Korean carmaker Kia has taken the wraps off what will be its fourth car in India. The Carens 3-row MPV will follow the Seltos, Carnival and Sonet in the market and will compete against the likes of Hyundai Alcazar, MG Hector Plus and Maruti Suzuki XL6 in the 3-row MPV space. According to Kia, the car will be launched in the early part of 2022 and will come with Petrol and Diesel engines, each getting Manual as well as automatic gearbox options. The engines will be shared with the Seltos, which was Kia’s first car in India and has been a runaway success.
DESIGN
The exterior of the Carens carries the company’s latest design philosophy—’Opposites United.’ The front shows a sporty and stable stance with high-tech details. The DRL in the headlamps is designed based on Kia’s new signature lighting concept—‘The Star Map’. The horizontal chrome garnish in the upper grille and the frame-type chrome garnish in the lower bumper is quite reminiscent of what we’ve seen on cars from the brand till now. On the profile, a pushed back A-pillar and a straight roofline gives the Carens the look of an SUV. It gets 16” dual-tone crystal cut alloy wheels as well as two-tone side door garnish. On the rear, the bumper gets a chrome garnish with a diamond knurling pattern and a skid plate in black premium hi-gloss. An integrated spoiler with a hi-gloss black side cover also finds a place on the rear. Three new colours have been introduced on the Carens—imperial blue, moss brown, and sparkling silver.
INTERIORS
Kia says the cabin offers generous headroom as a multi-seater vehicle. The car will come in 6 or 7 seat options, with the middle row getting either a bench seat or captain seats. The company is claiming that the Carens will come with the longest wheelbase in its class. Just like any other car from Kia in India, this one too is loaded with features. These include a 10.25” HD touchscreen with navigation and next-generation Kia connect, single-wing type AC vents and a black high gloss dashboard. The cabin also comes with paddle shifters, a smartphone wireless charger with a cooling function, rear door sunshade curtains and 5 USB C type charging slots.
Apart from this the Carens also gets a Bose premium sound system with 8 speakers, 64-colour ambient mood lighting, smart pure air purifier with virus and bacteria protection, ventilated front seats, 2nd Row seat one-touch easy electric tumble and a skylight sunroof. For increased practicality, the car also gets a sliding-type seat undertray, retractable seatback table, rear door spot lamp and a bottle and gadget holder in the third row. The second row also features recline and slide functions while the third-row seats can be flattened in the boot to ensure maximum cargo space.
KIA CONNECT
With Carens, the connected car platform gets a complete revamp with the next-generation Kia Connect app, which replaces the previous UVO system. Kia Connect now hosts updated and with added safety and convenience. One of the major updates with Kia Connect is the enhancement of the OTA (Over the Air) map and system updates, which is now capable of updating software without visiting the Kia workshop. The Carens will come equipped with more than 60 connected car features and the AVNT of the vehicle now supports ten native languages.
SAFETY
The Carens comes with a hi-secure safety package, a first in India. Included as standard across all trims of the Carens are six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), vehicle stability management (VSM), hill-assist control (HAC), downhill brake control (DBC), brake assist system (BAS), Highline TPMS and all-wheel disc brakes. While the ESC protects the car from the loss of traction, HAC and DBC let drivers confidently drive on uphill and downhill roads. Additionally, the VSM ensures occupant safety by offering stability to the car when the driver must perform sudden braking and turns. The company has also offered front-parking sensors and rain-sensing wipers with the car.
The writer is senior editor at Carandbike.com.
