After the Seltos, Carnival, and Sonet, the Kia Carens will be the company's fourth car for the Indian market. The Kia Carens is a blend of MPV and SUV with three-rows. The vehicle will target larger families that want a big car with lots of features.
There will be fierce competition between Kia Carens, Tata Safari, Mahindra XUV700, and Hyundai Alcazar. Each of these cars are launched in India this year and aims to make inroads into the sub-20 lakhs, three-row SUV segment, which many believe has much growth potential.
In addition to the global debut, Kia chose India as the first market for Carens, indicating the Koreans' importance to this market.
The Tiger Nose grille is common to many of Kia Carens' siblings. But there is a definite focus on combining design elements that differentiate a recreational vehicle from a conventional SUV. Straight lines, chrome accents, large wheel arches, and LED lighting are all exterior features.
With the longest wheelbase among three-row SUVs in its class, the Kia Carens will offer more interior space for passengers. The front of the car has an H-shaped humanity line with elegant chrome trim and LED fog lamps flanking a big grille with chrome accents.
The rear end features LED tail lights, a chrome reflector, and a massive black bumper. Silver, Brown, and Blue are the new color options.
Cabin and features
Kia's wraparound dashboard with piano black-finished pieces is the most notable design element. The side doors also have chrome additions. The interior has 64-colour lighting.
Under the light beige and indigo upholstery, there's room for bottles and an umbrella. A dedicated clip for air fresheners and Kia spotlights in the second and third rows make it look premium.
Also, there's an extra tray in the second row with slots for smartphones and tablets. The car also has ventilated front seats, smart air purification, and Kia Connect app support.
There is a diffuser on the rear AC vents. One-touch tumble function on 2nd-row seats for last row passengers.
Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and UVO Connect are just technologies that enhance the premium cabin's appeal in the all-digital instrument cluster. This car has Over-the-Air (OTA) software updates. The cabin also has an eight-speaker BOSE premium sound system.
Safety features
Safety features include All-Wheel Disc brakes, downhill brake control, tire pressure Monitoring System, Vehicle Stability Management, Hill-start Assist Control, and Electronic Stability Control. It also has Driver Assistance and Hi-Secure safety features.
Engine and transmission
The Kia Carens will be available with a choice of petrol/diesel engines similar to Kia Seltos, as well as three different drive modes. There are six-speed automatic, manual, and DCT gearbox options.
