THE LINES between what used to be definitive vehicle segments are being increasingly blurred as manufacturers create and then rush to fill new niches.
The mini-MPV is a perfect example. Sitting somewhere between the family hatchback and the full-blown people carrier, the mini-MPV is aimed at drivers and families that require the ease of use and convenient proportions of one segment but also the space and practicality of the other.
No longer curious new arrivals, they're now well established models, and Kia has planted its flag firmly in the segment with the Soul and Venga.
It’s a measure of how quickly the mini-MPV segment has grown that a single manufacturer can target two audiences within its catchment area. The Soul is a funky, urban five-seater available in a range of extrovert models. It’s aimed at a younger, style conscious market.
Unfortunately, that makes it sound as though the Venga is going to be the uninspiring poor relation, but it’s far from it. It’s aimed at a more mature or less flamboyant audience, but its styling is equally distinctive, easy on the eye and contemporary.
Like the Soul, the Venga boasts the key mini-MPV features. A tall body, a slightly raised seating and driving position, a large hatch at the rear and flexible seating are staples in the segment, offering enough divergence from a standard hatchback to justify the additional expense.
The Venga’s combination of qualities is particularly well measured. The body is actually deceptively large. Although mini-MPVs tend to be built on supermini platforms, even a small people carrier is a large vehicle these days.
Thankfully that translates directly into a spacious and very accommodating interior. It’s the ease of access offered by the tall doors that first grabs the attention, followed by the impressive headroom inside. It feels light and airy inside, and this is further enhanced on the higher-specification models by the inclusion of a panoramic sunroof.
Attention has clearly been paid to the driving position and ease of use of the instruments. The gear lever is positioned high and within comfortable reach, while the centre console extends slightly, again placing the controls within grasp of driver and front passenger.
The Venga feels solid, too. Trim and plastics are not frivolous but feel of decent quality in the areas that get the most use. You get the feeling that although - in common with every Kia car - you get an industry-leading seven-year warranty, the chances are that you are never going to need it.
Unusually for a car in this class, considerable effort has gone into making the Venga a good steer. Kia’s engineers have spent time pounding the UK’s less than special roads in a bid to fine tune the car. Certainly the European specification car offers a solid basis to work from, and there are no surprises even when traversing poorly maintained surfaces.
The same thorough approach comes through in the engine range across the five trim trim levels. Venga 1 is available with either a 1.4-litre petrol or diesel unit. Venga 2 is additionally available with a 1.6-litre petrol engine with automatic transmission, while Venga 3 versions have 1.6-litre petrol or diesel engines.
The 1.6-litre diesel, tested here, is gutsy and willing, allowing the Venga to tackle long motorway journeys with big-car ease.
Performance aside, the Venga offers prospective buyers a solidly built and spacious cabin with enough storage areas for a demanding family. The rear seats easily fold (and slide and recline) to present a flat load bay with the aid of a ‘false floor’ panel that adds some extra secure storage.
Equipment levels across the 13 variants are good, too. The entry-level car boasts the like of remote locking, six airbags, a six-speaker stereo with USB input and electric mirrors. Move up a level and among the features you gain are air conditioning, alloy wheels, Bluetooth leather steering wheel, iPod audio input and remote steering wheel audio controls.
The flagship Venga 3 adds privacy glass, climate control, a panoramic sunroof, part-leather upholstery, heated front seats and rear electric windows, while Sat Nav versions get a reversing camera, cruise control and a speed limiter.
Named best small MPV in the 2014 What Car? JD Power owner satisfaction survey, the Venga is testament to the progress made by Kia. A genuine contender in the fiercely competitive supermini class, it offers space, refinement, sound dynamics and a low cost ownership experience without any hint of a compromise.
Kia Venga 1.6 CRDI 3 Sat Nav Eco
Price: £17,970 (range from £11,795)
Engine: 1.6-litre diesel, producing 114bhp
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Performance: 0 to 60mph in 11.1 seconds; top speed 113mph
Economy: 64.2mpg combined
CO2 emissions: 117g/km
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