FOR those on a tight budget during these years of austerity, Kia had the answer to their dreams.

For 2010, the South Korean marque introduced their Venga to the UK market, a supermini-sized, multi-purpose vehicle which believed it should have been pigeonholed into the larger family hatchback market.

And it really was no surprise, for thanks to its clever packaging, the car offered massive amounts of interior space for up to five to be transported in supreme comfort.

It all started with the Kia's small-car platform first used by the funky Soul hatchback.

However, Kia stretched the wheelbase a little on the Venga to help maximise its cabin space. Yet at just four meters long, it still came in a tad shorter than the Soul thanks to its shorter overhangs.

The Venga also prove to be the widest vehicle in its class and coupled with its high roofline, the end product offered an interior that was class-leading for front, rear and hip room.

Sliding 60-40-split rear seats added to the car's versatility, while they could fold flat to increase the load space to what was already the largest boot in the entire sector.

But space was not the only issue, for the Venga's overall looks were far removed from the typical boxy-styled lines usually associated with vehicles of this ilk.

Viewed from the front, the wide-stanced Venga was blessed with Kia's new family grille, while from the side, the bulging door panels, muscular wheel arches and large area of glass sloping up from over the front wing to the rear panel gave the car a somewhat sleek look. 

Out on the road the Venga offers a smooth ride, while the suspension does a decent job of handling the humps and bumps of our badly-surfaced roads. Grip is also good, but the car's tall stance does mean it leans somewhat through tighter bends.

As with most MPVs, the driver benefits from a high driving position to gain a great view of things happening up ahead, while the large glass panels in the split windscreen pillars also add greatly to the driver's vision.

Three trim levels - simply designated Venga 1, 2 and 3 - made up the range, and the Venga came with the choice of three EU5-compliant engines: a new 1.4-litre diesel; a similar-sized petrol, and a larger 1.6-litre petrol in trim 2 which came mated exclusively to a four-speed automatic gearbox .

Top choice in the UK has been the 1.4-litre petrol in Trim 2. However, for a used car purchase, I would try and hunt down an oilburning example.

Derived from the 1.6-litre unit found in the Soul, the torquey Slovakian-built engine pumps out 89bhp at 4,000 revs, enough to give the Venga a top speed of 104mph and a 0-60mph sprint time of 14 seconds dead.

But more importantly, emissions were measured at a low 119g/km, putting the sprightly little Venga into VED band C and along with it an annual road fund charge of just £30.

And to help cut costs to the bone, expect fuel consumption of nearly 63mpg on the combined cycle, helped in part by the car's intelligent stop-go system.

From a comfort and safety point of view, the Venga proved well equipped for the job in hand. All models came with electric front windows, air conditioning, driver's seat height adjustment, tilt and slide steering wheel adjustment and tinted glass as standard.

You will also find a quality, six-speaker CD sound system, complete with MP3 compatibility with AUX and USB ports.

Six airbags, active front head restraints, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution, electronic stability control and traction control also come as standard to help the Venga to a top five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

If all that goodies were not enough, Venga 2 trim adds 16-inch alloys, electric door mirrors, iPod cable and steering wheel-mounted audi controls, while range-topping Venga 3 is also kitted out with climate control, fog lights, electric rear windows, powered panoramic glass roof and privacy glass on the rear windows and tailgate.

But perhaps what makes the Venga stand out over the competition is its unrivalled seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty which can be transferred to the car's new owners.

If that's not a serious demonstration of Kia's belief in the car's overall quality then what more can you expect?

A nice 2010 10-plate Venga 2 1.4 CRDI EcoDynamics will cost between £5,825 and £8,000, while a similar 2011 11-plate model will cost from £6,795 to £9,125.

A 2012 machine on a 12-plate should set you back anything from £7,900 to £10,400, something of a snip in anyone's book.