Korean car maker, Kia is one of the most sought after brands in India. Kia has enjoyed a good run of the SUVs, Kia Seltos & Sonet. It is time that Kia brings in a new model to the Indian market. Kia Carens was unveiled on 16th December and the MPV is already creating shockwaves in the Indian market.
Kia Carens is based on the extended version of Kia Seltos. It is to be noted that Hyundai, the sister company had already launched the MPV, Hyundai Alcazar in India. Similar to Alcazar, Carens is also spacious, and occupies a majestic road presence.
The positioning of the Korean brand as an SUV / MPV manufacturer will make the Carens much more likeable for the Indian market. Hyundai manufacturers all segments of vehicles including hatchback, compact sedan, luxury sedan and SUVs. This mixed positioning makes it slightly disadvantaged than the pure SUV / MPV positioning of the Kia.
Kia Carens Exterior & Colour Options
Kia Carens comes in 7 attractive colours including Imperial Blue, Moss Brown, Intense Red, Aurora Black Pearl, Silver, Grey & White Pearl. The front grille retains some of the styling elements from other Kia cars like the Kia signature tiger face grille. The LED headlamps of the Carens provide a unique and futuristic look to the car.
Carens come with a stylish 5 part alloy wheels. The ORVMs have a matching colour that accentuates the look of the Kia Carens. On the rear, the heavy cladding gives a bulky but sleek look to the Carens. It has also got a rear wiper like other SUVs of the company. The rail on the top provides a nice look and a sligt aerodynamic advantage to the MPV.
KIA Carens Dimensions & Engine
Kia Carens has the longest wheelbase in the segment in India. Recently launched Hyundai Alcazar comes with a wheelbase of 2760 mm. However, the new Kia Carens has a 2780 mm wheelbase. The additional 20 mm of wheelbase is useful as it provides 40mm extra length and the Carens is 4540mm long. Again on the width, Alcazar measures 1790 mm & Carens is 10 mm wider. Carens stands tall at 1700 mm. The MPV comes with a comfortable ground clearance of 195 mm.
The extra length of the vehicle also translates to a more spacious interior and a comfortable third row seating. Perhaps, this is one of the best advantages of buying Carens when compared with other 6 or 7 seaters in the Indian market like Alcazar, Maruti Suzuki XL6/7.
Kia Carens will come with 3 engine options in both petrol and diesel. There is 1.5 litre petrol engine and a much powerful 1.3 L turbo petrol engine. If you are looking for the diesel engine, then Kia provides an option of 1.5 Litre diesel engine. The turbo charged petrol engine provides the maximum power of 140 hp and a maximum torque of 242 Nm. The other two variants have a maximum power output of 115 hp.
The petrol engine is mated with a 6 speed manual gear box, while the turbo petrol engine comes with both manual and an optional 7 speed DCT gearbox. The diesel variant can be mated wither with a manual gearbox or a automatic transmission system.
Kia Carens Interior & Features
On the inside, Kia Carens is fully equipped with an excellent interiors and packed features. It sports an all digital instrument cluster that has speedometer, odometer, trip meter and other sensor readings. The full digital layout of the Carens gives a nice feeling on the whole. The ventilated front seats makes it easier to sit on those long drives.
On the safety side, Carens comes with 6 airbags that provide both front and side protection. With other safety features like ABS, ESC, HAC, Carens is very safe. It is also equipped with parking sensors.
The infotainment screen on the centre is 10.25” in size and has compatibility with both Android Auto & Apple Car Play. The presence of Bose entertainment system and well positioned speakers in the car makes it a media machine. The cabin comes with a 64 colour ambient light that can be controlled as per the preference. Similarly, the Carens is also fitted with a air purifier that provides protection against, bacteria and virus.
The Kia Carens also get a roof-top AC for the rear rows. This ensures better cooling of the interiors in the car and at the same time, it takes away the possibility of a longer sun roof.
Kia Carens Price & On Road Price in India
Kia Carens will be priced above the Hyundai Alcazar and it could cost around 17 lakhs. The diesel engine model could cost slightly higher than the petrol model. While the Korean car maker is yet to release the finalised price, but we don’t expect it be much more than the 17 Lakh mark. The Carens will come in both 6 seater and 7 seater configuration and will go head on head with Maruti XL6 / XL7.
The main disadvantage of the Maruti XL6/7 is the slightly underpowered engine. However, the Kia Carens will not put you down and with a fairly powerful engine, you will not wander for additional power during those overtakes.
Should You Buy Kia Carens?
Kia Carens is a nice family car and MPV. As of the moment, Kia Carens will compete mainly with Suzuki XL 6/7, Ertiga and the Hyundai Alcazar. The interior of Carens is much better than what you get in the Suzuki XL6. Similarly, the Suzuki MPV feels slightly underpowered and the automatic transmission is laggy and not the best gearbox.
If you are planning to take your family on frequent trips, then it is the best car for you below the 20 Lakh mark. Also, the Kia branding provides a bit of peppy feeling that an SUV / MPV should have. Kia will launch the vehicle early next year and the first deliveries could take March or April 2022.
So, what is your take on it? Do you think Kia Carens will a good car for your family?
