The Sensible, Feature-loaded Family Car

What does a car buyer do when they want a car that drives like a sedan, is as practical and spacious as an SUV, as feature-loaded as a teenager’s smartphone and as reliable as a dog’s loyalty. They buy the Kia Carens. Obviously. But what makes it such a good package if you’re looking for a practical 6/7-seater family car? Read our Kia Carens review to find out. 

Kia Carens Pros and Cons 

Kia Carens Exterior Design 

The first thing you notice about the Kia Carens is just how long it looks. With a wheelbase of 2,780 mm, the Carens is quite a striking car at first glance. The front is bold, with Piano black elements that add character to a futuristic looking front fascia. However, these piano black elements will need some TLC to ensure they don’t get swirl marks after a few washes. The shoulder lines ensure the side profile doesn’t look unfinished, and the large quarter glass in the rear almost lends the Carens a floating roofline type look. 

The rear of the Carens is the opposite of the front, because as bold as the front is, seen from the rear the Carens looks like a much smaller car. You’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a hatchback from the rear. The LED tail lamps in the rear are well done and flow seamlessly into the shoulder lines and boot lid design. Overall, the Carens won’t win any beauty pageants, but it won’t be eliminated from them either. 

Kia Carens Interiors 

The large dimensions of the Carens’ exterior translate splendidly to the interior. The front row feels like a command centre from which to pilot your ship and transport your passengers to new horizons. The materials are plush and the fit and finish exudes quality. The dual tone dash looks lovely, especially the AC vents that look like they cover the length of the cockpit. There are plenty of pockets to store all your valuables and consumables, and the sunroof is there for you to gaze up and munch on whatever road trip snacks you prefer. Unlike the Hyundai Alcazar, there is no panoramic sunroof here. The Carens even gets cooled cup holders, and I’d rather not write about the best use for these. The door pockets can hold not one, but three 1-litre bottles and there are storage bins even under the middle row seats to stow away valuables. With large doors come large windows, and this helps the already roomy cabin feel ever roomier. 

The interior isn’t perfect, though. The matte chrome finish on the dash looks out of place, and the use of piano black elements on the dashboard are prone to scratches. The AC controls are touch, and this isn’t ideal as it does take time to get used to and take your eyes off the road when you’re on the move. The Carens also misses out on ventilated seats, something the Alcazar gets. The air purifier also sits behind the driver’s seat, eliminating the foldable tray the left side middle row passenger gets. 

The abundance of space in the Carens also translates to the boot, allowing you to store a fair amount of luggage even with three rows up, and all the seats fold flat to give you a truly cavernous space to transport larger cargo. 

Kia Carens Comfort

Is the Carens a comfortable place to be in? In one word: Yes. All three rows are designed to keep passengers comfortable over long journeys. The leatherette seats are well designed and the material feels premium. The middle row slides and this helps either the passengers in the middle get more leg room to stretch out, or to create more room for those in the third row. The Carens also gets a one touch electrically folding left side middle row seat for access to the third row. 

The middle row, assuming you get the 6-seater variant, has individual armrests and the recline on them in one word, is amazing. You can really snooze in these seats over long journeys. The third row has the most amount of space owing to the long wheelbase, and even adults can sit for longer drives without needing a break. The roof-mounted AC vents in the middle row do a good job of keeping you cool, and there are enough USB ports throughout the cabin for you to charge your devices. 

Kia Carens Performance and handling

Get into the driver’s seat of the Carens, and you’ll instantly know that the car will drive like a traditional sedan. There’s good adjustability for the driver’s seat and you won’t have a hard time finding your ideal driving position. The engine is smooth, and the turbo petrol delivers power in a linear manner without any turbo kick that you’d expect from a turbo petrol. Between the diesel and petrol, the petrol is definitely the better car to drive as the diesel is only 115 bhp and does seem to run out of steam fairly quickly. Overtaking with the diesel out on the highway is cumbersome and it struggles on inclines with a full load. The petrol, with its 158 bhp and 253 Nm is the winner here. Although the Carens is built on the same platform as the Seltos and body roll is well managed, the Carens is still not as fun to drive as the Seltos given the longer wheelbase and is best suited for more sedate drivers. 

Overall, the Carens is a very easy to drive car with a light steering wheel and smooth engine characteristics. The dual clutch gearbox in the petrol isn’t as smooth and quick as say, the DSG from Volkswagen, but it’s still much better than the torque converter in the Carens diesel. Although the latter is arguably more reliable. 

Kia Carens Key specifications 

Kia Carens Safety Features

With a 3-star Global NCAP rating, the Carens is not the safest car out there, but it is safe enough to give you peace of mind. It also comes with six airbags, ESC, TPMS, parking sensors, ISOFIX, ABS etc. One big miss in the Carens is the lack of a 360 degree camera, something its cousin, the Alcazar gets. For a car of its size, it should have come as standard in the higher variants or at least as an option. 

Kia Carens Technology and Infotainment

The eight speaker Bose speaker system in the Carens ensures your drives are mellifluous and steering mounted controls mean you can change the tunes without ever taking your eyes off the road. The digital dials don’t look too great and Kia could have offered a better looking driver’s instrument cluster. The 10.25 inch touchscreen infotainment system sits flush in the front dashboard and looks classy, is easy to use, and also supports connected car tech. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay works without fuss and voice commands allow you to control a bunch of features without ever taking your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel, such as making calls. 

Is the Kia Carens for you?

The Kia Carens is a car that doesn’t shy away from accepting exactly what it is — a practical, comfortable, and feature-loaded family MPV. If you already have a hatchback/sedan and are looking to add a second car to your garage for road trips, or you’re someone looking for that one car that will do it all, the Carens may just be the perfect car for you. Whether it’s a 30 km office commute or a 3,000 km road trip across India, the Carens will get you to your destination without fuss.