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Looking for a practical, no-nonsense car for ferrying the family about? This facelifted Kia Venga could be an option, but is it better than its rivals?

What is it?

The car world is always transforming. Models come and go and even the manufacturers that build them are ultimately subject to a beginning, a middle and an end.

Happily, it seems that Kia is firmly entrenched in its ‘middle’ phase, and long may it continue. But anyone with a keen eye will have spotted Kia’s morphing from budget manufacturer to mainstream player. In the process its cars have not only become better built, more stylish and superior to drive but also more expensive.

Not all the changes have been seismic, though, as we can see with this gentle facelift of the Venga mini-MPV which, at £14,895 for this 1.4 CDi SR7 model, is bang on the money of rivals such as the Nissan Note and Honda Jazz. So has Kia's latest offering lost some of the old model's rough edges and become a real player?

What's it like?

Outside the changes mean a bigger grille, sharper-looking bumpers and, on the SR7 model, smart new 16in alloys. Tyre pressure monitors are now standard, as are air-con, electric windows, automatic lights, rear parking sensors and Bluetooth.

Despite is being just 10cm longer than a Ford Fiesta, the Venga has got space inside for four six-foot adults. Indeed, with no transmission tunnel in the rear, it will facilitate a fifth person, too, if you don’t mind some friendly rubbing of shoulders.

So is the boot tiny as a result? No, there are 440 litres of luggage space back there, extending to 570 litres if you drop the boot floor to its lowest setting. You can also fold both rear seats in one simple action  - without even removing the headrests - for a full 1253 litres and including a fabulously flat load deck.

If you need more options, the rear seats slide forward or back by 130mm and the backrests tilt, so you can prioritise the boot or rear seat space depending on your needs.

The driving position is good, with lots of adjustment to the steering wheel and seat. There’s also a good-sized glove box and plenty of oddment storage dotted around. The basic infotainment system, with its dinky, old-school display, is a mite fiddly, but given time you eventually become its master.

The 89bhp 1.4-litre diesel engine manages to seem quicker than the 0-60mph time of 14sec would suggest. It’s no fireball and overtakes need planning, but for everyday use in town with a bit of motorway driving thrown in, it’s fine.

However refinement isn’t its strength. It rattles at idle and becomes downright raucous by the time you get to the engine’s upper limits, at which point you’ll be desperate to grab another gear. Happily, there are six ratios to choose from and the manual box itself is pretty slick to use.

The ride and handling balance is fine for a car of this type. Overall it feels safe and secure, and while it tends to fidget over small undulations, the ride never gets crashy.

The steering would benefit from some feel but it is light when you’re twirling it around town. On the motorway the Venga does get pushed around by heavy crosswinds and you notice a fair amount of wind noise at these speeds, too.

Should I buy one?

In this world of change the new Venga hasn’t changed enough. That's not to say it doesn't have its good points: it’s still practical, well built and easy to drive, plus in SR7 trim it’s well equipped as well.

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Elsewhere it feels adequate rather than great, but it’s the lack of refinement from this diesel engine that really knocks it down. As a result, if you really want a Venga we’d suggest you buy the 1.4-litre petrol version instead.

Ultimately though, you’d be better to change your mind completely and go for a Honda Jazz or Nissan Note. As the traditional mainstream offerings they can match many of the Venga's good points, but feel far more refined and the more polished products as a result.

Kia Venga 1.4 CRDi SR7 5dr

Location Surrey; On Sale Now: Price £14,895; Engine 4 cyls, 1,396cc, turbo, diesel; Power 89bhp at 4000rpm; Torque 162lb ft at 1750rpm; Gearbox 6-spd manual; Kerb weight 1345kg; 0-60mph 14.0sec; Top speed 104mph; Economy 62.8mpg (combined); CO2/tax band 119g/km, 21% 

John Howell

John Howell
Title: Senior reviewer

John is a freelance automotive journalist with more than a decade of experience in the game. He’s written for most of the big car mags, not least as a road tester for Autocar and as deputy reviews editor for our sister brand, What Car?. He was also the features editor at PistonHeads and headed its YouTube channel.

Cars, driving and machines are in his blood. When he was barely a teenager he was creating race-bale racetracks on his family’s farm – to thrash an old Humber Sceptre around. It broke regularly, of course, which meant he got a taste (and love) for repairing cars. That’s why he eschewed university, choosing instead to do an apprenticeship with a Jaguar dealer. That’s where he built up his technical understanding.  

After that he moved into high-end car sales, selling Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, Ferraris and Maseratis through the franchised network. But it was a love of writing and appraising cars that, eventually, led him to use his industry experience to prise open the door of motoring journalism. He loves cars that exceed their brief in some way. So he finds as much pleasure in testing a great, but humble, hatchback as he does sampling the latest Ferrari on track. Honest.

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Tornadorot 8 April 2015

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