Kia Corporation, generally known as Kia (formerly known as Kyungsung Precision Industry and Kia Motors Corporation), is a South Korean multinational automaker with headquarters in Seoul. With more than 2.8 million vehicles sold in 2019, it surpassed its parent company, Hyundai Motor Company, to take second place in the auto industry in South Korea.
As of 2015, Hyundai has a 33.88% minority stake in the Kia Corporation, which has an approximate market value of $6 billion USD. Between 4.9% and 45.37% of more than twenty Hyundai-affiliated businesses, with a combined market value of over US$8.3 billion, are owned by Kia.
The Kia Carens was first introduced in 1999 by the Korean automaker Kia as a compact MPV. It is currently in its fourth generation and is sold all over the world under numerous nameplates, most notably the Kia Rondo.
The Carens’ first three iterations were designed as small MPVs. The business debuted the Multi-Concept at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show before introducing the second iteration in 2006 for MY2007. A compact crossover configuration is used in the fourth generation.
Carens is a portmanteau of the words “car” and “renaissance,” and Rondo is a musical term.
KIA Carens Specifications
| Engine & Transmission | |
| Engine Type | Smartstream G1.5 |
| Power | 113.42 bhp @ 6300 rpm |
| Engine Capacity | 1497 cc |
| No. of Cylinders | 4 |
| No. of valves per cylinder | 4 |
| Torque | 144 Nm @ 4500 rpm |
| Fuel Type | Petrol |
| Type | Manual |
| Gears | 6 Speed |
| Drivetrain | Front Wheel Drive (FWD) |
| Performance & Drivetrain | |
| ARAI Certified Economy | 15.7 Kmpl |
| Body & Suspension | |
| Body Type | MUV |
| Suspension – Front | McPherson Strut with Coil Spring |
| Suspension – Rear | Coupled Torsion Beam Axle with Coil Spring |
| No. of Seats | 7 |
| Sun Roof | No |
| No. of Doors | 5 |
| Dimensions & Capacity | |
| Length | 4540 mm |
| Width | 1800 mm |
| Height | 1708 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2780 mm |
| Ground Clearance | 195 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 45 Litres |
| Boot Space | 216 Litres |
| Wheels, Tyre & Brakes | |
| Brakes – Front | Disc |
| Brakes – Rear | Disc |
| Front Tyre Size | 195 / 65 R15 |
| Rear Tyre Size | 195/65 R15 |
| Wheels Size | R15 |
| Electricals | |
| 12v Power Outlet | Accessory |
| Comfort & Convenience | |
| Adjustable Headrests | Yes |
| Adjustable steering | Yes |
| Cruise Control | No |
| Distance to Empty display | Yes |
| Keyless Entry | No |
| Navigation System | No |
| Odometer | Digital |
| Power Steering | Yes |
| Power Windows | Yes |
| Rear Armrest | Yes |
| Start / Stop Button | No |
| Tachometer | Yes |
| Safety Features | |
| ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) | Yes |
| Automatic Headlamps | Yes |
| Central Locking | Yes |
| Hill Assist | Yes |
| ISOFIX (Child-Seat Mount) | Yes |
| Lane Watch Camera/ Side Mirror Camera | No |
| Number of Airbags | 6 |
| Entertainment & Communication | |
| Android Auto | No |
| Apple CarPlay | No |
Kia Carens Pricing
Price for a Kia Carens ranges from $10,000 to $18,000. (Avg. ex-showroom). There are 19 variations of Carens. The highest model from Carens costs 17.70 lakh in petrol.
The starting price for a Carens in diesel is 11.70 lakh. In contrast, the cost of the Carens automatic version starts at Rs. 15 lakh.
Engine and Performance
The 1.4-liter turbo-petrol engine in the Seltos SUV has 138 horsepower and 242 Nm of torque and can be specified with either a seven-speed DCT or a six-speed manual transmission; the latter is the one that was utilised in this review.
Apart from when it starts up, the engine is polished and quiet at idling, so you rarely ever notice it operating in the background. The engine gives a respectable degree of driveability right away and begs you to use a touch too much power when picking up speed.
The kick-down times for the 20–80 kph and 40 kph ranges were 5.82 and 7 seconds, respectively. The 20-80 km/h kick-down took the 1.5-litre NA petrol-powered XL6 with a four-speed automatic 7.54 seconds to accomplish, while the 40-100 km/h kick-down took 9.60 seconds.
These test results provide reasonable mid-range performance with lots of growls that never leave you wishing for more power in the Carens petrol engine.
If you wish to be more involved when driving, the automatic gearboxes’ paddle shifters make it much more fun. The gearbox is so sophisticated, though, that there wouldn’t be anything wrong with letting it operate on its own in the background. The three driving modes—Eco, Normal, and Sport—each of which affects how the throttle responds and is best used on the highway—are last but not the least.
Ride and Handling
Similar to the Seltos, the Carens is supported by McPherson struts up front and a pair of torsion beam axles in the back. It features disc brakes everywhere and on every variant in its lineup.
First, let’s talk about the ride quality, which is on the softer side but pretty impressed with the way it’s built up to absorb everything in its path while hardly ever unsettling the passengers. The only exception to this rule is if the road is broken up, in which case the third-row passengers do tend to bob around a little bit more than the other two rows.
While manoeuvres like U-turns and parallel parking are made quite simple by the steering’s lightness and ease of use at low speeds, it should be noted that the steering takes slightly more than three turns to turn from lock to lock.
Furthermore, it lacks feeling, especially while in the dead position, which results in a less enjoyable driving experience. As you ride faster, it does weigh more, but it also reacts slowly, especially when self-centring to a dead ahead.
It also lacks feeling, especially while in the dead position, which makes for a less enjoyable driving experience. It responds slowly, especially when self-centring to a dead ahead, however, it does weigh more somewhat as you ride faster. It is a load-carrying vehicle, and we would like to evaluate the driving dynamics of the vehicle with all of the seats occupied.
Once we have the vehicle for a longer period of time to conduct our extensive road tests, we will be able to inform you of this.
Interior Space and Quality
The Kia Carens’ three rows are its unique selling point, and you can buy them with either six or seven seats. The latter features a 60:40 split-folding bench while the former has two captain seats for the second row.It is both familiar and strange when you enter the cabin. The Carens’ interiors are pretty upscale, so it’s not a terrible thing that a lot of the switchgear and other components have been taken from its sister vehicle. This is why we think the inside feels familiar. However, the design of the cabin and some of its components, the dashboard of which has undergone the most significant change, also make it fresh.The Carens’s twin-pod dual-screen arrangement has been replaced with a digital instrument panel and a touchscreen system with a 10.25-inch display without any bezels. This layout has a gloss black background with wave-like patterns in some places.
Chrome inlays may be seen on the steering wheel, gear lever, centre console, and a prominent line on the dashboard. It has a very clean and attractive layout that is reminiscent of the design aesthetics of much more costly car makers, but as with gloss black, if you don’t frequently wash the surfaces, they rapidly transform into a river of dust and fingerprints. Three elegant small accents in the centre console include a wireless charging pad with a cooling function, cooled cup holders for both rows, and a pop-out cup holder located in front of the left front AC vent.
The front seats themselves are pretty pleasant, with adequate under-thigh support from the seat base in addition to enough bolstering to keep you seated. The driver’s seat can be adjusted for height across the entire lineup, However, the Luxury Plus model we tried for the review features ventilated seats as well, which are useful on warm days. There is no power driver’s seat, not even with the greatest level of equipment for this model.
The second row of the Carens faces a challenging task in winning over passengers who prefer chauffeured transportation. On this top-spec model, you get the same navy-blue and beige colour scheme in addition to a respectable equipment list that includes an air purifier, two USB Type-C ports, a tray table for the left-side passenger, and roof-mounted AC vents with fan-speed control.
The third row does not feel cramped because of how the seats are arranged, and a lengthy journey wouldn’t be as difficult for an Indian adult of average stature as one might anticipate. You get cup holders and a USB charging station, and the seats recline. It has much more shoulder room (1250mm Vs 1050mm) than the XL6/Ertiga, which is a clear advantage for making both occupants feel comfortable.
With all three rows up, the boot can hold 216 litres; when the third row is folded down, it can hold 645 litres; and when the second row is folded down, it can hold 1164 litres. The final design greatly increases the available cargo capacity due to the high roofline.
Features and Equipment
This top-of-the-line model has a tonne of inside and exterior amenities. Roof rails, a complete LED light kit (front and rear), 16-inch alloy wheels with diamond cuts, and chrome exterior trim are some of the exterior’s highlights.
The newest infotainment system from Kia is housed inside on a 10.25-inch touchscreen, and it comes with a better user interface, new colour schemes, and even background noises like birds chirping to help the passengers stay calm. The completely digital instrument cluster is a nice feature with its vivid colours, legible wording, and colour MID that can be controlled by buttons and switches on the steering wheel.
Additionally included are ambient lighting, power mirrors and windows, dual bottle holders in each of the four doors, climate control with vents in the second and third rows, connected car technology through UVO, a reverse camera with dynamic guides, faux leather upholstery, an eight-speaker Bose audio system, rain-sensing wipers, and a reverse camera. Kia has raised the bar in terms of safety with six airbags, ABS with EBD, disc brakes on all four wheels, rear parking sensors, TPMS, and ISOFIX child seat mounting points included as standard equipment.
Exterior Design
You will undoubtedly take notice of the Kia Carens when you see it in public because of its controversial external design, which you either adore or detest. A large rectangular front wrapped in chrome, with low-set headlights, and smooth creases on the bonnet has replaced the once-distinctive tiger-nose grille.
The Carens MPV design is evident from the side thanks to flared wheel arches, an overhang at either end and the lengthy silhouette that comes with the MPV design. Even though the diamond-cut wheels have an aftermarket appearance and a fan-like design, they will catch your eye.
The tail lamps dominate the scene and serve as the main focus point of the inventive rear design, which is tiered. A spoiler and a lot of chrome have been added to the back bumper, enhancing the overall look.
Kia Carens Verdict
In our opinion, the Kia Carens has all the necessary qualities to stand out in the market and price range. It is more utilitarian, offers a wider variety of powertrains, and will always command attention due to the way it appears from the outside.