Kia Venga (2010-2019) Review

The Kia Venga is a small MPV that’s practical, spacious and good value for money - but it’s beginning to look and feel dated

Strengths & weaknesses

  • Roomy despite its compact size
  • Comfortable and refined
  • Great value used
  • High road tax on some older versions
  • Dull to drive
  • 1.6 auto is uneconomical

Kia Venga prices from £6,490  Finance from £209.70 per month

Kia decided to stop selling the Venga in early 2019 - its decision evidence that small people carriers are falling out of fashion.

The Venga may well be classified as an MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle), but it’s actually more like a high-roofed hatchback with a few tricks up its sleeve.

Compact SUVs such as the Renault Captur generally do a similar job but are more fashionable and being newer, have more efficient engines.

Launched in 2010, the Venga isn't, or wasn’t, the best of its kind. But it was at least a comfortable, practical and reliable car. It’s not huge fun to drive, but that was never part of its brief. It lacks sparkle and image, too. For these reasons, it has always depreciated quite heavily from new. Of course, that’s no longer a problem and it just means used ones are great value for money.

The model was facelifted in 2015 when it received a new nose, interior updates and extra safety technology. Quality improved, too, so it may be worth stretching your budget to buy a post-2015 car over an earlier model. Either way, both were sold with a seven-year warranty, the joint longest in the industry.

The Venga is powered by a choice of petrol and diesel engines. The entry-level 1.4 petrol is a cheap, smooth and willing - ideal for an undemanding driver. However, the best from an economy and performance point of view is the large 1.6 diesel.

All the engines are old designs and pre-2017 models can be expensive to tax due to their high CO2 emissions. On the flipside, they’re cheap, so what you pay in tax and fuel you should save in the car’s purchase price.

The Venga’s focus is on providing a comfortable ride on most surfaces and a relaxing driving experience. The steering is quick and the car grips the road well so you can even hustle it along twisty roads when the fancy takes you. Don't expect to do much overtaking, though; the engines aren't that powerful.

Small on the outside but large on the inside, the Venga has plenty of space for four adults. The back seat is wide enough for three children only, but they do enjoy the security of Isofix child seat mountings. This seat slides backwards and forwards to free up boot space or create more legroom.

The 440-litre boot is one of the biggest in the class but with the rear seat pushed forward, grows to an impressive 570 litres. Push the back seats down and you’ve 1,253 litres of space to play with.

The interior is reasonably attractive and post-2015 facelift cars feel well screwed together although aren’t in the same class as newer Kias.

There are four trim levels called, wait for it, 1, 2, 3 and 4 plus a couple of special editions. All versions have sliding 60/40-split and fold rear seats that fold flat into the floor. You’re best ignoring levels 1 and even level 2 and going for well-equipped level 3 with its parking sensors, sat nav and climate control.

Key facts

Warranty 7 years
Boot size 440 litres
Width 1765mm
Length 4075mm
Height 1600mm
Tax (min to max) £30 to £530 depending on whether registered before or after 1 April 2017; £145 a year for models registered after 1 April 2017 or from £30 to £200 for those registered before that date.

Best Kia Venga for...

Best for Economy – Kia Venga 2 1.4 CRDi

This version ties with the 1.6 CRDi with an official economy figure of 64.2mpg, making them the most economical Vengas. The 1.4 gets the nod here because it’s cheaper.

Best for Families – Kia Venga 3 1.4 CRDi

The engine offers good economy while, in addition to the Venga’s standard safety features including six airbags and, from 2015, tyre-pressure monitoring, level 3 trim adds smart alloy wheels, a Bluetooth connection, air conditioning a seven-inch touchscreen with a sat nav and a reversing camera, all for a reasonable price.

Best for Performance – Kia Venga 4 1.6

With a 0-62mph time of 10.4 seconds, this Venga is the quickest in the range. Among other features, level 4 trim adds a panoramic sunroof that floods the interior with light.

One to Avoid – One to avoid

If you want an auto and your budget is tight then you have no choice but to buy this version. However, build quality isn't as good as later cars and economy is as low as 34mpg on higher-spec versions.

History

  • 2010: Model launched with 1.4 and 1.6 petrol, and 1.4 diesel engines and in trims 1, 2 and 3. Optional 1.6 auto has a four-speed torque converter gearbox. Economy not as good as later cars with ISG (Intelligent Stop & Go).

  • 2012: The 1.6 CRDi diesel engines joins the range

  • 2014: Special edition VR7 and SR7 trims launched.

  • 2015: Model facelifted, receiving new nose and a tweaked interior. Engines updated and safety spec boosted with fitment of hill start assist and tyre pressure monitoring.

  • 2019: Kia Venga goes off sale.

Understanding Kia Venga names

1.4 CRDi Engines

The first number is the size of the engine in litres while, in the case of the diesel, the letters CRDi immediately following mean it’s a common rail diesel injection (a form of fuel injection system). Petrol engines are followed by the letters ISG which stands for Intelligent Stop & Go, a fuel-saving system that switches off the engine when the car is paused at, for example, traffic lights. The 1.6 auto doesn't have ISG.

Trim 2

The number indicates the equipment level you can expect to find. There are four trim levels called, simply, 1, 2, 3 and 4 plus in 2014, Kia also offered VR7 and SR7

Kia Venga Engines

Engines: 1.4, 1.6, 1.4 CRDi, 1.6 CRDi

The Venga may only be a small MPV but such cars can on occasion be seriously tested with a full complement of passengers and their luggage.

For this reason, you might want to consider one of the two diesel engines. The more powerful 1.6 has a decent turn of speed and is as economical as the smaller 1.4, which is pretty slow. Both are good motorway cruisers. Diesel Vengas registered after 2015 will have Euro 6-compliant engines that can enter London’s low emissions zone without paying a surcharge.

The petrol engines are cheaper and smoother, and will suit most undemanding buyers. The basic 1.4 is a perfectly acceptable unit and a Venga with this engine and in level 2 trim is a very good buy. It and the 1.6 manual have Kia’s Intelligent Stop & Go technology that helps boost economy

The 1.6 petrol is also available with an automatic gearbox although we should warn you that it does as little as 34.4mpg.

 

Fuel

Fuel economy

Power

Acceleration

Top speed

1.4

Petrol

45.6-50.4mpg

89bhp

0-62mph: 12.4s

104mph

1.6

Petrol

42.2-47.9mpg (34.4-43.5mpg WLTP)

123bhp

0-62mph: 10.4-11.1s

115mph

1.4 CRDi

Diesel

62.8-64.2mpg

89bhp

0-62mph: 14.0s

104mph

1.6 CRDi

Diesel

64.2-mpg

114bhp

0-62mph: 11.0s

113mph

Kia Venga Trims

1, 2, 3 & 4 and SR7

The Venga’s simple badging policy masks the fact that the cars are actually well equipped. All versions have sliding 60/40-split and fold rear seats that fold flat into the floor. The 2010 launch versions of trim level 1 have air conditioning, a leather trimmed steering wheel and an iPod connection (remember those?).

From 2015 all Venga grades have a six-speaker audio system with CD/MP3 disc compatibility, but the entry-level 1 doesn’t get Bluetooth streaming so you have to rely on the USB and aux ports.

From 2018, only trim levels 2, 3 and 4 were available. Level two highlights include Bluetooth, alloy wheels and powered and heated door mirrors. Level three gains a seven-inch touchscreen sat-nav with integrated reversing camera, rear parking sensors and climate control. Level 4 pushes the boat out with a panoramic sunroof.

 

Kia Venga Reliability and warranty

The Venga is supported by Kia’s seven-year warranty. It means that as long as servicing has been carried out according to the official schedule and the car hasn't done more than 100,000 miles, a used model up to seven years old is covered. No other car maker can claim that.

It’s not a marketing gimmick either since Kia’s confidence is justified by a strong showing for some of its models among the top 10 in the 2019 Auto Express Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, plus other models elsewhere in its upper ranks. The Venga doesn't appear, possibly because fewer have been sold in recent years.

However, it’s worth pointing out that the pre-2015 facelift Venga fared less well in an earlier survey, where it charted low down the table for reliability and quality. Post-2015 cars appear to be better made.  

 

Used Kia Venga

That Kia has pulled the plug on the Venga and has no plans to replace it speaks volumes about the model’s waning appeal. However, while this should concern buyers of new Vengas whose cars will depreciate heavily, those buying used ones should be pleased since they will benefit in terms of far lower prices.

There are currently 10 Kia Vengas available on BuyaCar, with prices ranging from £6,490 to £11,995 for nearly-new models. Monthly finance payments start from £209.70 per month.

A post-2015 facelift Venga is the one to buy, simply because it looks more modern than older ones.