Kia Carens, the much-anticipated 7-seater MUV, has made its global debut in India. Carens, Kia's fourth product in India, is set to go on sale in the first half of next year. The 7-seater SUV sector has had several spectacular debuts this year, including the Hyundai Alcazar and the Mahindra XUV700, the Kia Carens is showing great promise for an entertaining fight.
Kia Carens, which shares its platform with the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, resembles the Kia EV6 and has a class-leading wheelbase of 2780 mm. Kia hasn't designated a body class for the Carens, it's best described as a lovely mix of SUV appearance and MUV functions.
The Carens has a flat bonnet and an upright nose that divides into two sections. The upper portion of the front bumper is adorned with a slim grille and slim split headlamps flanked on either side by contrasting black trim. The Y-shaped LED DRLs are located above the headlamp configuration. Kia's signature 'Tiger nose' styling element is subtly placed with low-set chrome trim rather than on the grille. Body cladding over the wheel arches and throughout the length of the doors creates a distinct yet bold character line that begins with the headlamps, integrates into the doors, and then re-emerges at the back to incorporate into tail lamps.
The Carens has sleek wraparound LED tail lamps connected by a slim LED strip at the back. The rear windshield has a slight rake and an integrated spoiler. The tailgate, like the front end, is upright, and the aggressively styled bumper has silver inserts, while the chrome-garnished bottom is an elegant embellishment.
Kia Carens will be available in 6- and 7-seater variants. The Carens, in keeping with Kia's tradition, is crammed with features. The dashboard is deep and extends towards the windshield before flowing to the front doors, creating a wrap-around effect that is common in MUVs.
The centre of attention is a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment screen, with the AC vents integrated below. Carens has a new touchscreen panel with toggle switches for automatic climate control. It also gets roof-mounted AC vents to improve rear-cooling, but it forgoes the option of a panoramic sunroof in favour of a powered sunroof.
Read Also: Creta - Most Selling SUV In India
Kia Carens will be powered by three engines that will be shared with Kia Seltos. A 1.5L petrol engine with 115 horsepower and 144 Nm of peak torque will be paired with a 6-Speed manual transmission, which is also standard with the other two engines. A 1.4L turbocharged petrol engine with 140 horsepower and 240 Nm of peak torque will be mated with a 7-Speed DCT automatic transmission. A 1.5L diesel engine with 115 horsepower and 250 Nm of peak torque will be paired with a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission.
Kia is expected to reveal the best deals on Kia Carens and pricing in February or March of this year. When it is released in India, the Kia Carens will compete with the Hyundai Alcazar, Maruti Suzuki XL6, and other three-row vehicles in the same price range. Visit the Kia section on the Car Lelo website for best deals on Kia Cars.
