Kia Venga vs Ford B-MAX & Nissan Note - pictures

We see if the revisions made to the facelifted Kia Venga are enough to beat the Ford B-MAX and Nissan Note. 

We tested the Kia Venga '2' ISG, powered by a 1.4-litre 4-cyl petrol engine producing 89bhp. 

On the road, the Venga is composed, if unexciting. 

There are smarter trim details throughout the cabin, but it's still a plain cabin and the Venga isn't as well equipped as its rivals here. 

The rear bench slides back and forth, so space in the back is good. A central rear armrest is a nice touch, too. 

The 440-litre boot is the biggest in this test, and will expand up to 1,253 litres with the rear seats folded down. 

There's a noticeable amount of body roll in corners, plus the squidgy steering doesn't give much feedback. The Venga is much more suited to relaxed cruising. 

The Venga benefits from a new front end with Kia's trademark 'tiger nose' grille. There are new alloys across the range, too. 

Versatility is the key reason people buy these kind of cars, so they have to be practical to succeed. 

The Ford B-MAX tested here is a 1.0T EcoBoost, putting out 123bhp. We tested a Zetec model but the car in our pictures is a top-spec Titanium X. 

The 1.0-litre 3cyl turbo petrol in the B-MAX is available with 99bhp or 123bhp, making the Ford the choice if you value driving enjoyment. It's firmer than the Venga, but the plush damping meand it doesn't crash over potholes. 

The sleek cabin is driver-focused, but the angle of the buttons can make it hard to find what you want at a glance. 

As there are no B-pillars, access to the rear of the B-MAX is very easy. 

The rear seats slide which means boot space can vary, but in normal configuration the boot is 318 litres - much smaller than the Kia's. The B-MAX's saving grace is the ability to fold the front passenger seat completely flat, meaning t

The B-MAX has excellent body control and precise steering which provides loads of feedback. The car clings on and grips well in bends, too. 

The Fiesta-based B-MAX looks sportier than the Kia and the Nissan.

With no B-pillar in the way, standard family tasks - like strapping young children into the rear - are much easier. 

The Nissan Note tested here is the 1.2-litre 3cyl producing 79bhp in n-tec spec. 

Well weighted steering and strong body control mean the Note is good to drive, although it doesn't feel as refined on the move as the Venga or B-MAX. 

The quality of the cabin can't compete with its rivals here, but practicality is good with a twin glovebox and plenty of other storage bins. 

The Note also has a sliding rear bench, so drivers can choose between more rear legroom or a bigger boot configuration. 

The boot weighs in at an impressive 411 litres with them in place. With them folded, total load space increases to 1,495 litres. 

The Nissan is the most well equipped car in this test, with a parking camera, sat-nav and big touchscreen infotainment system all coming as standard. 

If customisation is your thing, the Note is your best choice out of these cars. There are vibrant colours to choose from and different finishes for the mirror caps, door handles, grille and wheels.