What is it?
It's a swollen Kia Soul or a shrunken Kia Carens, depending on which way you look at it. The Venga - whose name derives from something in Spanish - is based on the 'No3' concept that the maker wheeled out at Geneva this year and is set to shake up a 'humdrum' segment, as Kia puts it. Basically, it's a small people carrier.
Why's it here?
Because Kia is on a right good product offensive and it's got us crazy Europeans in its sights. The Koreans over in, erm, Korea seem fixated with making a car that we'll really like over here, so some time ago it kidnapped Audi designer Peter Schreyer and bundled him across to the far east to draw it some nice cars. He's done a decent job so far, and this is the latest. Not quite a TT, but not bad. It'll seat five in comfort because it's quite big, and it's powered by a choice of four engines - 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol units, and diesels of the same capacity - and they're all available with ISG start-stop engine technology.
Show stopper or floor filler?
Hmm, difficult one. Ok, nobody's going to double take the Venga (for good or bad reasons), but Kia is forming a nice little niche for itself with cars like this - decent looking, good quality, good value cars that are useful for people whose main priority isn't impressing the opposite sex - you know, sensible family buyers. When it hits shelves in March it will be well priced and have three warranties: a ten-year one for the metal, a seven-year one for the drivetrain and a five-year one for the rest of the car. Not much to complain about really.
Mark Nichol - 15 Sep 2009