The Kia Carens has been globally unveiled. This new three-row SUV from the Korean manufacturer will make it to dealerships in early 2022.
The Carens will be the fourth offering from Kia India. It is the first car in their line-up to be styled along the lines of the new Kia design path. Bold lines and tasteful elements enrich the car’s exterior design and things get better on the inside. The Carens’ design philosophy is based on Kia’s new ‘opposites united’ approach and it retains the manufacturer’s signature ‘Tiger Nose’ grille which has now received a modern twist. Other prominent styling elements include DRLs, LED headlights and tail-lights, 16-inch alloy wheels and contoured bumpers with chrome garnishes.
The Kia Carens will be offered with both petrol and diesel engine options along with choices of transmission. The Smartstream 1.4 T-GDi petrol engine develops 140 hp and 242 Nm of peak torque, and it can be mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed DCT. Meanwhile, the Smartstream 1.5-litre petrol engine makes 115 hp and 144 Nm of peak torque and comes paired with a six-speed manual transmission only. Yes, there is a diesel engine too, namely the 1.5-litre CRDi VGT mill and it churns out 115 hp and 250 Nm of peak torque. Transmission options for this engine include a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. Paddle shifters are available on the top-end models that are equipped with a DCT or automatic transmission while driving modes will be offered only with the top-shelf DCT models. The Carens is essentially a three-row version of the popular Seltos SUV and it will reach showrooms from early 2022. 
A long wheelbase promises ample room for six or seven people inside; depending on which layout one chooses. The cabin is spacious and rather well-equipped. The latest in infotainment can be accessed using a large 10.25-inch touchscreen that relays sound through an eight-speaker Bose sound system. Kia claim that premium materials have been used for the upholstery and touch points within the cabin. Kia have also included a few thoughtful features for the Indian market including fold-away cup holders, mini-table for the second row and an electric tumble seat that provides easy access to the third row of the car. It was claimed that the space in the third row is quite generous and we will put it to the test when we get to drive the car.
Kia India have showed their commitment to safety by offering six airbags as standard and additionally, the Carens is also equipped with safety features such as ESC, VSM, hill-start assist, hill-descent assist, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and disc brakes all around. Kia India further confirmed that they are aware of the long waiting periods for their cars due to post-pandemic logistics problems and will do their best to reduce it significantly for the Kia Carens.
Once launched, it will be interesting to see how the three-row Kia takes on the Hyundai Alcazar, the Mahindra XUV700 and the Tata Safari.
Story: Joshua Varghese
Also read: Kia Introduce the Top Trim X Line Seltos
