Kia Carens

The Carens was the first mass-market MPV to be introduced by the Korean carmaker in India. It was launched back in 2022, and shares its platform with the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. Although Kia doesn’t refer to it in conventional terms like an SUV or an MPV, given its ability to seat seven people with plentiful focus on practicality and cabin space, we prefer to call it an MPV.

It was recently given a midlife refresh, following which it is now called the ‘Carens Clavis’. However, Kia offers the pre-facelift Carens in a single variant for those who want a practical MPV on a budget.

At launch, the Kia Carens has divided opinions among car enthusiasts and buyers alike due to its polarising design. However, we feel the design has grown on us now and the MPV looks mature and pleasing. 

It sports a split-headlight design with halogen headlights, body coloured front bumper, and a large air dam with a chrome surround. Since it’s offered only in a single lower-spec variant, it misses out on niceties such as LED headlamps and DRLs. 

What makes its MPV stance the most obvious are the flat shoulder line, plus-sized glass panels, tall-boy roof, and big rear doors. That said, it is offered with either 15-inch wheels with silver-finished covers (on the petrol version) or 16-inch wheels with covers (diesel).

The design is relatively sober at the rear, with the main elements being connected taillights (without an illuminated centre strip) and a chrome insert in the body coloured bumper.

Kia now offers the Carens in six colours: Imperial Blue, Aurora Black Pearl, Sparkling Silver, Gravity Grey, Clear White, and Pewter Olive.

Design & Quality

The Carens’ cabin features a dual-tone black and beige cabin theme with dark blue accents, brushed silver accents, and two digital displays. Although it has some good quality plastic panels and good quality black and dark blue upholstery, it doesn’t really feel as premium as that of the previously offered higher-spec variants.

In the front row, you get a high seating position, though without the commanding bonnet view seen in SUVs like the Seltos or Sonet. The broad, wraparound dashboard seamlessly extends into the doors, creating a cocooned cabin feel that’s reminiscent of the Kia Carnival.

The second row is well thought out, with a slightly raised seat base for better under-thigh support and sliding/reclining seats that suit most body types. However, the seat-back is intentionally kept low to offer better visibility for third-row passengers, which may leave taller occupants wanting more shoulder support. On the upside, the large side window offers the best outside view in the cabin.

The third row is surprisingly adult-friendly. It can seat three tall adults (around 6 feet) in succession without much compromise on knee or headroom. Ingress and egress are made easy through a wide rear door, low floor, tumble-forward second-row seats, and an electric release for the left middle seat in both configurations.

Features

Despite being a mid-spec variant, the Carens comes with features that will satisfy most users. 

Kia now offers the Carens with an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a semi-digital driver’s display, all four power windows, and a 6-speaker sound system. 

That said, the variant trimming of the MPV has robbed it of premium technology such as a  larger touchscreen infotainment system, ventilated front seats, an electric sunroof, and even an air purifier. If you want all these features and more in your MPV, you can pick the Carens Clavis.

The Kia Carens was tested by Global NCAP in 2022, where it secured a decent 3-star safety rating. However, the MPV was re-tested under stringent norms in 2024 and that rating dropped to a disappointing 0 stars. 

It comes with a wide array of safety features such as six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), hill-start assist control (HAC), a highline tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and a reverse parking camera.

The Carens, however, misses out on advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) which have been introduced on the Carens Clavis (Level 2). Key features of this set include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane keep assist.

Even with all three rows in place, there’s room for a medium trolley and a couple of soft bags. Fold the last row down, and it opens up enough space for your family’s luggage. You also get an underfloor compartment that's useful for storing shoes or other smaller belongings.

Kia is now offering the Carens with two engine options: a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and a 1.5-litre diesel engine with a manual gearbox only. A CNG kit for the Kia Carens is available at the dealership level, for a price of Rs 77,900.

You can take a look at the detailed specifications here:

The diesel engine is refined and offers decent performance, but don’t expect any excitement out of it. It’s for those looking to simply cruise and commute as it feels effortless and returns a good mileage too.

The petrol version is for those who prefer ease of driving in the city and on the highway. We have driven this powertrain in many cars and it is one of the best options for a laid back driving experience. 

Kia continues to offer the pre-facelift Carens in a single Premium (O) trim but in two sub-variants, depending on the engine option that is chosen. Prices of the Carens range from Rs 11.41 lakh to Rs 13.26 lakh (ex-showroom pan-India).