Introduction

Kia Motors came to India in 2019 with an SUV called Seltos that not only impressed us with its design, performance, features, and competitive pricing but also ruled the sales charts. Then in 2020, they came with Kia Carnival and Kia Sonet which also got a phenomenal response from Indians due to the crazy amount of features and pleasing design. In 2022, Kia Motors is ready to launch a new vehicle in the Indian automobile market which is the Carens. So, what is it, and how it’s going to compete with its competitors? Well, let’s check it out.

Exterior

The Kia Carens is a recreational vehicle that is a mix of SUV and MPV and it’s quite evident from its design. The front is dominated with a piano black strip that runs through the lighting setup i.e., the DRLs and the main headlights with a strip of chrome that does lend a fresh look. As you go down, there is an interesting tiger-nose grill which is surrounded by a chrome strip and LED fog lamps that I think don’t board quite well with the front end. The side profile is quite long, and yes the Kia Carens are 2780 mm long which is longer than Alcazar, Innova, and XL6 which will translate into better legroom. The window line is dominated by a thick chrome strip that ends with a kink which reminds me of MG Gloster. The 16-inch wheels disappoint me a lot as they ruin the SUV stance which is made by side body cladding. Kia should offer 17 inches wheels; however, the design is fantastic. The rear end looks futuristic and pleasing with the smart-looking taillamps and the rear strip connecting them. The rear bumper has a chrome knurled effect which looks sophisticated and elegant. Overall, the Kia Carens look smart, and elegant, and are by far among the best-looking 7-seaters.

Interior

Kia has opted for light colors and blue color, in contrast, to add to the sense of space in the cabin. The dashboard is dominated by a piano black panel that runs across it. It does look premium; however, the piano black panel is prone to fingerprints and will let the overall appeal of the cabin go down. The blue panels used in the steering wheel, seats, and rear AC controls look premium and unique. There is a brushed aluminum strip that surrounds the lower part of the dashboard adding an elegant quotient to the interior. The front seats are quite supportive and comfortable. There is a lot of under-thigh support, rear lumbar support, and even the contouring is optimum for long journeys. The second-row seats have the same story. If you are planning to get Carens, I would recommend the 6-seater which offers a stupendous experience and comfort for long-distance trips. The 3rd-row seats surprise me with the amount of space they offer. There is more than adequate legroom, and headroom which has house average Indian-height people, i.e., 5 feet 6 inches and they can comfortably sit for long distances. Also, there is a recline function in 3rd row which elevates comfort. The boot space is phenomenal with 216 liters with all rows up which is more than Alcazar and Safari. Overall, Kia has an exceptional job in packaging the space with impressive 3rd-row space without compromising the boot space.

Features

Hyundai-Kia has known for offering the best in segment features that can outperform even the larger SUVs whether it’s Seltos, Creta, Alcazar, Grand i10, or Sonet. The Carens get LED taillamps, LED fog lamps, LED headlamps, keyless entry, push start button, 10.25 touchscreen with Kia connect app i.e., connected car tech, and sounds of nature which emit sounds of birds, water, and fire that gives a calmer experience. Also, the Carens have a quiet mode which reduces the volume to 25% and only the front speakers work, valet mode, 64 colors ambient lighting, air purifier with virus protection, sunroof, digital instrument cluster, ventilated seats, seat table for your meal or placing a device, rear AC vents. The Carens get a unique feature of a one-touch tumble wherein with a press of a button, the seat gets tumbled completely, making it extremely convenient.

Safety is taken care of this time, as Kia has become quite infamous in India due to the double standards in the structure of their cars and the 3-star safety rating by Global NCAP for Seltos. It gets 6 airbags, ABS, traction control, downhill assist, TPMS, and all-wheel disc brakes as STANDARD across all variants. I hope it scores well on the NCAP test.

Performance

The Kia Carens are powered by the same engines and gearbox combos of Seltos i.e., a 1.5-liter diesel engine producing 115 hp power and 250 Nm torque, a 1.4 turbo petrol producing 140 hp, and 242 Nm torque, and a 1.5 NA petrol producing 115 hp and 144Nm torque. The diesel gets a 6-speed manual/6-speed torque converter automatic; the turbo petrol gets a 6-speed manual/7-speed DCT. The diesel automatic when driven sedately gets the job done. The engine offers decent performance for its capacity and even in city and highway conditions with 3-4 people. But, as there are 7 people on board, the engine struggles to move and ends up feeling lethargic. The turbo petrol, however, feels livelier and better to drive. The engine is quite tractable i.e., it can retain lower speeds and higher gears which I think other turbos can’t do in this way. Also, the engine has lower turbo lag which enhances the driving experience.

Ride and Handling

The Kia Carens have a good ride quality due to smaller wheels and that is a compliment for Kia cars as we know they have bad ride quality. Also, the suspension is made a bit softer for better comfort and not stiff for better handling. The handling surprisingly is quite good for MPV standards as it has better body control.

NVH Levels

The NVH levels are phenomenal which is quite common for a Hyundai-Kia car whether the engine is petrol or diesel and the wind-tire noise is well contained.

Conclusion

Kia Carens is a great product with a stellar design, high-quality interior, remarkable space, and adequate performance that help it to establish itself as a strong case in the market. Well, the prices are something that will decide its fate but I think it will be priced around 10 lakhs for the base petrol 1.5 and the top variant may be priced around 16.5-17 lakhs for the top diesel automatic.