The family MPV has spent the past few years being squeezed from the market by an increasing number of SUVs, but Kia has taken a slightly different approach with the Carens
The seven-seater borrows heavily from SUV styling, adds a diesel engine and a generous equipment list aimed at families who need space but don't necessarily want to drive something that looks like a traditional people carrier.
Exterior
Kia has given the Carens a more upright and substantial stance, with a broad front end and distinctive LED lighting. The company's current design language is evident in the front lighting signature, with the LED daytime running lights and headlights creating what Kia describes as a "star map" design.
The same theme carries through to the rear lighting.
The clean lines and well-proportioned exterior give it a fresh look, and while it’s not a head turner there is enough for it not to merge completely in a sea of same-looking cars on our roads.
The range-topping SX we tested rides on 17-inch alloy wheels, giving it a pleasant all-round look.
Interior
It’s the Carens’ interior that makes it stand out.
With three rows of seating and a cabin designed around carrying a family, there’s generous legroom in the second row that slides and reclines but adults will find the third row rather uncomfortable.
There’s more than enough headroom, though, for all passengers that receive roof-mounted vents with setting controls and USB-C charging ports.
With the third row folded down, there’s a vast flat surface that will comfortably swallow a family’s holiday luggage.
It also comes with electrically adjustable front seats, electronic lumbar support, three-stage heated front seats and an eight-speaker Bose sound system.
The SX gets Kia's larger 12.3-inch infotainment display alongside a 12-inch digital instrument cluster, creating a modern-looking dashboard.
The overall look and feel of the interior is a clean, well-designed space that provides enough technology that’s not overbearing.
A dual-purpose touch control strip mounted under the infotainment system changes easily between climate control functions and screen functions, providing physical buttons to easily adjust settings.
There’s a mixture of soft-touch surfaces and plastics throughout, although light upholstery will require regular attention over long-term use.
Engine and transmission
The LS is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a six-speed manual transmission, while the rest of the range is powered by Kia's 1.5-litre diesel engine, producing 85kW and 250Nm with the LX, EX and SX fitted with a six-speed automatic gearbox with a torque converter driving the front wheels.
The outputs look relatively modest but need to be considered in the context of the Carens' intended role. It is designed to carry people rather than chase performance, so the way it delivers its 250Nm of torque is more important than how fast it takes off.
Ride and handling
On cold start-up there’s an audible diesel clatter, but once it’s warmed up it is a lot more muted and hardly noticeable.
With peak torque coming into play early at 1,500rpm, it has an easy-to-use and responsive range that makes cruising and overtaking smooth and effortless, but it’s not going to push you back into your seat, which was never its design brief.
There are no funny handling issues and the overall feel behind the wheel is relaxed and predictable. Steering is light and well-weighted and perfectly suited as a family vehicle to easily negotiate parking areas.
The ride quality is rather firm but I suspect with a family and luggage it would be less so and with decent sound-deadening conversations will be easy.
With high-profile 215/55R17 rubber, a MacPherson strut front suspension and coupled torsion beam rear suspension, potholes and ubiquitous suburban speed humps are dispatched without much effort.
Another highlight is the car's fuel consumption. A small turbo-diesel engine will always be frugal, and even with some spirited driving, we returned figures of 5.6l/100km, slightly more than the claimed 5.3l/100km.
Technology and safety
All Carens models come with ABS, Electronic Stability Control and Hill Start Assist, along with multiple airbags.
The SX adds a Surround View Monitor, Blind-Spot View Monitor, Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance at the rear, Lane Keeping Assist, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist and Lane Following Assist.
It also gets Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go functionality.
Verdict
The Kia Carens makes a no-nonsense, honest case for families looking for a seven-seater without the size and costs of an SUV. It combines the practicality of a people carrier with styling and technology intended to appeal to modern SUV buyers.
There are other options, especially from Chinese brands, but with Kia’s reputation for reliability and a wide dealer network coupled with its five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and three-year/45,000km service plan, I wouldn’t hesitate to put it on my shortlist.
I would opt for the LX (R459 995) or EX (R499 995) for better value for money against the SX at R599 995.
Yes, diesel pricing remains vulnerable to oil-market and geopolitical volatility, but hopefully this too shall pass.
willem.vdputte@nationalmg.co.za