Car Statistics: Kia - Venga Series 10 (2 stars)

Styling (3 stars)

The Venga is never going to win any beauty contests, but it is unlikely to offend either. The big A-pillar does impair visibility slightly at the front, but for a supermini-MPV it doesn't look too boxy.

Handling (2 stars)

The steering is certainly light around town, but the ride really lets it down. The Venga crashes through potholes and therefore doesn't feel as agile or as smooth as you'd expect in an urban environment.

Comfort (3 stars)

Hard seats and the unsettled ride mean comfort is not at a premium, but there is plenty of room for front and rear passengers in both the head and leg department. The sliding rear seats help maximise this space.

Quality (3 stars)

While the plastics feel cheap and the finish is not anywhere near the class leaders, the Venga does come with Kia's untouchable seven-year warranty, which at least means anything which goes wrong should be fixed.

Performance (2 stars)

This is not a car engineered for speed, with the 1.4-litre engine feeling rather gutless. We have yet to try the diesel engine.

Roominess (4 stars)

A big boot and plenty of space in the front and rear combine to make this a real Tardis car. A tad more in the way of cubby-holes would be good, but this is quibbling from a vehicle that makes the most of a small exterior.

Costs (4 stars)

45.6mpg is not bad from a petrol car, but the diesel promises much more as it claims to be capable of 62.8mpg on the combined cycle.

Value (4 stars)

There is a decent amount of equipment on offer for what is a keenly-priced car, even compared to its rivals. Being cheap doesn't mean you miss out as the mid-range trim offers alloy wheels, electric windows and mirrors and an iPod prepared stereo.

Stereo (2 stars)

While the stereo takes all manner of external audio players, and produces a decent sound for a cheap car, the radio does sometimes struggle to locate and hold on to some radio stations.