The Kia Carens became the talk of the town when it made its first public appearance in December 2021. Here was what seemed like yet another seven-seater MPV on paper, but in the real world it was just as unique as its moniker. With its name being derived from the words ‘car’ and ‘renaissance’, the Kia Carens is dubbed as the combination of an MPV and SUV, with the term ‘recreational vehicle’ added into the mix as well. After its launch in February 2022, the Carens has become an enormous success for the Korean brand. It has garnered over 50,000 bookings in a span of just two months and it is breaking new ground in the seven-seater segment because of what it offers at such an appealing price.
Offered in both 6- and 7-seater configurations, it is available in no less than 19 variants and five trim levels. With the Carens, you have the option of three powertrains — the 1.5-litre nat-asp petrol engine, the enthusiast’s favourite 1.4-litre turbo-petrol unit and the 1.5-litre turbo-diesel that will be adored by cross country travellers. The 1.5-litre nat-asp motor will be offered with a sole 6-speed manual transmission and it will be offered in the ‘Premium’ and ‘Prestige’ variants.
The 1.4-litre turbo-petrol manual will be offered in all variants, while the 7-speed DCT will be available in the ‘Prestige Plus’ and ‘Luxury Plus’ variants. Similarly the 1.5-litre diesel manual will be offered in all variants, but the 6-speed automatic will be offered in just the top-end ‘Luxury Plus’ trim level.
There’s a very strong emphasis on safety and the Kia Carens is designed to be one of the safest cars in the country. There’s a boat load of safety kit standard on any Carens that you wish to buy with its ‘Robust 10 Hi-safety’ package. You might want to grab a breath now, because 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), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Rear Parking Sensors, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and All-Wheel disc brakes! Additionally, the Kia Carens will also receive ISOFIX-child anchor mounts. Phew.
When it comes to the safety of its customers, Kia surely hasn’t skimped at all. The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is a feature that protects the car from loss of traction, it works by manipulating both the engine throttle and each of the wheel’s brakes. Similarly, Hill Assist Control (HAC) and Downhill Brake Control (DBC) let you confidently drive on uphill and downhill roads. The Hill-Assist Control maintains the brake pressure for a set period of time as you switch from the brakes to the accelerator.
Once you press the accelerator, it releases the brake and lets you drive uphill, not letting the car roll backwards. Additionally, the Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) ensures occupant safety by offering stability to the car when the driver must perform sudden braking and turns. Continuing this focus on safety, the company has also offered front parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers with the Carens, and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System which informs you when it senses a drop in the pressure of any of your tyres, giving utmost confidence to the driver at all times and allowing them to fully focus on road conditions ahead.
According to the MoRTH (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), A total number of 4,49,002 accidents took place in the country during the calendar year 2019 leading to 1,51,113 deaths and 4,51,361 injuries. The source also shows that these numbers, sadly, continue to grow each and every year. India ranks first in the number of road accident deaths across the world accounting for almost 11 per cent of accident related deaths. That is one fact that we surely shouldn’t be proud of.
Automakers are taking safety very seriously now and Kia has been at the forefront of it. The Carens, with all its safety propositions, is one car that should definitely be high up on your consideration list if you’re looking to buy a feature loaded people-mover. Its standard safety features show that safety is not just an added bonus anymore. Rather, it is the basic requirement.