Kia Carens, the made-in-India 6/7-seater family car from the South Korean automaker, is ready for its India launch. Prices of the model are reported to be announced in February and its deliveries might begin in early March. Ahead of its official arrival, the Carens has started reaching at Kia dealerships across the nation. Its production is already underway at the company’s Anantapur-based facility in Andhra Pradesh. Buyers can pre-book the model by paying a token sum of Rs 25,000.
Touted as a ‘Recreational Vehicle’ (RV), the Carens will be made available in Premium, Prestige, Prestige Plus, Luxury and Luxury Plus trims. It can be had either with 6-seat or 7-seat configuration (vary variant-wise). The model lineup will come with the 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol, 1.4L turbo petrol and 1.5L diesel engines making 115bhp with 144Nm, 140bhp with 242Nm and 115bhp with 250Nm respectively. A 6-speed manual gearbox will come as standard, while a 7-speed DCT and 6-speed torque convertor automatic transmission will be reserved for the turbo-petrol and diesel variants.
The upcoming Kia Carens has the longest wheelbase in its segment measuring 2780mm. It’s 40mm, 30mm and 20mm longer than the Maruti XL6, Toyota Innova Crysta and Hyundai Alcazar respectively. The long wheelbase ensures ample space for second and third row occupants. The model has been equipped with lots of goodies including a digital instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bose sound system, wireless phone charger, ventilated front seats, seat back tray tables and 64 colour ambient lighting.
The standard safety kit of the Carens includes 6 airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), a tyre pressure monitoring system, Isofix child seat mounts and front and rear disc brakes. Fitments such as front and rear parking sensors and a rear view camera are exclusively offered on higher trims. The upcoming Kia 6/7-seater family car is estimated to cost between Rs 12 lakh – Rs 19 lakh (ex-showroom).
