Kia India is ready to launch the Carens 6/7-seater ‘Recreational Vehicle’ (RV) in coming weeks. Official bookings for the model have already been commenced at a token amount of Rs 25,000. Interestingly, it has become the first Kia model to receive the highest first day bookings of over 7,700. The Kia Carens will come in Premium, Prestige, Prestige Plus, Luxury and Luxury Plus trims and it’s estimated to cost between Rs 16 lakh – Rs 20 lakh (ex-showroom).
When launched, it will take on the Hyundai Alcazar along with the Maruti XL6 and Toyota Innova Crysta. Similar to the Alcazar, the Carens has been designed on the stretched version of the Creta/Seltos’ platform. However, both models look different and have slightly different feature list.
Here’re key features of the Kia Carens which are not available on the Hyundai Alcazar.
– Longer Wheelbase
Dimensionally, the new Kia 6/7-seater car measures 4540mm in length, 1800mm in width and 1700mm in height with a wheelbase of 2780mm. It’s longer, wider and taller than the Alcazar and have 20mm longer wheelbase. In fact, its wheelbase is longer than the Toyota Innova Crysta.
– One-touch tumble down
The Carens is the first car in its segment to offer one-touch tumble down feature for the second row seats.
– More standard safety fitments
Compared to the Alcazar, the new Kia SUV has more standard safety features including 6 airbags, hill start assist, ABS, ESC, disc brakes, tyre pressure monitoring system and rear parking sensors.
– Turbo-petrol engine
Both SUVs come with 1155bhp, 144Nm, 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol and 115bhp, 250Nm, 1.5L diesel engine options. The Carens has also been offered with the 140bhp, 242Nm, 1.4L turbocharged petrol engine that can be had with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT gearbox.
Here’re key features which are miss out on the Kia Carens.
– Wireless charging for 2nd row occupants
Hyundai’s Alcazar offers wireless smartphone charging for the second row passengers, while it misses out on the Carens.
– 360 degree camera with blind spot monitor
The Alcazar has also been equipped with a 360 degree camera with blind spot monitor.
– Panoramic sunroof
Unlike the Alcazar that comes with the voice controlled, panoramic sunroof, the Kia 6/7-seater SUV has a single pane sunroof.
– Traction control modes
The higher trims of the Alcazar are exclusively offered with the three traction control modes – Snow, Sand and Mud.
– Paddle shifters
Hyundai’s 7-seater SUV comes with paddle shifters, which are misses out on the Carens.
– Smaller Alloys
The lower variants of the Alcazar get 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, while 18-inch units are offered on the Platinum and Signature trims. Kia’s Carens Premium and Prestige variants have been equipped with 16-inch steel wheels and the Prestige Plus, Luxury and Luxury Plus trims come with 16-inch alloy wheels.
