Kia Carens launch soon as mass production begins in the factory
Kia will soon be launching the Carens MPV, a three-row offering that can be had in six- and seven-seater configurations. You get to choose between two petrol engines and one diesel engine. The Carens also offers a standard safety package that is quite robust.
By Dhruv Paliwal
The third row of the Kia Carens is actually usable for adults!
The Kia Carens has entered production, as the first customer car rolled off the assembly line today. The Carens is being made at Kia’s factory in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, and is expected to be launched in the coming days. It will not only be sold in India, but will be exported to over 80 countries as well.
Tae-Jin Park, Managing Director and CEO, Kia India, said, “We are all about inspiration at Kia, and with the Kia Carens, we bring to the table a whole new set of value propositions aligning with requirements of the new-age customer. I am very excited about the beginning of this new journey. The Kia Carens is the fourth product we are rolling out in India. Our teams have worked tirelessly to bring out a product that truly reflects and resonates with modern Indian families. When customers think of a Kia, they expect best-in-class features, distinct design identity, and unmatched ownership experience– which is truly reflected in the Carens.”
The Carens is three-row MPV (although Kia chooses to call it a Recreational Vehicle) and can be had in six- and seven-seater avatars.
Under the bonnet, the Kia offers the choice of two petrol engines and one diesel engine. There is a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that makes 113bhp and 144Nm, and can only be had with a six-speed manual transmission. Then there is a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine that makes 138bhp and 242Nm. It can be had with a six-speed manual transmission, or a seven-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT). The last engine, and the only diesel option, is a 1.5-litre engine that makes 113bhp and 250Nm. It too can be had with a six-speed manual transmission. Alternatively, you can also have it with a 6-speed automatic transmission (torque converter).
Kia is offering the Carens in five variants – Premium, Prestige, Prestige Plus, Luxury and Luxury Plus. The one great thing is that the safety package is standard on all variants. Therefore, you get six airbags, ESC, VSM, Brake Assist, Hill Assist Control, DBC (Downhill Brake Control), disc brakes on all wheels, a basic tyre pressure monitoring system, ABS and rear parking sensors.
As far as premium features go, you get a 10.25-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone connectivity, a sunroof, drive modes, ambient lighting, an 8-speaker BOSE sound system, wireless smartphone charging, 16-inch alloy wheels. Most of these features will only be available on the top-spec Luxury Plus variant.
Once launched, the Kia Carens will rival the Hyundai Alcazar, MG Hector Plus, Tata Safari and the Mahindra XUV700. We expect it to be priced between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 20 lakh (ex-showroom).
