Kia India has set a new standard and has brought about a positive change in vehicle safety with the launch of the Kia Carens. The ‘Robust 10 Hi-Safety Package, ‘ as Kia India likes to call it, offers high-end safety features which are skipped in most mainstream cars. Not only are these best-in-class safety features, but they are also available right from the base variant of the Carens. So, what is Kia India’s “Robust 10 Hi-Safety Package”? Let’s have a look.
A point worth mentioning is that these features are over and above the steps Kia India has taken to strengthen the Carens’ skeletal structure by using 34% Advanced High Strength Steel. This gives the Carens extra rigidity and strength along with added stability. As the name suggests, the Robust 10 Hi-Safety Package is a suite of 10 high-end safety features that aid Kia Carens’ safety. Here are all the 10 features and how they make an impact in enhancing the safety of the Carens.
Six Airbags
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has made it mandatory for OEMs to equip all cars with six airbags starting Oct 2022. However, Kia India was the first company to offer this feature as standard with the Carens. This shows the brand’s commitment to building safer cars for India. The Carens gets two airbags in the front, i.e. one each for the driver and the co-driver passenger, two side curtain airbags for the front row and two side curtain airbags for the second row. The airbags get deployed in case of a collision, creating a barrier between the passenger and the hard surface of the vehicle, thereby preventing fatal injuries.
All-Four Disc Brakes
We all know that disc brakes are much safer than regular drum brakes, but do you know why? For starters, disc brakes require less effort to stop the car. They generate much less heat when applied and cool down faster, reducing the chances of brake failure. Since disc brakes are outside the wheel rim, they are much easier to maintain as the brake pads can be checked easily without the hassle of opening the wheels. Disc brakes also function much better under hard braking. All these features of the disc brake system make it to all four wheels of the Kia Carens, thus enhancing the overall safety.
Electronic Stability Control
As the name suggests, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) helps improve a vehicle’s stability. The ESC compliments the all-four disc brakes of the Carens. ESC is like a little computer that automatically detects the loss of traction in the car. Post the detection, the system applies brakes to all 4 wheels individually and as per the requirement, preventing understeering or oversteering in case of a skid. It also reduces the engine power until the driver regains vehicle control.
Vehicle Stability Management
Vehicle Stability Management or VSM further enhances the stability of the Kia Carens. VSM ensures that the vehicle is stable even after the traction on all four wheels becomes unstable and helps the driver gain control of the car faster. It plays more of a helping act to the ESC. VSM is primarily engaged when driving on a slippery road or a surface with low traction hence complementing the ESC.
Hill Assist Control
Hill Assist Control or HAC prevents the Carens from rolling back when driving uphill. If the car is at a halt on an uphill drive, the HAC keeps the brakes applied even after the driver has released the brake. This gives the driver enough time to accelerate the vehicle gradually. Not only does it provides confidence to the driver to manoeuvre the car smoothly on an uphill, but it also prevents any possible collisions with the vehicle behind.
Downhill Brake Control
While the HAC helps the driver control the car better while driving uphill, Downhill Brake Control (DBC) allows the driver to control the vehicle while going downhill. With DBC, the driver has to focus on steering the car properly in the lane, and the brakes are automatically operated by the vehicle depending on the downhill slope. Furthermore, the system smartly switches the feature off when the speed is picked up so that the driver does not experience intrusive braking.
Brake Assist System
The Brake Assist System or BA in the Kia Carens enhances the car’s braking power. BA is an automatic braking system that comes into action only in cases of panic braking. The system learns the driver’s braking behaviour over a period of time and can tell the difference between normal stop braking and panic braking. In an emergency, when drivers need to depress the brakes hard immediately, there might be chances when the brake is not fully depressed owing to the driver’s reaction time. In these cases, the BA comes into play which applies additional force to the brakes and helps the vehicle come to a complete stop much faster and at a shorter distance, avoiding a collision.
Anti-lock Braking System
As we know in the past several years, ABS enhances the safety of the vehicle in emergency braking, especially on slippery roads. The Kia Carens is equipped with this must-have safety feature which prevents the brakes from locking up when brakes are applied. The system also ensures that the driver has steering control to manoeuver the vehicle and avoid a collision.
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
Most vehicle users usually ignore tyre pressure. We cannot stress enough how important it is to have the proper tyre pressure in your vehicle. Incorrect tyre pressure not only affects the performance and mileage of the car but can also compromise the safety in case of a mishap. Over-filling the tyres can lead to tyre bursting at high speeds, while low tyre pressure can reduce traction and affect the steering response as it gets challenging to steer a vehicle with lower tyre pressure. The TPMS on the Kia Carens constantly monitors the tyre pressure and gives the driver a prompt whenever the pressure is not within the recommended range, hence, avoiding any tyre-related mishap with the user.
Reverse Parking Sensors
The Kia Carens is a long car with a 4.5 m length. Reversing a longer car is a bit difficult, especially when you do not have a spotter. That is why the Carens comes equipped with reverse parking sensors as a standard fitment. While you might not be able to see the obstructions behind the car, the Carens’ audio cues can help you determine the car’s distance from the obstacles or other vehicles. Not only does this feature help the owner avoid any collisions, but it also gives you an effortless parking experience.
The Carens sure has pushed the game when it comes to safety. The brand’s commitment to producing safer cars is evident from the fact that a package like the ‘Robust 10 Hi-Safety Package’ is offered right from the entry-level variant. This sets a benchmark for other OEMs to follow suit and make better and safer cars for India.