Owning a six-seater car has been a dream for me. Though we are a family of two, (just me and my mom) a six-seater might seem to be a little too much. Most of the time our humble i20 gets the job done just fine. But, there have been times when we wanted to go out with friends and family and there was no space for that extra sixth person. I believe quite a few of us have been in a similar situation. Well this Diwali season, I did not face this issue cause the Kia Carens could not only seat six, but sometimes seven people. Let me tell you about the wonderful time I had with this mighty workhorse.
Design
Firstly, let’s get the looks out of the way. You have seen plenty of reports and videos about the Carens’ design and looks. Long story short, I like it. It looks good from the front and rear, has a good road presence and the styling and equipment are quite modern. I would have still a little bit of bulk on the car and a raised hood like the Invicto/Hycross. It is not big as them but it’s not small either. The Carens has nicely carved out a space for itself between the Ertiga/Rumion and the Invicto/Hycross.
Performance & Fuel Efficiency
Our unit was the top-of-the-line Diesel with a 6-speed Torque Converter. The engine is the potent 1.5L CRDi VGT unit that we see on the Creta, Alcazar, and the Seltos. It produces 113 bhp and 250 Nm torque. In day-to-day driving, this is a very good and responsive engine. However, take it on the highway and you will notice that it takes some time to build the revs. I feel the transmission is responsible for this behavior and not the engine itself. I would have personally preferred the 6-speed iMT over this any day. However, on the bright side, you have the paddle shifters that let you take manual control and have an engaging drive.
The performance of the engine was adequate in the ghats as well. The Carens could handle the Khandala uphill climb very easily with a full load. Well, this was on the old highway and not the expressway, so hold that thought.
To top that, the diesel engine is so frugal, it will bring a smile to your face. In the city, you would get a decent fuel efficiency of 12-13 kmpl and on the highway 19-21 kmpl is achievable with a light foot. One of 84 km trip showed a mileage of 25 kmpl. Unbelievable? Here’s proof!
Ride Quality & Handling
The Carens comes with a potent suspension set-up. With a ground clearance of 195 mm, it is a tall car however, there is no body roll and the ride is not bouncy. It handles the potholes and bumps in the city pretty well. In the city, it’s a nice plush ride that will keep the family comfortable.
On the highways, the Carens is pretty planted and sturdy. It might get a little bouncy if the car is not full but it’s nothing one cannot manage. The steering could have been better as it lacks feedback and feels artificial, especially at high speeds.
The Carens is a long car and parking in tight city spaces could be a challenge. In the traffic, however, I did not find any issues maneuvering the car.
Space & Interiors
This is where the Carens shines. Our unit came with a six-seat configuration which meant it had captain seats in the second row. If you are a family of four, you will travel in the utmost comfort. But, you wouldn’t buy the Carens for four people, would you? For the larger families, the third row might not be as lavish as the second but it is comfortable for two adults. The third row is even large enough for three lean adults.
The quality of the interiors too is top-notch. The leatherette upholstery feels upmarket and the soft-touch material on the dash makes the Carens look like a segment above. Every person I drove in the Carens praised its interiors and comfort.
With all three rows up, you can still carry quite some luggage in the Carens. We had a wedding to attend and we could carry luggage for six for an overnight stay with no issues. Need more space, drop the seats and you will have enough space to carry equipment for a band. I was able to carry a couple of guitars, a keyboard, a drum kit, a sound mixer, and a lot of other peripherals that are needed for a Church choir. All in a single trip and with no hassle. That’s why I called the Carens a mighty workhorse.
Features
Typical of a Kia, the Carens is loaded to the teeth with features. Ventilated seats, air purifier, wireless charging, sunroof, charging ports for all three rows, roof mounted AC vents, one of the seats even has a airline style tray table. Cooled glove box, cooled cup holders, sunglass holder, one-touch collapsible second row, etc, etc. I could go on and on. My only complaint, give the higher variants wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Cars half the price have this feature, Kia’s own cars have it on lower variants. Its high-time we get these on higher variants as well.
Verdict
Kia calls the Carens a recreational vehicle and I can see the point they are trying to make. You can load a lot of stuff in the Carens for your adventures – camping, surfing, etc. If you are the family types, this is the perfect car to ferry the entire family in the city and take those long vacations. The price however, might seem a little steep as compared to some other cars in the segment. But, the Carens more than makes up for it by offereing class leading featues. If slapped on with ADAS and a 360-view camera, the Carens will be tough to beat in sales numbers.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Carens. I can also say the same for my family and friends who got to witness the features and comfort the Carens offers. This is one long-term car I am truly going to miss.