Kia Carens Review

Kia Carens exterior design

The Carens, with its low-set bonnet and large cabin area, has the basic shape of an MPV, though there's an SUV-ness to the look too that comes courtesy of elements like the cladding at the sides and around the wheel wells. Top-spec Carens trims feature attractive 16-inch rims. The Carens doesn’t look drab, despite its long wheelbase, large rear doors and considerable rear overhang.On the whole, the Carens is a handsome vehicle with lots of attractive details.

Kia Carens interior

The Carens impresses with its quality levels on the inside, and general fit and finish is of a very high level. It's also a well thought out space with lots of nifty storage spaces throughout the cabin. The second-row seating is comfy and spacious even for three average-sized adults to sit. What the Carens particularly stands out for is third-row seating, both in terms of space and comfort.

Kia Carens features

Top-spec Luxury Plus variants of the Carens get LED lights, ventilated front seats, a slick 10.25-inch touchscreen, Bose sound system, connected tech, 64-colour ambient lighting, LCD instruments, a sunroof, auto climate control, onboard air purifier, cruise control and electric seat tumble. In terms of safety equipment, the Carens does well for itself with standard-fit ESC, six airbags, front and rear disc brakes, ISOFIX child-seat mounts, and tyre pressure monitoring system.

Kia Carens engine and performance

The 115hp, 1.5-litre diesel engine on the Carens makes for a genteel cruiser and feels adequate in the city, but with a full load, it's out of its comfort zone. Both 6-speed MT and AT gearboxes are smooth to operate but aren’t quite tuned for performance. The 160hp, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine scores well on refinement and NVH levels, and performance too is effortless. The iMT is well-tuned for the city and is quite tractable, while the DCT is quick and smooth when driving flat out, but feels jerky at slow speeds.

Kia Carens ride and handling

The Carens is an easy vehicle to drive with a well-weighted steering. Ride comfort is good, with the suspension smoothening out low-speed surface imperfections well enough. However, you do feel more of the road at low speeds in the diesels, which are set-up on the firmer side. At higher speeds, all versions of the Carens impress with good stability and well-controlled body movements. Tidy handling also aids confidence.

Kia Carens price and verdict

Prices for the Carens range between Rs 10.45 lakh – Rs 19.45 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The Carens is well-appointed on the inside, easy to drive and comfortable to be driven in. There are multiple engine-gearbox options on offer too, so there's a version to fulfil every type of need. Perhaps the Carens' biggest pull is its third row that’s big on space and comfort. If you are specifically looking for three-row flexibility, the Carens is as good as it gets for the money.