Kia Venga (2010 – 2018) Review
.jpg?width=640&height=426&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=640&height=426&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=640&height=426&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=640&height=426&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=640&height=426&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=640&height=426&rmode=crop)
Kia Venga (2010 – 2018) Verdict
Spacious back seats and wide-opening doors. Easy to drive and park. Good visibility. Decent boot capacity.
Not a sporty handler. Generally older generation petrol engines. Has not been significantly updated.
Find out more about the Kia Venga (2010 – 2018)
Practicality and ease-of-use were obviously top priorities for the designers behind the Kia Venga. Despite its small size the Venga is spacious, with sliding rear seats, wide-opening back doors and a high-up driving position like a little SUV. It’s easy to get in and out and easy to drive – but the Honda Jazz does everything (except price) a little bit better.
There are two petrol and two diesel engine options. The 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrols are affordable but they’re old-fashioned and naturally-aspirated, meaning they need to be worked hard to give their best, unlike modern turbo petrol engines. Emissions are fairly high – 130g/km for the 1.4-litre means tax isn't as cheap as you'd expect.
The diesel engines are a better bet, unless you’re a low mileage driver. The 90PS 1.4 CRDi is responsive at low engine speeds and has official economy of 119g/km, but surprisingly the more powerful 114PS 1.6-litre diesel is marginally more economical and has lower emissions. It is more expensive, of course – but the expense might be worth it for high-mileage or motorway drivers.
Sensibly designed rear seats make the Venga very family-friendly. They can be slid back and forth and reclined, depending on whether boot space or legroom is a priority, plus they split fold for bulky loads. Furthermore, the rear doors open very wide which makes life easy when strapping in child seats.
The boot is wide and flat, with a reasonably low load deck and a false floor, covering some little storage areas for small odds and ends. Volume with the seats up is 440 litres and sliding the rear seats forward increases this a little. Folding the rear seats down makes a nice flat load area with 1253 litres of capacity.
Honda’s latest Jazz has fairly similar load capacity on paper, but it has a more versatile and user-friendly rear-seat layout and a lower load deck, so is more user-friendly than the Venga. However, the Venga is available for less than the Jazz and it has a broader range of engines – so it’s still a good buy if you value practicality above all else.
Reviews for Kia Venga (2010 – 2018)'s top 3 rivals
.jpg?width=240&height=160&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=240&height=160&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=240&height=160&rmode=crop)
Kia Venga (2010 – 2018) handling and engines
- Engines range from 1.4 CRDi EcoDynamics to 1.6 Automatic
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 24–66 mpg
Kia sells the Venga with four different engine choices, two petrol and two diesel. The basic 1.4-litre petrol produces 90PS and is reasonably economical, with an official figure of 50.4mpg. Unfortunately its emissions are fairly high for such a small engine at 130g/km – and it’s not a particularly punchy performer.
It’s an old-fashioned, non-turbocharged engine, meaning it needs to be worked quite hard outside of a 30mph limit. When pushed it gets quite loud and coarse – so if you cover a lot of distance out of town it’s probably best avoided. The other petrol alternative is a 1.6 and a little better, but still on the coarse side and not particularly economical.
If budget allows, a diesel engine suits the Venga better. There are two to choose from – a 1.4-litre with 90PS and a 1.6-litre with 115PS. The latter is the best choice for long distance driving and motorways, but the smaller 1.4 CRDi works fine if you spend more time on country roads.
Regardless of engine the Venga is easy to drive. The steering is nicely weighted, while the gear change and clutch are light and slick. The high-up seating position means visibility is quite good, which is handy on narrow country roads. The suspension is soft and comfortable which is great in town, but means there is some body roll in bends.
That said, there is a good amount of front-end grip through corners. Unfortunately, if you tend to drive on very bumpy or broken back roads the soft suspension struggles to settle down, which makes the Venga far from enjoyable or relaxing on potholed lanes. But for town driving, motorways and better-surfaced B-roads it’s a perfectly capable little car.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 | 46–50 mpg | - | 130 g/km |
| 1.4 CRDi | 63–64 mpg | 14.0 s | 119 g/km |
| 1.4 CRDi EcoDynamics | 63–64 mpg | 14.0 s | 117–119 g/km |
| 1.6 | 44 mpg | - | 139 g/km |
| 1.6 Automatic | 41 mpg | - | 150 g/km |
| 1.6 CRDi | 64 mpg | - | 117 g/km |
Real MPG average for the Kia Venga (2010 – 2018)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
79%
Real MPG
24–66 mpg
MPGs submitted
481
Kia Venga (2010 – 2018) interior
- Boot space is 440–1253 litres
- Euro NCAP rating of five stars
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4068–4075 mm |
| Width | 1765 mm |
| Height | 1600 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2615 mm |
The Kia Venga is among the more cleverly-packaged small cars on sale. It might not be much bigger than a Ford Fiesta, but the interior is very spacious indeed. The rear seats are more than capable of accommodating adults thanks to generous head and legroom, plus they slide and recline.
Despite the ample rear-seat space, the load area is a good size at 440 litres. Sliding the seats forward frees up a little more space, plus there is a false boot floor with small storage areas underneath. The load deck is reasonably low and has no lip, so sliding objects in and out is straightforward.
Folding the rear seats down creates a flat load area with a maximum volume of 1253 litres. As small cars go it’s among the most practical available, but if maximum versatility is top of your buying criteria the Honda Jazz is better still, with its cleverly-designed ‘magic’ seats providing a wider variety of load-carrying arrangements.
Build quality in the Venga is very good, with sturdy, hardwearing plastics that don’t creak or rattle. The centre stack layout looks dated though, with a tiny display for audio information and somewhat fiddly controls for flicking through menus to set up Bluetooth or choose a radio station.
This isn’t a problem in higher-spec models, which come with a seven-inch touchscreen system including navigation. If you’re not keen on the idea of a pricey, high trim level, more basic variants are still fairly well-equipped. Most versions of the Venga have air conditioning, and all come with hill start assistance, a USB socket and Aux connectivity.
Standard equipment:
1 models come with 15-inch steel wheels, front electric windows, 12V sockets in the cabin and boot, USB socket, aux input, steering wheel audio controls and hill start assistance.
1 Air adds air conditioning.
SR7 adds 16-inch alloy wheels, red upholstery stitching, Bluetooth connectivity and reversing sensors.
2 adds rear electric windows, metallic finish interior details and an iPod cable.
3 trimfront fog lights, tinted rear glass, wiper de-icer, LED running lights, automatic air conditioning, heated front seats, half leather upholstery, gloss black interior details, cooled glovebox, cruise control, speed limiter, 7-inch touchscreen with navigation and European mapping and a reversing camera.
4 adds LED tail lights, keyless entry and starter and heated steering wheel.
Kia Venga (2010 – 2018) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4068–4075 mm |
| Width | 1765 mm |
| Height | 1600 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2615 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1253–1445 kg |
| Boot Space | 440–1253 L |
| Warranty | 7 years / 100000 miles |
| Servicing | 10000–20000 miles |
| Spare Wheel | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Space-saving spare wheel | ||
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £12,960–£19,575 |
| Insurance Groups | 8–15 |
| Road Tax Bands | C–F |
| Official MPG | 40.9–64.2 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | 5 |
On sale until December 2020
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 1.4 89bhp 1 Air 5speed ISG 5dr | £13,760 | 50.4 mpg | - |
| 1.4 89bhp 1 ISG 5speed 5dr | £12,960 | 50.4 mpg | - |
| 1.4 89bhp 2 ISG 5speed 5dr | £14,860 | 50.4 mpg | - |
| 1.4 89bhp SR7 ISG 5speed 5dr | £13,755 | 50.4 mpg | - |
| 1.4 CRDi 89bhp 2 6speed 5dr | £16,200 | 64.2 mpg | - |
| 1.4 CRDi 89bhp SR7 6speed 5dr | £15,055 | 64.2 mpg | - |
| 1.6 123bhp 2 Auto 6speed 5dr | £16,945 | 40.9 mpg | - |
| 1.6 123bhp 2 ISG 6speed 5dr | £15,625 | 43.5 mpg | - |
| 1.6 123bhp 3 Auto 6speed 5dr | £18,425 | 40.9 mpg | - |
| 1.6 123bhp 3 ISG 6speed 5dr | £17,065 | 43.5 mpg | - |
| 1.6 123bhp 4 Auto 6speed 5dr | £19,520 | 40.9 mpg | - |
| 1.6 123bhp 4 ISG 6speed 5dr | £18,160 | 43.5 mpg | - |
| 1.6 CRDi 114 4 ISG 6speed 5dr | £19,575 | 64.2 mpg | - |
| 1.6 CRDi 114bhp 3 ISG 6speed 5dr | £18,480 | 64.2 mpg | - |
On sale until January 2015
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 1 1.4 CRDi 89 5dr | £13,095 | 62.8 mpg | 14.0 s |
| 1 Air 1.4 CRDi 89 5dr | £13,895 | 62.8 mpg | 14.0 s |
On sale until January 2012
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 3 1.4 5dr | £15,675 | 45.6 mpg | - |
| 3 1.4 CRDi EcoDynamics 5dr | £16,975 | 62.8 mpg | - |
Model History
- September 2009: Kia Venge revealed
- January 2010: Kia Venga prices announced
- October 2010
- March 2012
- January 2014: High value SR7 versions of Venga announced
- January 2015: Kia Venga updated
- December 2015
September 2009
Kia Venge revealed
4,068mm long x 1,765mm wide x 1,600mm high the Kia Venga features an unusually long wheelbase for its class of 2,615 mm - and a high roofline to maximise cabin space. Offers levels of interior space typical of a larger C-segment vehicle, but within a B-segment footprint.
Every engine in the Venga line-up will be available with Intelligent Stop and Go technology and will comply with Euro 5 emission standards. Europe only model. Choice of two 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines, generating between 75 and 115 ps.
Sliding 60/40 split rear seat that also folds flat into the floor to create a spacious cargo bay and, a twin-level boot floor and depending on model a tilt-and-slide all-glass panoramic roof.
Diesel Engines
1.4 CRDi 90 ps (75 ps low-power version)
Name ‘U2’
TypeDOHC, four-cylinder in line, with WGT
Capacity 1.4-litres, 1,396 cc
Max power 90 ps (66.2 kW) @ 4000 rpm
Max torque220 Nm (22.5 kg.m) @ 1750-2750 rpm
Emissions class Euro Stage 5
1.6 CRDi 128 ps (115 ps low-power version)
Name ‘U2’
TypeDOHC, four-cylinder in line, with VGT
Capacity 1.6-litres, 1582 cc
Max power 128 ps (94 kW) @ 4000 rpm
Max torque260 Nm (26.5 kg.m) @ 1900-to-2750 rpm
Emissions class Euro Stage 5
Gasoline Engines
1.4-litre 90 ps
Name ‘Gamma’
Type DOHC, four-cylinder in line, with CVVT
Capacity 1.4-litres, 1396 cc
Max power 90 ps (66.2 kW) @ 6000 rpm
Max torque 137 Nm (14.0 kg.m) @ 4000 rpm
Emissions class Euro Stage 5
1.6-litre125 ps
Name ‘Gamma’
Type DOHC, four-cylinder in line, with CVVT
Capacity 1.6-litres, 1591 cc
Max power 125 ps (91.9 kW) @ 6300 rpm
Max torque 156 Nm (15.9 kg.m) @ 4200 rpm
Emissions class Euro Stage 5
*Lower power versions available in some markets to meet local taxation regulations
- 1.4 high output and 1.6 diesels come with 6 speed manual transmissions.
- 1.4 75PS diesel, 1.4 petrol and 1.6 petrol come with 5 speed manual ttansmissions.
- 4-speed torque converter automatic optional on 1.6 petrol.
- 1.4 petrol: 105mph, 0-81.5mph 23.9 secs, 45.6mog comb, 147g'km CO2
- 1.6 petrol: 114mph, 0-81.5mph 18.6 secs, 42.16mpg comb, 155g/km CO2
- 1.4 diesel: 105mph, 0-81.5mph 26 secs, 60mpg comb, 124g/km CO2 or 117 g/km with ECO Pack
- 1.6 diesel: 114mpg 0-81.5mph 20 secs, 57.6mpg comb, 129g/km CO2 (119g/km CO2 with Eco Pack)
195/65 R15 tyres, 205/55 R16 tyres, space-saver spare. Venga 1, Venga 2 and Venga 3 trim levels offered in the UK.
January 2010
Kia Venga prices announced
- Venga 1 1.4 petrol £11,495
- Venga 1 1.4 CRDI EcoDynamics £12,795
- Venga 2 1.4 petrol £12,695
- Venga 2 1.4 CRDI EcoDynamics £13,995
- Venga 2 1.6 petrol automatic £14,095
- Venga 3 1.4 petrol £14,095
- Venga 3 1.4 CRDI EcoDynamics £15,395
Available in the UK from 1st February 2010. Built at the new Hyundai factory at Novisice, Czech Republic under plant sharing arrangement with nearby KIA factory in Solvenia.
October 2010
Intended for production late 2010, the new Eco Venga is equipped with Kia's 1.4-litre, 75 ps diesel engine, plus many of the technologies from the Eco cee'd concept. In addition, low-friction engine oil, special low-torque taper roller bearings in the transmission and low-rolling resistance, high pressure tyres help to reduce CO2 emissions to 114 g/km.
March 2012
Kia started offering the Venga with the 1.6 CRDi diesel engine in February 2012.
January 2014
High value SR7 versions of Venga announced
Every SR7 has a higher specification than the 2014 VR7 special-edition models. LED daytime running lights, cornering lights, front foglights, automatic headlight control, privacy glass, UV-reducing solar glass, dual-zone automatic air conditioning and roof rails are the highlights of the equipment additions, depending on model. There are also new alloy wheels and colour options.
The Venga SR7 is available with 89bhp 1.4-litre petrol and diesel engines. ISG is fitted to the petrol unit. The SR7 sits between ‘1 Air' and ‘2' trim grades and has automatic headlight control and privacy glass on the rear windows and tailgate in addition to the VR7 key features of air conditioning, reversing sensors, Bluetooth, USB and AUX ports, electrically adjustable heated door mirrors and electric windows. The upholstery is the striking new Houndstooth cloth with red stitching from the facelifted Venga ‘1' and ‘1 Air', with the stitching echoed in the leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearshifter. The stylish 16-inch alloy wheels are the same as those fitted to Venga ‘2', ‘3' and ‘4' grades, while the one solid paint option (Arctic White) and three metallics (Silver Storm, Phantom Black and Infra Red) are those offered with the latest Venga ‘1' and ‘1 Air'.
All SR7 models are identified by sporty model designation logos on the lower half of each front door. The SR7 models are available exclusively to retail customers as 7 th January 2015.
Venga SR7 - pricing and insurance groups
|
Model |
OTR price |
Insurance group |
|
1.4 89bhp petrol 5-speed manual ISG |
£13,595 |
9 |
|
1.4 89bhp diesel 6-speed manual |
£14,895 |
10
|
January 2015
Kia Venga updated
Restyled front and rear ends. New-style alloy wheels. Two new paint options. Refreshed interiors. 5 trim grades topped by new premium Venga 4 model. Tyre Pressure Monitoring now standard. Automatic lights added to top grades. Choice of economical 1.4 and 1.6 litre petrol and diesel engines.
New line-up is based on five trim grades - 1, 1 Air, 2, 3 and 4 - and four engines, giving a choice of 11 models. 1.4- and 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines are carried over from the previous Venga and give potential fuel economy of up to 64.2mpg, with CO 2 emissions as low as 117g/km. Intelligent Stop & Go (ISG) - Kia's fuel-saving, CO 2 -cutting engine stop/start technology - is standard on all but one manual transmission version. Venga built at Kia's plant at Žilina in Slovakia.
The 90PS 1.4-litre petrol engine is offered with 1, 1 Air and 2 trim grades, while the 90PS 1.4-litre diesel is reserved for Venga 2. The two 1.6-litre engines with manual transmission are available with grades 3 and 4. The 1.6 petrol engine is also offered with a four-speed torque converter automatic gearbox in grades 2, 3 and 4.
For 2015 exterior styling changes include KIA logo relocated to the bodywork. The lower air intake has been redesigned to house daytime running lights (LED with grades 3 and 4) next to the fog lights, which now sit in high-gloss black housings joined by a chrome strip. There is also now a chrome strip linking the rear light units, which are LED on Venga 4. Another premium touch with Venga 4 is the chrome exterior door handles.
For grades 2 and above, there are New-style 16-inch alloy wheels with five triple spokes. 15-inch steel wheels with five-spoke embellishers on Grades 1 and 1 Air. Grades 2 and above are also offered with two new metallic paint colours - Planet Blue and Dark Gun Metal - which replace Space Blue and Sirius Silver.
Interior improvements include new black Houndstooth cloth for entry-grade models, while grade 2 continues with black Beat cloth and level 3 again has black Bamboo part-leather and part-cloth upholstery. This is also fitted to the new Venga 4. There is a new Grey Metal Grain paint finish for the centre fascia of Venga 1, 1 Air and 2, while high-gloss black continues to adorn Venga 3 and is replicated in the new Venga 4.
Tyre Pressure Monitoring is fitted to all versions, warning the driver of any potentially serious loss of pressure via a symbol in the instrument cluster. Automatic Light Control is now standard with Venga 3 and 4, and Venga 4 also has ‘welcome' and ‘follow-me-home' lighting.
Other unique features to Venga 4 are a smart key with engine start/stop button, a heated steering wheel activated by a control switch on the right-hand wheel spoke to complement the heated front seats fitted to Venga 3 and 4, and a panoramic sunroof. Venga 3 and 4 are also equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen satellite navigation system with European mapping and a Traffic Messaging Channel (TMC). The full-colour touchscreen also includes a reversing camera. The infotainment system, which is also accessed via the touchscreen, no longer includes a CD player due to the increasing trend among customers of using portable devices to play music. The high-quality six speaker audio system includes RDS radio, full MP3 compatibility and AUX and USB ports.
Standard across the range are driver's seat height adjustment, tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment, electric front windows, remote central locking, tinted glass, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, a front passenger armrest, body-coloured handles and door mirrors and electrically adjustable heated door mirrors.
Venga 2 models add alloy wheels, an iPod cable, Bluetooth hands-free mobile phone operation with music streaming, rear electric windows, folding door mirrors and reversing sensors. Venga 3 versions come with climate control, front and rear electric windows, front fog lamps, privacy glass on the rear windows and tailgate and cruise control with a speed limiter.
All Vengas have six airbags (front, side and curtains), active front head restraints and two ISOFIX child-seat mounting points.
All benefit from KIA's unique seven-year/100,000-mile warranty, subject to terms and conditions covering wear-and-tear items. It is transferable to future owners should the car be sold during the period of the warranty.
The two petrol engines are 1.4-litre 90PS and 1.6-litre 125PS units from Kia's Gamma family. The 1.4 is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, while the 1.6 is available with either a six-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic.
The 1.4-litre 90PS U2 CRDi diesel engine made its debut in Venga and is offered alongside a 114bhp 1.6-litre version. Both were designed and engineered at Kia's research and development facilities near Frankfurt in Germany and are manufactured at Žilina.
The running gear benefits from Venga's unusually long wheelbase and wide track. Venga therefore has a lively, fun-to-drive character while delivering excellent comfort and refinement.
Motor-driven electronic power-assisted steering (MDPS) is standard as a further fuel-saving measure, and all models have an all-disc braking system with anti-lock (ABS) and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD). Also standard is electronic stability control (ESC), traction control (TC) with brake assist (BAS) and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) to ensure the car always remains under control, even in the most difficult conditions, and can stop in the shortest possible distance in an emergency. Hill-start assist control (HAC) is also fitted. This holds the car for two seconds when setting off on inclines to prevent it rolling backwards.
The 2015 Kia Venga range:
|
Model |
Power PS |
Torque Nm |
MPG Comb. |
CO 2 g/km |
|
‘1' 1.4 5-speed manual ISG |
90 |
137 |
50.4 |
130 |
|
‘1 Air' 1.4 5-speed manual ISG |
90 |
137 |
50.4 |
130 |
|
‘2' 1.4 5-speed manual ISG |
90 |
137 |
50.4 |
130 |
|
‘2' 1.6 4-speed auto |
125 |
156 |
43.5 |
154 |
|
‘2' 1.4 CRDi 6-speed manual |
90 |
220 |
62.8 |
119 |
|
‘3' 1.6 6-speed manual ISG |
125 |
156 |
47.9 |
139 |
|
‘3' 1.6 4-speed auto |
125 |
156 |
43.5 |
154 |
|
‘3' 1.6 CRDi 6-speed manual ISG |
115 |
260 |
64.2 |
117 |
|
‘4' 1.6 6-speed manual ISG |
125 |
115 |
47.9 |
139 |
|
‘4' 1.6 4-speed auto |
125 |
115 |
43.5 |
154 |
|
‘4' 1.6 CRDi 6-speed manual ISG |
115 |
260 |
64.2 |
117 |
|
Model |
OTR price |
Insurance group |
|
'1' 1.4 84bhp 5-speed manual ISG |
£11,995 |
8 |
|
'1 Air' 1.4 89bhp 5-speed manual ISG |
£12,795 |
8 |
|
'SR7' 1.4 89bhp 5-speed manual ISG |
£13,595 |
9 |
|
'SR7' 1.4 89bhp CRDi 6-speed manual |
£14,895 |
10 |
|
'2' 1.4 89bhp 5-speed manual ISG |
£13,895 |
9 |
|
'2' 1.6 123bhp 4-speed auto |
£15,810 |
11 |
|
'2' 1.4 89bhp CRDi 6-speed manual |
£15,195 |
10 |
|
'3' 1.6 123bhp 6-speed manual ISG |
£16,190 |
13 |
|
'3' 1.6 123 bhp 4-speed auto |
£17,290 |
13 |
|
'3' 1.6 114 bhp CRDi 6-speed manual ISG |
£17,475 |
14 |
|
'4' 1.6 123 bhp 6-speed manual ISG |
£17,285 |
13 |
|
'4' 1.6 123 bhp 4-speed auto |
£18,385 |
12 |
|
'4' 1.6 114 bhp CRDi 6-speed manual ISG |
£18,570 |
14 |
December 2015
Kia Venga automatics are now being delivered with a 6-speed torque converter transmission rather than the previous 4-speed torque converter automatic. On Venga 4, 7 year warranty also includes 7 free annual map upgrades for the SatNav. Traffic warnings are accurate and the recalculation speeds are almost instantaneous.
Connectivity improved with integrated My Music with 1 GB storage, the USB, AUX, Bluetooth connectivity, the new generation of the audio system with iPod connectivity and several other tweaks.
Choice of two petrol and two diesel engines: 1.4 90PS and 1.6 125PS petrol. 1.6 offered with new 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission. Diesels are 1.4 77PS or 90PS, which the 1.6 develops 115PS or 128PS, all with 6-speed manual transmissions.
UK gets 1.4 litre Blue Drive 90PS petrol engine. Both SE Nav and Premium Nav trims feature a more powerful 1.6 CRDi 115PS Blue Drive engine or a 1.6 litre petrol with 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission that replaces the previous 4-speed torque converter auto..
What to watch out for
One report of a central locking fault with the rear doors preventing them from being opened from the inside (nothing to do with the child locks).
17-05-2011:Report of repeated problems with the power steering.
18-05-2011:With the automatic, over-sensitive software means that the slighterst touch on the brake pedal causes the engine to lose power.
10-06-2011:Incurable "throttle lag" reported on 1.4 CRDi diesel.
16-08-2012:11 Reg Hyundai iX20 1.4 CRDi Style with 8,500 miles (basically same as Venga). Rear brake caliper jammed in the 'handbrake on' position. Car taken to Benfield Hyundai, Newcastle on 8-8-2012 but told calipers and discs on back-order, to arrive 14th September. Numerous complaints of this.
21-08-2012:Informed by Kia that brake parts shortage is being rectified.
14-09-2012:Bundle of problems reported on 1.4 diesel by a reader who claimed to have done 25k miles in two of them, so 50k miles altogether: 1st stank of diesel in the cab. Found a loose screw on the filler cap housing, tightened, gone. Electrical problems, ISG off, Power steering off, no dash lights: remedied by turning engine off an on. Radio jammed, very common again: switch off on to fix it. Very common complaint of putting your foot down and nothing happening. Most complaints on the Kia website about this. It goes after 15k. Kia initially blamed it on supermarket diesel (understandable) but since admitted the problem. Done away with ISG which only worked sporadically and never in London traffic jams for some reason. Parcel shelf collapsed.
09-10-2013:Complaint of front brake pads rattling in their calipers and the solution of a sticky pad to hold them in place lasting no more than a few days.
17-05-2014:Complaint of gear shifter of 2010 Kia Venga automatic sticking. Owner found had to use more force to engage reverse, then later found that in the Park position the car would not start. KIA dealer diagnosed stretched cable and fixed it but problem returned in 2018.
03-09-2014:Second failure of electric power steering of 2010 Kia Venga reported. Fixed under 7 year warranty.
12-04-2015:Fuel gauge of 2 year old Venga became unreliable, then failed.
26-03-2016:2010 Venga reported as having an intermittently sticking starter motor, forcing the owner to rock the car in gear to free it off. Never happens at the dealers and dealer diagnosts cannot show anything unless the fault is present when the diagnostics are applied.
20-04-2016:Sticking central locking reported on Venga, age not disclosed.
12-12-2016:Report of poor starting of (identical) 2011 Hyundai ix20 1.4bCRDi when ambient tremperatrure below 3C.
30-05-2017:Engine noisy on start-up reported in 70,000 mile 2010 Kia Venga 1.6 GDI.
06-06-2017:Report of timing chain tensioner of Kia Venga GDi breaking, resulting in smashed valves and head having to be rebuilt.
28-11-2017:Complaint of occasional hesitation when exiting side roads in Kia Venga 1.6 GDi DCT.
02-02-2018:Complaint of stiff transmission selector lever in 2010 Venga 1.6 4-speed torque converter auto. Owner took it to Kia dealer who reported: " “Checked gear operation, found very stiff on operation. Removed gear selector cable from gearbox selector shaft to test cable. Cable moves freely without resistance. Inspected selector shaft on the gearbox and found high resistance due to the shaft being seized in its housing. Removed inhibitor switch from selector shaft for further inspection. Found surface rust on shaft caused by water ingress through inhibitor switch. Cleaned and lubricated selector shaft. Sealed inhibitor switch to prevent further water ingress, reconnected gear selector cable and tested gear selector. Now all gears can be selected with ease. Checked for diagnostic trouble codes in the ECU memory – none stored. Noticed battery slightly low in charge, charged battery overnight. Road tested vehicle the following morning. All ok.”
22-09-2018:Report of two problems with Kia Venga of unspecified age: F aulty fuel gauge and failed hatchback gas strut.
24-10-2018:Report of glass sunroof of Kia Venga shattering.
23-01-2019:Report of rusting fuel tank in 2012 Venga diesel leaking fuel. Kia dealer told owner there was a waiting list and the part was difficult to get hold of. One member of the Kia Owner's Club suggested that "there is a bracket to secure the breather...under which is a 4mm gap. This gap traps water and from the factory the rust proofing / undersealing is poor. Corrosion had resulted in pin holes from where the fuel was seeping."
09-04-2019:Report of radio/reversing camera/satnav touch screen of March 2015 Kia Venga "losing its sensitivity" in October 2018 to the extent the driver could not enter addresses, post codes or change between FM and AM and "barely see the radio display." This is not a "major component" covered by the 7 year warranty; only by a 36 month warranty. Still works when warm. New replacement is £1,733, or £792 for a refurb. Happily, by 27th May 2019, after an exchange of emails, Kia replaced the unit as a goodwill gesture, even with a 36 months warranty. A very good recommendation for their after sales service.
15-04-2019:Intermittent starting fault reported with 2010 Kia Venga. Refused to start. Ignition switch checked and OK and putting a coil on a hand-held oscilloscope showed the switch interrogating the fob and the fob responding. Using the spare key made no difference. A Launch 431v fault code scanner showed a P1693 error. It also showed the immobiliser warning light is turned off and doesn’t show any faults with the immobiliser. Car was taken to local KIA dealer who asked for both sets of keys. The fault turned out to be a rare failure of both keys, fixed for £239.89, bargain. So if a Kia Venga won't start and if the immobiliser light stays unlit, the chances are that both keys are faulty.
29-04-2019:Report of electric power steering failing on 2010 Kia Venga.
10-08-2021:K ia Venga petrol tank corrosion on 2013 car with 65,000 miles. MoT advisory: 'excessive corrosion on fuel on fuel filter housing. Owner quoted £ 629 for the repair but Kia UK and the dealer agreed to cover the cost due to the car having a full Kia service history.
