The Kia Venga is a car manufactured by
Kia for the European market
across a single generation between 2009 and 2019, with a high-roof
mini MPV
Mini MPV—an abbreviation for mini multi-purpose vehicle—is a vehicle size class for the smallest size of minivans/MPVs. The mini MPV size class sits below the compact MPV size class and the vehicles are often built on the platforms of B-segm ...
design.
The Venga debuted at the
2009 Frankfurt Auto Show sharing platforms with
Kia Soul
The Kia Soul () is a subcompact crossover SUV manufactured and marketed by Kia since 2008. Often described and marketed as a Crossover (automobile), crossover since its introduction, the Soul is a hatchback with a box proportion and tall roof, ...
(and the outgoing
Rio).
The Venga and
Hyundai ix20 are
badge engineered variants.
The name ''Venga'' is Spanish for "come" or "come with."
Design
The Venga was styled by Gregory Guillaume
at Kia's
Rüsselsheim Research and Development Center, under the direction of
Peter Schreyer, head of Kia's European design studio. It was based on Kia's ''No3''
concept
A concept is an abstract idea that serves as a foundation for more concrete principles, thoughts, and beliefs.
Concepts play an important role in all aspects of cognition. As such, concepts are studied within such disciplines as linguistics, ...
, introduced at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show.
With a design emphasizing interior space and practicality,
the Venga featured a long wheelbase for its class,
at 2,615 mm; a 1,600 mm high roofline to maximize cabin space; and aerodynamic Cd of 0.31.
The 440-litre boot expanded to 1253 litres with the rear seats folded.
The split-folding rear seats also slid fore and aft by up to 130 mm
and can fold completely flat, without the need to adjust or remove the seat headrests.
All models featured anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, hill-start, hazard lights activated via emergency braking, tire pressure monitoring, six airbags, load-limiting pre-tensioned seatbelts and active front headrests.
Upper trim level equipment included panoramic sunroof, LED rear lights, keyless ignition, welcome-home lights and a heated steering wheel.
The Venga employed Kia's corporate grille, known as the
Tiger Nose. The MPV won Germany's
iF Design Award in 2009, followed by a
Red Dot (product design) award in 2010.
Kia released a facelifted Venga in early 2015, with a larger front grille, revised bumper fascia,
and a new six-speed automatic transmission replacing the previous four-speed one. Production of the Venga ended in early 2019, without a successor.
Safety
;Euro NCAP
Euro NCAP
The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) is a European voluntary car safety performance assessment programme (i.e. a New Car Assessment Program) based in Leuven, Belgium. Formed in 1996, the first results were released in February ...
test results for a LHD, five door hatchback variant on a registration from 2010:
Following the initial test, Kia made several structural and safety improvements to the Venga, and had it reassessed.
Reception
The Venga was met with mixed reviews in Europe. ''
Top Gear'' gave the car a score of 4 out of 10, calling it: "As sensible and tasty as a dry cracker. A decent enough car, perhaps one for the Freedom Pass brigade." ''
Autocar'' rated it three out of five stars, praising the spacious interior, refined engine, and generous specification, but criticizing the leisurely performance, bland styling, and price.
''
What Car?
''What Car?'' is a British monthly automobile magazine and website, currently edited by Steve Huntingford and published by Haymarket Media Group. Other team members include deputy editor Darren Moss and test editors Will Nightingale, Neil Wi ...
'' gave the car two out of five stars. ''
Auto Express
''Auto Express'' is a weekly motoring magazine sold in the United Kingdom published by Carwow Group. The editor is Paul Barker.
History and profile
Launched in September 1988, its 1,000th issue was published on 20 February 2008. Its only w ...
'' gave it three out of five stars, saying: "The Kia Venga has made a big impact in the mini MPV sector, with great space and strong value."
References
External links
{{Kia
Venga
2010s cars
Cars of the Czech Republic
Cars of Slovakia
Front-wheel-drive vehicles
Hatchbacks
Compact MPVs
Mini MPVs
Euro NCAP small MPVs
Cars introduced in 2009
Cars discontinued in 2019