Kia Venga 3 1.4 5dr Car Review - February 2012

On the whole the ride in the Venga is comfortable, and the fairly soft suspension means that only the biggest bumps and potholes will be felt in the cabin, but it can feel uncomfortable when going around the corners because of the level of body roll involved. There is plenty of grip that will help drivers to stay on the road, but the steering doesn't give much feedback and can feel a little numb. The driving position is quite good, and the slightly higher ride position does mean that people will be seeing more of the road.

The engine performance is a little underwhelming on the whole, with the Venga able to accelerate from 0-62mph in 12.4 seconds, and has a top speed of 104mph. When these figures are compared with the middling fuel performance, the 1.4 litre engine is fairly disappointing. The high level of trim does mean that the driver will be sitting in relative comfort in the car.

The Venga is quite an attractive car on the whole, and the long air intake which spans almost all of the bumper is a prominent feature. The lines of the body are tidy rather than adventurous, and the MPV style boot door does make access easier. The interior of the car is quite confusing, and the large circular dials on the centre console do look out of place in this car.

The '3' level of trim means that this Venga does come with a nice level of luxury features, and the alloy wheels do improve the look of the car. Having climate control and a panoramic electric sunroof is a good feature to have, and the electric windows in the front and the back of the car does question the perception of Kia being a budget car producer.

The whole point about the mini MPV is that it aims to deliver a more practical vehicle than the standard hatchback without having to go for a 4x4 or something quite large. This is something that the Venga does fairly well, with reasonable headroom and legroom in the back seats, and the boot being quite a good size.

In terms of the safety of the Kia Venga, it managed to achieve the five star award in the Euro NCAP safety test, and is also supplied with six airbags to keep the driver and passengers safe. It is also worth noting that the car comes with a range of stability and driver aids that will help to keep four wheels on the road, and can improve stability in the car. The Kia brand is known for making reliable cars, and it backs this up with an impressive warranty promise.

The list price for this particular Kia Venga is £14,495, and many people will find that the range of cars available for similar money will mean they will want to look elsewhere. However, for those people who are interested in getting a lot of luxuries in a car around this price, then the Kia Venga with the '3' trim may be an attractive option.

The fuel performance of the 1.4 litre Venga engine is reasonable, and can offer an average 45.6mpg, but it is worth noting that there are some competitors that can offer a better fuel performance. However, the rest of the financial package is quite impressive, because the low insurance group means that premiums will be quite reasonable. The Venga is also supplied with a comprehensive seven year warranty which is hard to beat on the market at the moment.