The Kia Carens is alive and now a crossover
The Kia Carens was quite popular in the Philippine market back when it was first introduced locally in the mid-2000’s, until it was eventually discontinued in favor of the then growing, and now very popular crossover segments.
Kia has just resurrected the Carens nameplate and it’s no longer the small MPV it used to be. Revealed in India and now in its fourth generation, the Kia Carens is now a crossover, and still with three-row seating.
Looking at the outside, the 2022 Kia Carens is a huge departure from the last generation model, with a much bolder exterior look, inspired by the latest Kia Sportage. In front a very modern looking set of LED daytime running lights, headlights, and fog lights. The side features some plastic body cladding for a more rugged look while the rear gets an edgier design.
Inside, the all-new Carens features a much more premium dashboard design. Unlike many new interior designs, the infotainment system, controlled through a 10.25-inch screen, is well integrated into the dashboard. Among its features include mood lighting (with 64 color options), 8-speaker Bose audio system, and one-touch easy tumble 2nd row seats.
Under the hood, the Kia Carens can be had with three different powertrain options, two petrol engines and one diesel. The first is a 1.5L naturally-aspirated petrol that makes 115 hp and 144 Nm of torque. Next is a 1.4L turbo petrol that produces 140 hp and 242 Nm of torque. Lastly, the diesel option is a 1.5L turbodiesel that just like the naturally-aspirated petrol makes 115 hp, but with 240 Nm of torque. Transmission options for the petrol engines are a 6-speed manual or 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The diesel on the other hand is exclusively available with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The 2022 Kia Carens will first be made available in India in the first quarter of next year. Other markets are expected to follow after. Given its status as a global model, it won’t be surprising to see the Carens nameplate return to the Kia Philippines lineup. If ever, it should be able to compete directly with established models such as the Toyota Rush, Honda BR-V, and Mitsubishi Xpander Cross, just to name a few.
