Kia has revealed the Carens, gets 6/7 seater config will be launched in March 2022 (expected)

KIA CARENS 

Kia held a Global Debut for unveil of Kia Carens in India on 16th Dec '21. Kia Carens is a mixture of SUV and a MPV attributes according to Kia. You can consider this car similar to the Hyundai Alcazar. The car is just revealed today, the proper launch will happen next year. 

Kia Carens Exterior:

The Carens looks very Kia like, with its aggressive looks and boldness which is Kia's design language. Upfront the Carens gets split headlight design, DRLs are placed top followed by the headlights, a black trim too at the centre which connects both the headlamps. Down there it gets faux skid plate treatment, the actual grille lies there with chrome garnish around it, the LED fog lamps are housed properly around the grille. No doubt from the front the Carens carries the Kia's Tiger face signature. 

At the side, Carens look like a elongated Seltos. Carens from the side look like a proper SUV with its good stance, roof-rails, body cladding which runs all around the vehicle and also those wheel arches. We are not sure about what wheel size Carens will get, but Kia has given Carens a good looking dual tone alloys. With that it gets lower window chrome garnish which stretches till the D pillar and Chrome garnish on the side body cladding.

At the rear the car looks like discontinued BR-V at first glance. It gets LED taillamps and a LED strip connecting both the lights in between. Down there the bumper looks sporty with chrome inserts. 

Overall the design is sharp and aggressive just like other Kia cars. From the outside it looks like a SUV. The design too is simple and well proportionated, though from the side it looks like a stretched Seltos. The car also gets decent ground clearance of 195mm which is more than enough for city and highway trips. 

Kia Carens Color options:

The Carens will get 7 monotone paint job, Imperial Blue, Glacier White, Gravity Grey, Sparkling Sliver, Aurora Black pearl, Intense Red and Moss Brown

Here are the dimensions of Kia Carens:

DO NOTE THAT THESE DIMENSIONS ARE NOT CERTIFIED BY ARAI YET

Kia Carens Interior:

From outside the Carens look rough and tough like any SUV but from inside it feels like an MPV, provides comfort and space for the passengers. The wheelbase is also longer than the Alcazar which certainly light upon spacious cabin. The Carens gets new dual tone dashboard design, the dashboard design is extended till the windshield and the ends of the dashboard blend well with the door pads. The dashboard gets soft touch at the top and below is a chrome insert well integrated with the AC vents which make them look like one piece design. Below is a sliver finished trim connecting from the left door panel till the right door panel. At the center it gets a 10.25 inch infotainment system just like Seltos and Sonet. 

The AC controls can e controlled by the touch panel. The steering wheel is similar to that one seen on GT line Seltos, gets glossy finish for its controls and Carens written on the sliver part of the Steering wheel. 

Behind it lies a new Digital instrument cluster, Carens also gets features like Bose audio system, Air purifier, UVO connected car tech, 64 colors for ambient lighting, ventilated front seats, TPMS, 5 type C charging ports for passengers, electric sunroof, paddle shifters for AT transmission option.

Customer can choose between 6 or 7 seater option, the captain seat or bench seat. The captain seat config doesn't get center console like Alcazar which had storage space, cup holders and wireless charging pad. Though the seat can be folded electrically with one touch tumble down feature which allows passenger to enter third row. The AC vents are mounted to the roof that is the reason why Kia has not included a panoramic sunroof. Kia has given lot of storage spaces which a MPV should provide, the dashboard get storage space, all doors get good space to keep bottles, magazine holders, cup holders even for third row. 

Kia Carens engine and transmission options:

Just like the Kia Seltos, Carens will get 3 engine options, 2 petrol engines i.e. 1.5L Naturally aspirated petrol engine that produces 115hp and 144Nm of torque, 1.4L Turbo petrol engine which produces 140hp and 240Nm of torque. Carens will also get a Diesel engine i.e. 1.5L Diesel which produces 115hp and 240Nm of torque. This 3 engine do duty on Seltos, Creta and Verna. The Diesel engine is more popular and does duty on slue of Kia and Hyundai cars.

The transmission options too are similar to that of Seltos, the 1.5L NA will be matted with a 6 speed manual, 6 speed CVT box. The Turbo charged engine will be only available with a 7 speed DCT gearbox. The diesel will be matted with only 6 speed torque converter gearbox. 

Kia Carens safety features:

The car gets ABS with EDB, DBC, hill start assists, TPMS, parking sensors with camera, disc brakes, 6 Airbags (standard across all variants) according to new safety norms, rear de-fogger, 

Kia Carnes Price and Launch date:

We think that this car will rival the XL6 or Ertiga and also its sibling Alcazar. We expect that the starting price will be between XL6 and Alcazar, still it is early to expect. Kia will launch this car in February or March 2022, car will be manufactured in Kia's Anantapur plant located in Andhra Pradesh.