We review the Kia Venga from price to economy and all its features
THE name Venga may be a bit camp — but so is the fashion world. And there's no doubt this new Kia is at the height of fashion.
It has already won the highly acclaimed iF Design award in Germany.
It's just a shame the name is iffy. Venga means "arrive" in Spanish. If anything, it underlines that design guru Peter Schreyer has arrived at Kia. It's his first blank-canvas design for them and I believe it gives them their maiden truly desirable star — all in a small people carrier.
The Venga slots into Kia's range slightly below the funky Soul. While the latter offers style before substance, the Venga has a longer wheelbase for greater passenger space, taller windows and a bigger boot.
It's Kia's third small car — also alongside the Rio — and sees the firm aiming to capitalise on the popularity of smaller cars. Supermini sales have now overtaken hatchbacks in Europe.
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I love the Venga's style — a look of a Ford S-Max shrunk on a boil wash. That's a big compliment because the S-Max is the best-looking large people carrier on the road.
Inside the Venga does everything necessary for a small MPV. Rear seats fold 60/40 and slide back 130mm, there's a two-tier boot floor and tons of storage space.
The high-seating position is a big selling point — the width and legroom is best in class.
Every Kia seems to make big strides on interior quality and the Venga is no different. It will have three trim options with three engine choices: a 1.4 petrol, an 89bhp 1.4-litre turbo-diesel and an auto 123bhp 1.6-litre petrol. I drove all three in Rome, and they had decent handling and speed. On motorways, the turbo diesel cruised smoothly but around town the petrol versions, especially the 1.6, were more responsive. The diesel, which uses Kia's Eco Dynamics ISG system, offers 62mpg compared to the 1.4 petrol's 45mpg and the 1.6 petrol's 40mpg.
Unusually for Kia, the Venga price doesn't undercut its rivals. It will start at around £11,315.
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