Kia Carens CNG launched in India at Rs 12.12 lakh — Price, engine and boot space explained
- 1It is offered exclusively on the Carens' Premium (O) trim
- 2CNG-MT variant costs Rs 1 lakh more than the equivalent petrol-MT trim
- 360-litre CNG tank under the boot floor cuts luggage space from 216L to 116L
Kia India has launched the factory-fitted CNG version of the Carens in India at a starting price of Rs 12,11,800, ex-showroom. The new version adds a manufacturer-backed CNG option to the three-row MPV and is launched alongside the Carens Clavis CNG. With this launch, Kia is expanding its powertrain options in India and adding more options.
Kia Carens CNG price and variant
The Carens CNG is available only in the Premium (O) trim and is priced at Rs 12.12 lakh, ex-showroom. This is Rs 1 lakh more than the petrol-MT version of the same trim, which is priced at Rs 11.12 lakh. Kia has not added the CNG option to any other Carens variant for now.
Compared with its rivals, the Carens CNG is around Rs 43,000 more expensive than the Toyota Rumion CNG, while it is Rs 49,000 cheaper than the Maruti XL6 CNG. The Maruti Ertiga CNG has the lowest starting price in this comparison, ranging from Rs 10.94 lakh to Rs 12 lakh. This puts the Carens CNG towards the higher end of the segment, but it still costs less than the XL6 CNG.
Kia Carens CNG engine and performance
The Carens CNG uses a Smartstream G1.5 engine paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox. In CNG mode, it produces 96 PS and 123 Nm of torque. The output is lower than the petrol version of the same engine, which is a common difference with CNG powertrains. The engine has been tuned specifically for CNG use, with a focus on efficiency and everyday driving.
The CNG system gets a 60-litre tank and works alongside the existing petrol fuel system. This gives the Carens a dual-fuel setup, allowing owners to switch between CNG and petrol when needed.
Kia Carens CNG — What's retained despite the CNG tank
The factory-fitted CNG tank is placed under the boot floor. The 60-litre tank reduces boot space from 216 litres to 116 litres. But Kia has managed to retain the spare tyre even after adding the factory-fitted CNG system. This is useful for buyers who regularly travel long distances and want to have a spare wheel available. The company has also modified the third-row seat-back frame to improve the recline angle for passengers sitting in the last row.
Kia Carens CNG features and mechanical changes
The Carens CNG shares several CNG-specific features with the Carens Clavis CNG. These include CNG Distance to Empty (DTE) information in the instrument cluster and a dedicated CNG Fuel Change Switch.
The MPV gets 16-inch wheels and larger 16-inch front disc brakes. Kia has also made changes to the suspension and engine calibration to handle the additional weight of the CNG system.
A 4.2-inch colour TFT multi-information display with CNG DTE information is also part of the updated instrument cluster.
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