Early this year, we attended the launch of the first bakkie ever produced by Kia. In a brief yet detailed presentation, we were informed about the company's future plans, where we were told about some exciting models making their debut soon in Mzansi. To bring excitement to a brand that has been fairly quiet, they exclaimed that five new nameplates would be introduced into the market as firsts. The second completely new vehicle to launch after the Tasman is this MUV called the Kia Carens.
"The Kia Carens offers everything that families could ever want, in a package that is modern, good-looking, and powered by our renowned diesel engine, which offers a great balance between performance and efficiency. We are extremely excited to add this model to our ever-expanding product range," says Paul Turnbull, CEO of Kia South Africa.
Kia, like Ferrari with the Purosangue, claims that this is not an MPV but rather a Multi-Utility Vehicle that seeks to bridge the gap not only in the brand's portfolio but also in the existing seven-seater segment. The Carens has a lot to showcase in a market segment that is hands down dominated by the likes of the Toyota Rumion and Renault Triber, but Kia believes that this car will have its own unique selling point. An honorable mention is that this will be the only vehicle available solely as a diesel option ( for now) and the only one with a manual transmission paired with a diesel engine in its segment.
A bold move, judging by the inconsistency shown by fuel prices due to the conflict between two nations that aren't seeing eye to eye. However, this could be a winning argument that there would be more longer trips to take with fewer stops at the refueling station. The car uses a 1.5-litre diesel engine, which offers 85 kW at 4,000 rpm and 250 Nm. Together with either a manual or torque converter transmission, it should produce fuel figures of around 5.0/5.3 litres per 100 km.
Kia has experienced a fairly good start to the year by achieving over 5000 thousand units sold and in the case of the Carens, it too has experienced good reception in the Indian market by registering 277 000 units in under four years which proves this vehicle to be hot property in some respects, how will it fair against its sister company alternative the Hyundai Alcazar and some newly introduced 7 seaters like the Mitsubishi will be interesting.
The exterior looks futuristic and aligns with the recent Kia design language "Opposites United. " This particular model features a closed-off Tiger-Face fascia, which one would mistake for an EV at first glance, flanked by the Star Map LED light setup we've now come to know on Kia models. Some more exterior features include 16-inch styled wheels or 17-inch crystal-cut dual-tone alloy wheels, roof rails, and four exterior colors to choose from.
Stepping into the interior, it is a spacious cabin that blends comfort, quality materials, and just enough tech for all the geeks. Here, you are met by a dual panoramic display that merges a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and a digital integrated cluster with a 12-inch TFT screen. The interior seems to have a two-tone effect for the dashboard and door cards, which appears to be a common anomaly with India-built vehicles. A good takeaway is that the cream color isn't on the seats because you either have a black cloth or leather seat option to choose from.
The interior provides ample legroom, headroom, and comfortable seating across all three rows, which may be thanks to the fairly long wheelbase of 2,780 mm ( 278 cm ). All derivatives feature ABS with Electronic Stability Control and Hill Start Assist Control. Additionally, all derivatives are fitted with a multitude of airbags, including driver, passenger, front thorax, and curtain airbags.
Packaging is very important to Kia, and with the Carens, they tried to ensure that the four derivatives are equally as specced, with the obvious case that going higher in the grades benefits you with more kit. You have to choose from a Kia Carens LS, which is available exclusively with the six-speed manual gearbox, artificial leather upholstery, an integrated storage box, and manual air conditioning.
Second up in the Carens lineup is the LX, which gains 17-inch crystal-cut dual-tone alloy wheels, electric folding mirrors, and roof rails. While the EX gets LED daytime running lights, a smart key system with push-button start, a 12.3-inch infotainment display, and front and rear park distance warning. Right at the top of the range, the SX gains electric driver seat adjustment, smart cruise control with stop -and- go functionality, electric windows with safety control for the driver and passenger, and front heated seats with three-level control. Ahead of the driver is a larger digital 12" TFT integrated LCD cluster display, and a Bose premium sound system that includes a total of eight speakers to keep passengers entertained.
The SX also adds a long list of innovative ADAS features to the standard safety offering, including a Surround View Monitor, Blind-Spot View Monitor, Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance at the rear, Lane Keeping Assist, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, and Lane Following Assist.
Pricing
| Model | Recommended Retail price incl. VAT |
| Carens 1.5D seven-seater LS 6MT | R399,995 |
| Carens 1.5D seven-seater LX 6AT | R459,995 |
| Carens 1.5D seven-seater EX 6AT | R499,995 |
| Carens 1.5D seven-seater SX 6AT | R599,995 |
All Carens models are sold as standard with Kia’s industry leading five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty (inclusive of road side assistance) as well as a three-year/45 000km service plan.