pretty much identical amounts of space, in the rear the Soul shades it, however the Venga wipes the floor with the Soul in the boot fight. Initially I had my reservations about the car - was the Venga an unnecessary addition to the Kia family – after all the Soul surely ticked all the same boxes!? However, spending several days in the Venga has opened my eyes and the differences are pronounced. For growing families the additional boot space puts the Venga in the box seat and Kia can rightly claim that you are getting C-segment space in a B-segment car.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 4 stars

It’s difficult to find fault with the Kia Venga when you look at potential running costs – it’s certainly fuel efficient, it’s CO2 emissions mean that VED isn’t excessive, service intervals are set at a generous 20,000 miles, the 7 year warranty offers peace of mind, and insurance group 2 should help keep premiums down. Right the way through the car the quality of materials used is apparent which all points to many years of trouble free motoring. The only area of real concern about the car is the price – does it offer real value for money, and is it competitive against other options? This is a tough one to answer. The top-of-the-range Venga 3 1.4 CDTi Ecodynamics on test retails at a little under £16,000 OTR which is pretty steep for a B-segment car. A cheap car this certainly isn’t then, but when you factor in its low running costs then it does become appealing. In terms of competitors then you will need to consider the Venga against cars such as the Nissan Note and the Ford Fusion, in terms of quality then it certain matches both the Japanese and American manufacturers. Overall, a well put together little-big car, with impressive amounts of room, good fuel economy and absolutely perfect for small families – like most things though it would have been even better if it was a little cheaper.

Submitted: 22/03/2010 09:37:23

ANDY SAYS

Performance Performance - 3 stars

The expansion of the Kia range continues with the all new Venga- set to be the brand’s competitor in all new sector-part B-segment car, part mini MPV. We drove the 1.4 diesel EcoDynamics variant in the range-topping ‘3’ trim, which offers a fantastic combination of extremely low running costs and decent performance. The engine offers 89 bhp and 220 NM of torque with a 0-60 mph sprint of 14.0 seconds. The majority of the power arrives between 2,000 and 3,000 revs which makes the Venga pleasurable enough to drive on A and B roads once you are up and running. On the motorway the Venga is adequate without offering too much overtaking capacity beyond 70 mph. Also available is a 1.4 petrol or a 1.6 petrol engines, both offering decent push but the 1.4 diesel is the one that makes the most sense, delivering drive and fuel economy.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 4 stars

In this section, the Venga excels within its class, as the car is very driveable, it has the ability to make the daily grind to and from work and the shops quite entertaining. The steering is direct with plenty of feel to it and the gearbox is precise and sporty. The ride is fairly firm but the seats are supportive and this doesn’t seem to compromise your comfort in any way. For a mini MPV, we were pleasantly surprised with the cornering ability of the Venga with the overall drive experience seeming to be in direct contrast to the Venga’s placid family car purpose.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 4 stars

As a new model, only time will really tell on the Venga. Having said that, although it is a new car, the Venga is based on the same platform of the larger Soul model and does come with tried and tested technologies used on other models. Kia cars has always proved to be strong in manufacture and reliability, and looking round the cabin, everything seems to be basic-looking yet solid. The kit included as standard on the Venga is quite generous and the inclusion of sophisticated stop/start technology on the diesel models helps boost the brand into a whole new realm of quality. Plus, the famous 7 year manufacturer’s warranty is included on all variants within the Venga range, is included for added peace of mind. For comfort and convenience, every Venga comes with air conditioning, driver's seat height adjustment, tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment, electric front windows, remote central locking and tinted glass.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 4 stars

For safety and security, all Vengas have six airbags (front, side and curtains), active front head restraints, two ISOFIX chid seat mounting points, anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Brake Assist (BAS) and Traction Control (TC). The Venga scored a strong four-star Euro NCAP rating despite a small hiccup with the function of the front seatbelts which the carmaker has since rectified on its models. Venga 2 models gain locking wheel nuts and electrically adjustable heated door mirrors while Venga 3 gains front fog lights.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 4 stars

The Venga manages to cram plenty of space into a platform no larger than the average hatchback. Despite being 37mm shorter than Soul, Venga has a 65mm longer wheelbase, an important contribution to its generous interior space. Not simply a tall version of a supermini, the Venga is cleverly proportioned to give generous space in every direction and not just above the head. Kia also avoid making the Venga ‘boxy’; despite the model being tall, the carmaker focused giving it a sleeker, racier profile which is not just more attractive but provides it with a class-best Cd figure of just 0.31. The 4068mm long Venga with its unusually long 2615mm wheelbase, has a highly flexible interior too. Split rear seats that slide fore and aft by up to 130mm allow the passenger accommodation to be further stretched when maximum luggage capacity is not needed. Alternatively, a two-tier boot means that owners who occasionally need more than the standard 444 litres of cargo space can expand the luggage area simply by moving the floor. The luggage compartment then becomes 163mm taller, extending total volume to 570 litres. If more space is required, the rear seats have ‘Fold & Dive’ functionality which makes them seem to disappear into the floor, creates a completely flat deck in the load area and expands the total space to a cavernous 1486 litres-all in a B-segment car.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 4 stars

At £15,395, the 1.4 EcoDynamics in trim level 3 we tested here is the most expensive in the range. However, at a starting price of £11,495 for the entry-level 1.4 petrol in trim 1, the Venga is priced to go. The cheapest 1.4 EcoDynamics diesel in trim level 1 will set you back £12,795-still a highly competitive proposition. The 1.6 petrol which uses same engine used in the Kia Soul, comes with a four-speed automatic transmission and is priced at £14,095. The 1.4-litre petrol and diesel engines are available with all three trim levels named Venga 1, Venga 2 and Venga 3 while the 1.6-litre with automatic gearbox is a stand-alone model in mid-range Venga 2 spec. To be honest, even the entry-level Venga 1 is well equipped so you may decide not to bother paying for more. The fuel efficient diesel EcoDynamics model offers low running costs, capable of 62.8mpg combined and emitting just 117g/km CO2. The 1.4 petrol keeps costs fairly low too, at 45.6mpg combined and emitting 147g/km CO2. The 1.6 petrol however is more thirsty, achieving just 40.4mpg combined and emitting 164g/km CO2 emissions, meaning tax band G at £155 a year from April.

Submitted: 23/03/2010 08:56:03

CRAIG SAYS

Performance Performance - 4 stars

We tested the 1.4 CRDi ‘3’ EcoDynamics which is powered by a new 1.4 litre diesel engine, the only diesel option available in the range. The unit is a modified version of the 1.6 found in the Soul coupled with a six speed gearbox which has been specially developed for the Venga. This is one of only three engine options available and petrol buyers are catered for with both a 1.4 and 1.6 petrol version. With this being part of the EcoDynamics range it has been modified with economy in mind and fitted with a host of fuel saving extras. The model tested has stop/start technology or Intelligent Stop and Go (ISG) as Kia like to name it. Stop and Go is activated when the car is stationary and the gearbox is put in neutral and the car starts again once you put your foot on the clutch. This all helps the Venga achieve a very respectable combined quoted MPG of 62.8.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 3 stars

The Venga provides a comfortable ride and there are no nasty surprises when going over the increasing number of pot holes on the roads. The car was quite happy on the motorway and cruised along nicely with little engine or road noise. The car is not so happy around town at low revs and the engine did seem to struggle to get up to speed, push those gears that tad more however and this resulted in an enjoyable and nippy ride. The car grips the road well both at speed and in corners and the steering appears to be well weighted.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 4 stars

Kia is obviously confident in the build quality and reliability on all their new models and the Venga is no exception. This is another addition to the Kia seven years, 100,000 mile warranty which should provide peace of mind for any future owner. The Venga was designed to appeal to the European market and this model just goes to show how far the company has come in recent years in understanding the western marketplace. Its focus on this market is highlighted with the fact that the firm’s new head of design is Peter Schreyer who was behind the design of the original Audi TT. My only real criticism of the build quality is the use of cheap materials in the interior. The dash looked clean and modern but was finished in plastic with no sign of any quality materials used. This is such a shame as it did give the car a ‘cheap’ feel and was obviously an area where cost cuts had been made.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 4 stars

The Kia is equipped with an impressive array of safety features. All Venga models come fitted with ABS, brake assist system and electronic stability control as standard. For anyone not comfortable with hill starts Kia have also introduced a new Hill Start Assist Control which takes the sting out of starting the car on a steep hill. Inside the vehicle there are side, dual front, and curtain airbags. The front seats are very comfortable and feature active headrests to limit head injuries if you are hit from behind. Although based on the Soul which achieved 5 stars in the Euro NCAP rating, the Venga only scored 4 stars confirming that more stringent safety testing procedures were introduced in 2010.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 4 stars

Although the Venga shares the same platform as the Soul it is actually shorter yet through the clever MPV styling it manages to maximise space inside the cabin. The result is ample legroom for both front and rear seat passengers and there is plenty of headroom all round. Boot capacity is 444 litres which can be increased to over 570 litres by removing the floor panel. Clever use of the rear seats allows them to be folded down to create a completely flat load area to provide over 1200 litres of space. After riding into work I had a mountain bike to load in the back for the journey home and this fit in with surprising ease when the rear seats were folded down. You are basically buying a mini MPV with excellent legroom, great cabin space and flexibility at a price which leans towards the lower end of the market.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 4 stars

On first inspection the Venga appears to tick most boxes. It’s a great little car with bags of room, great economy with a quoted 62.8 mpg, modern styling and with a pretty decent drive to boot. So what’s the problem you may well ask? Well for starters this is being launched into a sector that is not short on competition with the likes of the Citroen C3 Picasso and Nissan Note to name a couple. The main issue is that I believe the Venga is just too expensive to sell as well as it should. The model tested is a top of the range Kia Venga 3 1.4 EcoDynamics CRDi and this has a retail price of just under £16,000. For those looking lower down the range the base model Venga 1 with a 1.4 petrol engine has a list price of £11,495. For a B-segment car this appears a little steep although any potential buyer should bear in mind the host of positives. With a new model used car values are hard to predict although they should hold up quite well with cheap running costs, 7 year warranty and service intervals of 20,000 miles. Overall I really did like the Venga although I believe sales will be held back slightly due to the current pricing. This is such a shame as with a more reasonable list price this could have been a real winner for Kia.

Submitted: 19/04/2010 10:52:15

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