The First Kia Carens Unit Rolls Out Ahead Of February 2022 Launch

• Will be offered in five trims with the 7-seater layout as standard. Top-spec variants can be specced in a 6-seater layout.

• To include a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment, 64-color ambient lighting, a digitised driver’s display and a single-pane sunroof.

• Will be powered by 115PS 1.5-litre petrol, 115PS 1.5-litre diesel and 1.4-litre turbo-petrol options.

• Expect prices to start from Rs 14 lakh (ex-showroom).

With Kia set to launch the Carens in February, the carmaker has begun rolling out the MPV from its plant in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. The Carens will be offered in five trims: Premium, Prestige, Prestige Plus, Luxury, and Luxury Plus. While a 7-seater layout is standard on all trims, the 6-seater setup with captain seats is limited to the top-spec Luxury Plus.

Kia’s new ‘Opposites United’ design language makes its India debut with the Carens. Notable bits include a sleek ‘Tiger Nose’ grille, LED headlamps, snazzy LED DRLs, rugged body cladding, swirly 16-inch alloy wheels, and connected LED tail lamps. A total of eight paint options, of which three are exclusive to the Carens: Moss Brown, Sparkling Silver, and Imperial Blue. 

The Carens will be loaded with features including a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a digitised driver’s display, a single-pane sunroof, 64-color ambient lighting, automatic climate control, a wireless phone charger, and ventilated front seats. Six airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, electronic stability control, hill descent control, and tyre pressure monitoring will cover passenger safety. 

Under the hood of the Carens will be options of a 115PS 1.5-litre petrol engine, 115PS 1.5-litre diesel engine and a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol motor. A 6-speed manual will be standard for all engines, with optional 7-speed DCT ( 1.4-litre turbo-petrol) and 6-speed automatic (1.5-litre diesel) options on offer.

Bookings for the Kia Carens have been open since January 14 for a token amount of Rs 25,000 that can be paid either online or at authorised dealerships. Expect prices to start from Rs 14 lakh (ex-showroom, India), with the MPV set to rival the likes of the Maruti Suzuki XL6, Mahindra Marazzo, and select variants of the Hyundai Alcazar, Tata Safari, MG Hector Plus, and Mahindra XUV700.