The Kia Venga started out in 2011. It was developed on the same platform as the Hyundai iX 20. Both cars belong in the B-segment. The name 'Venga' was meant as a sort of general challenge, as a rule though, the original version was considered to be somewhat conservative. With the face-lift in 2015, the design-centre in Rüsselsheim has made an effort to change that.



The car is considered to be inexpensive, but only in the basic version, indeed, as a family car, the sum of its qualities are a convincing argument. The disadvantages of the mini-van concept show themselves in the fact that the Kia Venga manages a top speed of 'only' 185 km/h despite having a 94 kW (128 HP) engine, whereas cars which have a lower profile, can achieve the same result with barely 74 kW (100 HP). The top speed is of course, not the most important factor, at speeds of 50- to 70 km/h however, the aerodynamics play an increasingly important role.



Its advantages are shown by the huge variability of the rear seating, which, at a fold-down ratio of 40 to 60, can be shifted individually as much as 13 centimetres and the angle of the back-rests is also adjustable. If the maximum seating space in the rear is chosen, then the luggage compartment is not particularly spacious, however, with the back-rests folded down, either partially or completely, the loading space is quite large.

In Germany, neither the smallest Diesel- nor the smallest petrol engines are available, the latter with a five-speed gearbox. Moreover, the customers, who in the meantime, are accustomed to having turbo-charged engines, are being presented with normally aspirated engines, which are somewhat loud and tend to roar when revved high. Then, rather the more expensive Diesel variation, assuming of course, that the performance is adequate. 08/15