Kia Carens makes global debut

The Kia Carens is the Korean carmaker’s all-new MPV, which, when launched, will step into the frugal mid-size three-row crossover-SUV segment.

Kia has taken the wraps off the highly anticipated MPV, the Carens. Kia has already started accepting bookings for the new MPV, and an official price launch is expected sometime next month.

At the global unveil, Kia has just showcased the car and revealed the feature list of the Carens. However, engine specifications and power figures are still under wraps. Kia officials have confirmed that the Carens will be available in both petrol and diesel versions.

Both the petrol and diesel options will have an optional automatic transmission as well. The automatic petrol variant will be paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto, which also does duty in the Kia Seltos turbo-petrol. The automatic variant of the diesel variant will feature a six-speed torque converter unit, which is also available in the Seltos and Sonet diesel-auto.

Kia officials have also confirmed that the mechanicals of the Carens have received some attention, and the firm has equipped the MPV with a more durable clutch pack. The braking hardware of the Carens has also seen some updates, and the officials claim that the system is more durable, making it suitable for our Indian road conditions.

Moving to its styling, Kia says that the Carens is the first product from the firm that has adopted the brand’s new design philosophy. Most likely, similar styling is expected with the Kia Seltos facelift, when the mid-size SUV arrives.

Just like its cousin, the Hyundai Alcazar, the Kia Carens will be available in a six or seven-seat layout. It is the six-seat variant that offers captain seats with individual armrests in the middle row. The passengers in the second row also get a pop-out table, which has an integrated cup and a tablet holder.

Kia claims that the Carens has the longest wheelbase in its class, which is likely to free up some legroom for the passengers in the third row. However, we will reserve our judgement about that until we get our hands on the Carens.

The passengers upfront will have access to a 10.25-inch multimedia system, which features Android Auto, Apple Carplay, and Kia’s own connected tech in an updated form. Some of the key features include ventilated seats in the front, an eight-speaker Bose audio system, ambient lighting, LED headlamps and taillamps, drive modes, and a sunroof. 

The dashboard layout is different from that of the Kia Seltos, suggesting that Kia hasn’t cut corners. The dashboard gets gloss black and aluminium inserts and sports a wrap-around design. The instrument cluster here is an all-digital unit.

The Kia Carens gets six airbags as standard, along with a disc brake unit for all four wheels. Other safety features include hill-hold, electronic stability program, and ABS.

When launched, the Kia Carens will directly rival the Hyundai Alcazar, MG Hector Plus, Tata Safari, and Mahindra XUV700.

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