KIA Carens

KIA Carens is a crossover MPV offering that was designed by KIA Cars as a ‘strategic model’ for the Indian market. The Carens has been around since 1999. It has had four generations in the international market. In 2021, it was finally introduced in India.

The popular MPV is based on a Hyundai-KIA K2 platform. It is rated the most spacious in its segment. Special emphasis is placed on third-row passenger space. Since launch the new model has taken the market by storm amassing over 50,000 bookings.

KIA Carens: Exterior

Like we have seen with many KIA cars, the KIA Carens exterior design features large flat panels with certain characteristic lines. The new model of car has a flatter look than its competitors. It does not have the traditional KIA Tiger Nose Grill. Instead, it has a new Tiger Face with a digital radiator grille.

The new KIA Carens features a new LED design. The LED DRLs and taillights are illuminated by the Star Map LED light. The Crown Jewel LED headlamps now rest lower on the bumper. We can observe the 16-inch alloy wheels, thick body cladding, and large glass housing of the model on the sides. These features are part of the new design.

Overall, the exterior design of the new KIA Carens is distinctive and commands attention.

KIA Carens: Interior and Features

Interiors: The KIA Carens interior features a wraparound design. This is unlike anything seen on other budget KIA cars. The dashboard is high-tech. It features a large piano black panel with engraving at the top. Additionally, there is a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster. The infotainment unit is a 10.25-inch touchscreen.

Features: Carens come with several features. These include: 

• Dual-tone black and beige upholstery 
• BOSE 8-speaker sound system 
• Ventilated front seats
• Cabin air filter 
• 64 colour ambient lighting 
• One-touch electric tumble for 2nd row seats 
• Roof mounted dedicated air vents 

The company has catered to business passengers. They have provided cooled cup-holders, seat back tables and wireless chargers.

Safety: In terms of safety, the Carens provides 6-airbags, all-wheel disk brake, Brake Assist, Hill-start Assist Control, ABS with EBD, engine immobiliser, TPMS monitoring, front and rear parking sensor as basic equipment.

KIA Carens: Price and Variants

KIA Carens price in India starts from Rs 10.45 lakh and extends to Rs 19.45 lakh (ex-showroom). It is offered in a total of 23 variants - Premium, Prestige, Prestige Plus, Luxury and Luxury Plus trims with the choice of petrol/diesel engines and manual/automatic gearbox options.

KIA Carens: Engine and Specification

In terms of powertrain, the KIA Carens comes equipped with three engine options that include two petrol and one diesel similar to the KIA Seltos. The petrol and diesel power plants produce 115 bhp and 144 Nm (petrol) / 250 Nm (diesel) of peak torque respectively.

The 1.4-litre turbo petrol is rated for a maximum power output of 140 bhp and 242 Nm of peak torque. All three engines have a manual transmission option with 6 speeds. All the three engines are offered with a 6-speed manual while the automatic options include 6-speed AT on the diesel and a 7-speed DCT on the turbo petrol.

The KIA Carens measures 4,540mm in length, is 1,800mm wide and 1,708mm tall having a wheelbase of 2,780mm. The car gets a large 45-litre fuel tank and up to 16-inch alloy wheels.

KIA Carens: Mileage

The 2023 KIA Carens returns a claimed fuel economy of up to 21.3 kmpl in the diesel manual guise. The 2023 KIA Carens is said to have a fuel economy of up to 21.3 kmpl per liter when using the diesel manual transmission.

KIA Carens: Colour Options

There are 8 distinct single tone exterior colour options available on the KIA Carens. They include Sparkling Silver, Moss Brown, Imperial Blue, Aurora Black Pearl, Gravity Grey, Glacier White Pearl, Clear White and Intense Red.

KIA Carens: Rivals

Rivals to the KIA Carens include the Hyundai Alcazar, Maruti Suzuki XL6 and others in its segment.