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There are three engine options: 1.4 petrol or diesel, linked to five and six-speed gearboxes respectively, plus a 1.6-litre petrol unit. The largest motor is the only one to come with an automatic box, while the diesel models are badged EcoDynamics because they use a start/stop technology which Kia calls Intelligent Stop and Go, or ISG. Once it’s warmed up, the engine cuts out when the car comes to a halt and the gearlever is put into neutral. It restarts as soon as the clutch is pressed.

The driving characteristics have been fine-tuned for UK roads by Lotus, which has resulted in a dynamic yet comfortable drive even with four adults on board. Granted, the 1.4 petrol engine struggled to pull in sixth gear on gentle inclines; the payoff, however, was decent fuel economy at 45.6mpg on the combined cycle. The oil-burner’s ISG system worked extremely well, although even with the extra insulation you could occasionally hear and feel it shudder to a halt. But that’s no bad thing, because then you know it’s working. The four-speed automatic box was smooth and responsive, although inevitably using it had an effect on fuel consumption.

Kia makes much of the fact that this car is its first from new design boss Peter Schreyer. If the name’s not familiar his products will be – he’s responsible for the original Audi TT. The Korean brand has really come of age lately; the scrappage schme saw sales go through the roof, helped by the seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty instilling confidence in buyers new to the brand. This model’s been designed in and for Europe, so it is penned to appeal to our Continental cousins. That’s not to say it isn’t attractive – it is a huge improvement on the brand’s products of even five years ago.

The 89bhp, 1.4 diesel is a new powerplant for Kia, capable of returning 62.8mpg on the combined cycle while emitting 117g/km of CO2. As a result, it falls into tax band C, which adds to its appeal for business and private users. All Vengas come with six airbags, active front head restraints, two ISOFIX child seat points, anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, electronic stability control, brake assist and traction control. As it’s closely related to the Soul, Kia expects its newcomer to share the SUV’s five-star Euro NCAP rating.

Here’s where the Venga excels. It’s shorter than the Soul, with which it shares a platform, yet has a longer wheelbase. The idea is that this can provide the model with greater versatility and space. The maker has done all it can to ensure maximum use of space inside a body that’s just over four metres long, using just about every trick in the book. For front occupants, there’s plenty of glass in front and along the sides to make sure visibility is good all round. It’s a five-seater with plenty of headroom for adults behind them, while the rear split/fold bench shifts back and forth to increase boot storage space when required. The boot’s two-tier, while the rear seats ‘fold and dive’ to create a flat loadbay, bringing maximum capacity to 1,486 litres. So it’s clearly versatile.

There are three trim options, named simply 1, 2 and 3. The specification is generous, with even the entry-level 1 having air-con, six-speaker stereo and a USB port. The 1.6 is offered only in 2 spec. That adds 16-inch alloys, heated body-coloured door mirrors, iPod connectivity and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. The 3 also gets climate control, powered windows all round, a powered panoramic sunroof and rear privacy glass. Of the three engines, the 1.6 is the least cost-effective because it produces 164g/km of CO2, making it eligible for tax band G. However it powers the fastest variant, capable of covering 0-62mph in 11.8 seconds and reaching a top speed of 110mph. The diesel Venga is £1,300 more than the 45.6mpg 1.4 petrol version, so you would have to cover reasonably high mileages to make it economically viable.

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