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Kia Venga (2010-) Feb 2010 Class: People carriers/MPVs New price: £11,915 - £18,605 Used price: From £4,250 On sale:

Performance:

Ride comfort:

handling:

★★★★

★★★

★★★★

Boot & Storage:

Safety:

★★★★★

★★★★

Reliability:

★★★★

Total score:

74%

Seven-year warranty offers unrivalled post-purchase support. One of the most spacious mini MPVs available. Ecodynamics diesel engine is very economical... ...but it’s also very unrefined - especially in diesel form. Not cheap - Kia isn’t the bargain brand it once was. Not much fun to drive.

Recommended models in the range

Which? Car Top Choice Model 1.4 2 5dr New price: £12,990 Used price: £4,425

Fastest Model 1.6 ISG 4 5dr New price: £17,275 Used price: £11,195

10.6 secs

0-62mph:

Most Efficient Model 1.6 CRDi ISG 4 5dr New price: £18,605 Used price: £12,150 Combined fuel economy:

64.2 mpg

Cheapest Model to buy new 1.4 EcoDynamics 1 5dr New price:

Overview Kia entry in the competitive mini MPV market is the Venga, which aims to challenge the Honda Jazz and Nissan Note. Since the arrival of the mini MPV was ushered in by the Honda Jazz in 2001, these spacious, practical and flexible cars have proven a hit with families looking to make their cash go as far as possible. So it’s quite a surprise that value-for-money specialist Kia has waited until now to release its own.  The Venga uses the underpinnings from the funky Kia Soul crossover, and is essentially its more straight-laced sibling, putting space and practicality above quirky looks. The Venga follows the Cee’d hatchback in being developed entirely in Europe for EU buyers. This latest model is part of the brand’s strategy to change its image from budget manufacturer to one that genuinely competes with mainstream brands like Ford and VW. The Venga is the first Kia completely penned by new design boss Peter Schreyer, whose back catalogue includes the original Audi TT, no less. And while the Venga is no low-slung sports car, it does manage to look pretty stylish, unlike some of its boxier competitors. The car’s main rivals include the Honda Jazz and Nissan Note, as well as the Vauxhall Meriva, Renault Modus and Citroën C3 Picasso. A simple three-tiered line-up, numbered 1, 2 and 3 is available from launch (1 is the entrylevel model, 3 the range-topper). Engine choices include 1.4-litre petrol and diesels, both with 89bhp. There’s also a 1.6-litre automatic petrol with 124bhp. The diesel is equipped with Ecodynamics, Kia’s green technology, and gets Intelligent Stop and Go, Kia’s stop-start system.

£11,915

Cheapest Model to buy used 1.4 1 5dr Used price:

£4,250

Cheapest Model to Run (new) 1.4 ISG 1 5dr New price: £12,115 Running costs: £10,701 (3 years/36,000 miles)

Owner’s View Compact and economical to run car. Comfortable also for back seat passengers. Sufficiently adjustable boot space.

Which? Car review

Kia Venga (2010-) People carriers/MPVs

On the road

How we test

The Venga is offered with three different engines: 1.4 and 1.6 petrols and a 1.6 CRDi diesel. While the 1.6 petrol Venga we tested has less pulling power, less-impressive fuel economy (45.6mpg claimed) and higher CO2 emissions, it could actually be the one to choose, since the diesel is pretty loud and clattery at most speeds. The petrol definitely feels more refined, although it needs to be revved quite hard to achieve good performance. Engines aside, the Venga is a satisfying, if not outright entertaining, drive (despite the input of Lotus into the handling of UK-market cars). The steering is direct and light enough to whizz around town. It’s also quite brisk for an MPV, and feels balanced and stable.

Performance

★★★★

The 1.6 petrol version is quick enough for easy overtaking and is a fairly flexible engine. The 1.6 CRDi diesel is also quite quick, and even more flexible at low revs.  However the automatic gearbox we tested isn’t great: it really saps the power and its spread of ratios is sprawling. The manual gearbox is much better, with fairly precise and smooth shifts.  Model tested diesel 1.6 CRDi ISG (128bhp) manual 5-door (2010) petrol 1.6 ISG (125bhp) manual 5-door (2010)

Acceleration (37-62mph) 6.5 secs 7.1 secs

Ride comfort

We use the sophisticated electronic timing equipment to record standing-start and in-gear acceleration, and repeat each test several times. Ride comfort

Rating

★★★★★ ★★★★

★★★

The suspension is on the stiff side but otherwise very good. The Venga absorbs wide-spaced bumps well without bouncing. Ride is poorer but still acceptable over ruts and jagged surfaces. Roll is noticeable but not as much as in some rivals (this is a common feature of high, narrow mini MPVs). Model tested diesel 1.6 CRDi ISG (128bhp) manual 5-door (2010) petrol 1.6 ISG (125bhp) manual 5-door (2010)

Performance

Rating

★★★★ ★★★

Ride comfort is assessed by our laboratory experts who have driven hundreds of thousands of miles in a myriad of different models.

Which? Car review

Kia Venga (2010-) People carriers/MPVs

On the road continued...

How we test Handling

★★★★

Handling

Driving stability is good, and the Venga reacts calmly to quick, sharp steering inputs. It proved very stable in our obstacle avoidance tests, displaying slight understeer which will suit most drivers and generally cornering well. The electronic stability control also proved effective, with no skidding or risk of overturning. The steering could be more precise and display a bit more feel at speed, but it’s decent overall. Model tested diesel 1.6 CRDi ISG (128bhp) manual 5-door (2010) petrol 1.6 ISG (125bhp) manual 5-door (2010)

Rating

★★★★ ★★★★

Brakes

★★★★

Brakes

Braking performance is good. The Venga came to a halt from 62mph within 37 metres, which is a good results for this sort of car. The brakes have a nice degree of feel and modulation, and we didn’t detect any fading after repeated use. Model tested diesel 1.6 CRDi ISG (128bhp) manual 5-door (2010) petrol 1.6 ISG (125bhp) manual 5-door (2010)

On-the-limit handling is explored well away from public roads to ensure a fair test. Our obstacle avoidance test is one of the harshest tests in the industry..

Braking distance (62-0mph) 38.0m

★★★★

Rating

37.2m

★★★★

Refinement and noise

★★★

Refinement and noise

Interior noise isn’t a strong suit - it’s tolerable at best and in the diesel version can become tedious when accelerating. Equally, the high revs required to travel at speed in the petrol version can also be tiresome. Model tested diesel 1.6 CRDi ISG (128bhp) manual 5-door (2010) petrol 1.6 ISG (125bhp) manual 5-door (2010)

The Which? Car braking test measures stopping distance from 62-0mph and is repeated ten times in quick succession to highlight any brake fade issues.

Cruising noise 70dB 72dB

Rating

★★★★ ★★★

The Which? Car experts use a decibel meter to record interior sound levels at common UK motorway speeds, and combine this with subjective assessments to arrive at an overall score.

Which? Car review

Kia Venga (2010-) People carriers/MPVs

On the road continued...

How we test Cabin and controls

★★★★

Cabin and controls

It takes very little time to familiarise yourself with the Venga’s main controls. Everything is wellplaced and different function are clearly spaced out from one another. The steering wheel is height and reach adjustable, while the pedals and gear stick are nicely placed. The wheel also has radio controls, which means there’s no need to take your attention away from the road. The gauges are easy to read and have good contrast to help in dusky or very sunny conditions (although there is no coolant temperature gauge). There are also a lot of decentsized storage compartments. The seat belts in the rear can be a bit tricky to use as the buckle webbing isn’t stiff. The centre belt draws down from the ceiling, which might fox some passengers. Model tested diesel 1.6 CRDi ISG (128bhp) manual 5-door (2010) petrol 1.6 ISG (125bhp) manual 5-door (2010)

Visibility and parking

Rating

★★★★★ ★★★★

★★★

Visibility and parking

The upright rear tailgate means it’s easy to judge how to place the car when parking. Overall, all-round visibility is OK, but the massive cabin pillars seem a bit over the top and unnecessary. Rear parking sensors are standard in some models, but sensors for the front aren’t available. The Venga’s steering is light enough to negotiate small city street and car parks, but the 11 metre turning circle is on the wide side for this sort of car. Model tested diesel 1.6 CRDi ISG (128bhp) manual 5-door (2010) petrol 1.6 ISG (125bhp) manual 5-door (2010)

We penalise cars with difficult controls, and we look for things like backlit light switches and easy-to-use heating and ventilation adjustments.

Turning circle 11.0m 11.0m

Rating

★★★ ★★★

Visibility is a major issue for motorists today, so each car gets a 360-degree swivel view test to reproduce the driver’s eye view and any obscured areas.

Which? Car review

Kia Venga (2010-) People carriers/MPVs

Comfort and practicality

How we test Getting in and out

Getting in and out

★★★★

Getting in and out of the Venga isn’t very difficult at all. The high sills and seats mean entering the front is simple, but taller people should mind their head getting in. The rear doors are high and wide, too. A remote control for the central locking includes a separate tailgate button, although the buttons are easily confused. The headlights stay on for a short time after you get out - to help you make it to your front door in the dark. Model tested diesel 1.6 CRDi ISG (128bhp) manual 5-door (2010) petrol 1.6 ISG (125bhp) manual 5-door (2010)

Seat space and comfort

Rating

★★★★ ★★★★

Seat space and comfort

★★★★

The driver seat is height-adjustable, and the seats are generally well-sprung. The high back rests give good support, but they are a little narrow at the top. The rear seats are fairly comfortable and they offer a small degree of tilt-adjustment. They give good thigh support, but if the driver takes corners quickly rear passengers might find themselves sliding about a bit - there isn’t much side support. The Venga excels when it comes to interior space. It feels very roomy inside and there’s plenty of leg room up front, and head room that even the tallest of people would feel comfortable with. The rear seats will also accommodate tall passengers, as the rear seats can slide backwards (although this does cut into boot space). The middle seat is best kept for emergencies as it isn’t wide enough for three adults, though. Model tested diesel 1.6 CRDi ISG (128bhp) manual 5-door (2010) petrol 1.6 ISG (125bhp) manual 5-door (2010)

We take measurements all around the driver and passenger’s door apertures and note the height of the seat, door sills and step down onto the car floor. The best cars don’t require too much bending or stretching to get in and out.

Rating

★★★★ ★★★★

We assess seat comfort subjectively, using our road testers’ expert knowledge and experience from thousands of different cars. And we measure the head-, legand elbowroom on offer in every seat, to see how well the car caters for people of all shapes and sizes.

Which? Car review

Kia Venga (2010-) People carriers/MPVs

Comfort and practicality continued...

How we test Boot and storage

★★★★★

Boot and storage

The boot holds a generous 390 litres (measured to the parcel shelf), which can extend to 835 litres (to the window bottom line) when the rear seats are folded. In fact, it’s even more than that as the high body enables loading up to the roof. The outer sill is rather high off the ground (70cm), but otherwise it’s easy to use and load up. The split rear backrest is easy to fold and a 20 litre under-floor tray adds a few extra storage compartments. Small niggles are the lacklustre boot lighting, and the lack of side storage bins or luggage nets. Model tested diesel 1.6 CRDi ISG (128bhp) manual 5-door (2010) petrol 1.6 ISG (125bhp) manual 5-door (2010)

Boot space (seats up/down) 390 litres / 835 litres

★★★★★

390 litres / 835 litres

★★★★★

Heating and ventilation

Rating

Carmakers give official stats for boot space, but our tests are more realistic. We load the boot up with measuring blocks only as far as the rear window line, so that luggage is well secured and won’t obscure rear visibility. We repeat the test with the rear seats up, and folded down (where possible). Heating and ventilation

★★★

The Venga’s heating performance is average in the rear, taking 22 minutes to go from -10 degrees C to 22 degrees when tested in our climate chamber. It’s brilliant in the front though, warming up in just 11 minutes.  Model tested diesel 1.6 CRDi ISG (128bhp) manual 5-door (2010) petrol 1.6 ISG (125bhp) manual 5-door (2010)

Rating

★★★ ★★★★

Feel sorry for the tester who has to warm each car up from a frosty -10 degrees in our climate chamber. Starting with a cold engine, we measure how long it takes to warm up the front and rear of the cabin. Diesel cars usually take longer. We also check the effectiveness of air conditioning, where fitted.

Which? Car review

Kia Venga (2010-) People carriers/MPVs

Running costs and depreciation

How we test Fuel consumption

Fuel consumption Petrol (combined mpg, claimed)

40.4 mpg - 50.4 mpg

Diesel (combined mpg, claimed)

62.8 mpg - 64.2 mpg

Model tested diesel 1.6 CRDi ISG (128bhp) manual 5-door (2010) petrol 1.6 ISG (125bhp) manual 5-door (2010)

Urban (claimed/measured) -/46.3 mpg -/39.2 mpg

Model tested diesel 1.6 CRDi ISG (128bhp) manual 5-door (2010) petrol 1.6 ISG (125bhp) manual 5-door (2010)

Extra urban (claimed/measured) -/74.3 mpg -/56.5 mpg

Model tested diesel 1.6 CRDi ISG (128bhp) manual 5-door (2010) petrol 1.6 ISG (125bhp) manual 5-door (2010)

Motorway (measured) 50.4 mpg 37.2 mpg

Model tested diesel 1.6 CRDi ISG (128bhp) manual 5-door (2010) petrol 1.6 ISG (125bhp) manual 5-door (2010)

Combined (claimed/measured) -/57.6 mpg -/44.1 mpg

We test fuel economy under strict lab conditions – using realistic test cycles – to reveal the facts behind the figures. Our figures rarely match manufacturer claims as, unlike the official mpg test, we measure economy with both a hot and cold engine, and on the motorway.

Which? Car review

Kia Venga (2010-) People carriers/MPVs

Running costs and depreciation continued...

How we test Emissions

Emissions Petrol (CO2, claimed)

130g per km - 164g per km

Diesel (CO2, claimed)

117g per km - 119g per km

Model tested diesel 1.6 CRDi ISG (128bhp) manual 5-door (2010) petrol 1.6 ISG (125bhp) manual 5-door (2010)

Emissions (claimed/measured) 119g per km/129g per km 144g per km/144g per km

Safety

Safety and security Brake assist and electronic stability control are standard. Also standard are front, side and curtain airbags. The active front head rests protect people up to 1.95m (6ft 4ins) tall against whiplash. The front seats have seatbelt reminders. The rear head rests are only effective for people up to 1.7m (5ft 7ins). Isofix attachments allow easy and stable child seat installation on the outer rear seats. It’s also possible to use the seat belt to mount a baby seat on the front passenger seat, but this is a bit tricky due to the buckles being attached to loose webbing. The rear windows lack an antipinch feature.

Euro NCAP score

★★★★★

The Venga scored five stars for overall safety in Euro NCAP’s crash tests in 2010. After the first crash test of the Venga, a small cut was found in the driver’s seatbelt. This fault was quickly rectified by Kia in the UK, but owners of some of the very first Vengas sold should ensure the modification work has been carried out. Scores for adult and child occupant protection were 86% and 78% respectively, while pedestrian protection scored 60%. Safety assist, which rates electronic safety functions, was rated at 71%. It’s also sold as the Hyundai ix20 and these ratings apply to both models. The five star rating achieved by the Venga automatically carries across to the ix20 because it has an identical safety specification. The cabin protects adults well, though there’s a slightly higher risk of driver chest injury than is ideal in a front crash. It scored maximum points in the side impact, but in the pole crash test, there’s a marginal chance of injury to the occupant’s chest. Performance of the front seats in a rear shunt is good, with the occupant’s neck well protected against whiplash injury.Child occupant protection is good and the front passenger airbag can be disabled to allow the use of a rear-facing child car seat. Labelling warning of the risk of not disabling the airbag for such use is also very clear. Pedestrian protection is fairly good, with the bumper scoring maximum points for the protection of pedestrians’ legs. The bonnet scores well in most areas likely to be struck by a child’s head in an impact, but is poorer in areas where an adult’s head might strike it. (Year tested: 2010) Adult occupant Child protection Pedestrian protection Safety assist

Which? safety rating Active (crash avoidance) Passive (crash safety) Child Pedestrian

While testing fuel economy, we also collect exhaust gases to enable us to measure the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted. We also check whether particulate filters are effective at removing sooty emissions from diesel engines.

89% 85% 64% 71%

★★★★ 55% 70% 60% 50%

We rate cars for safety using Euro NCAP crash test scores (where available), alongside our own comprehensive safety checklist. Uniquely, we also feed in results from our accident avoidance test – after all, it’s far better to steer around a crash than rely on the airbags... Security

Security scores come from the security experts at Thatcham, who break into hundreds of cars each year. Most modern cars are very difficult to drive away, but are still too easy to steal from.

Which? Car review

Kia Venga (2010-) People carriers/MPVs

Which? Car Survey results

About our survey

The Which? Car Survey is the UK’s most robust reliability and owner satisfaction survey. In 2015, drivers told us about 58,000 cars, covering more than 484 million miles in the previous 12 months (that’s equivalent to driving to the moon and back a hundred times). This unique feedback allows us to rate satisfaction and reliability for hundreds of new and used cars. Note: Star ratings below are from 1-5 (1 is very poor and 5 is very good). Percentages shown under ‘Most common faults’ indicate the proportion of owners reporting each problem in the past 12 months.

Brand

Sample size: 1,339 people

Kia ratings Overall owner satisfaction for this brand Brand reliability Dealer Servicing & repair

Sample size: 103 people

Ownership ratings Overall owner satisfaction for this range Driving enjoyment Ease of driving Comfort Dash layout and controls Practicality Value for money Running costs In-car technology -

Everyone who takes part in the Which? Car survey tells us about their car and the dealers who sell and service it. We analyse this feedback across all cars to give top-level satisfaction ratings for each brand, including the brand’s reliability record over the last eight years. All star ratings are out of five. Model ownership ratings

★★★ ★★★

Dealer Sales Service

Model: Kia Venga (2010-) 

81%

Brand ratings

These show how owners score this car in 12 different areas, from performance to heating. Owners’ ratings are subjective – so may differ from Which? Car test scores – but they give a good idea of what the car is like to live with. Where relevant, cars are scored against other cars in the same class (e.g. for space).

75%

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ -

Owner’s View Practical ease of entry and exit.converts into a flat loading area easily excellent mpg cruises well on motorways. Best car ever had and value for money.

Owner’s View A brilliantly practical car with compact dimensions. Very well thought out in every respect. Elevated, roomy and comfortable with large versatile boot. Excellent heating and ventilation and safety features.

Which? Car review

Kia Venga (2010-) People carriers/MPVs

Which? Car Survey results continued...

About our survey Reliability ratings

Reliability ratings Overall Reliability Petrol cars

Reliability

Breakdowns Average annual repair cost Diesel cars

Reliability

Breakdowns Average annual repair cost All cars

Reliability

Breakdowns Average annual repair cost

★★★★

Up to 3 years old

4-8 years old

- - - - - - ★★★★ 3% £46

-

We split reliability into breakdowns (including failure to start), faults (where parts need replacing) and problems (minor issues e.g. squeaks and loose trim). Where the car has been on sale for some time, and we have numerous survey responses from owners, we also split scores by the age of car and fuel type. Star ratings are out of five – the more stars, the more reliable the car. Most common faults

Breakdowns: Percentage of cars suffering a breakdown in last 12 months Average annual repair cost: Average annual cost of repairs (not servicing), in past 12 months

Most common faults 

Up to 3 years old

Stop-start system Non-Engine electrics - Other Battery Engine failure Fuel System

4% 3% 3% 1% 1%



4-8 years old

-

-

- - - -

Failure rate: The proportion of owners reporting this problem in the last year

Want to know what’s most likely to go wrong as the car gets older? These are the five most common faults reported by owners, grouped by age into new, recent and older cars. A score of 40% means four out of 10 owners reported problems with that part of the car over the previous 12 months. Engine electrics and non-engine electrics (e.g. windows, stereo) cause more headaches than mechanical parts in most modern cars.