Live updates: 2022 Kia Carens launch, price reveal, interiors, mileage, specifications, engine, features, safety
We've spent a fair amount of time with the Kia Carens already, the automaker's third product for India, and its first MPV. Head here if you want to read about the country's newest people mover, and how both the diesel and turbo-petrol variants perform in real-world test conditions, including the all-important fuel efficiency numbers, and performance figures. Today, we learn where the Kia Carens has been priced at, especially in relation to its cousin the Hyundai Alcazar, and we're bringing you all the updates right from the launch of the 2022 Kia Carens, right here.
Launched! Introductory pricing for the Kia Carens begins at Rs 8.99 lakh, going up to Rs 16.99 lakh, ex-showroom.
As a reminder, the Kia Carens sets a segment-first in offering six airbags, and ESP as standard. This apart from a full suite of connected tech.
With bookings for the Carens having begun a month back, Kia is committed to on-time deliveries. Third shift at the manufacturer's Anantpur plant is set to begin to ramp up production.
The six-seater with its two captain's chairs has a slight edge, these seats are a touch more generous with their under-thigh and come with separate armrests. This configuration also works well with the narrower width of this K2 platform than rivals like the Tata Safari and MG Hector Plus.
The enhanced dimensions, combined with the longer rear overhang, has brought with it a greater sense of space inside the Kia Carens even though it is no wider than the Seltos.
Related to the Hyundai Alcazar, the Kia Carens is the slightly larger of the two cars, also offering more differentiation versus the Seltos SUV, if one were to compare the Hyundai Creta/Alcazar as reference. Coming in at 4,540mm long, 1,800mm wide, 1,708mm tall and on a 2,780mm wheelbase, the Kia Carens rides on a 20mm longer wheelbase than the Hyundai Alcazar, and is additionally 40mm longer, 10mm wider and 33mm taller.
The Carens' engine options are the same as the Seltos and the Creta. The 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated petrol from the Alcazar has been given a miss here but the top spec engine option is the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol that puts out 140PS and 242Nm. This pairs with a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DCT. The diesel engine option is a 1.5-litre unit that puts out 115PS and 250Nm, mated to a six-speed manual or torque converter. The base engine option is a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol that makes 115PS and 144Nm and is only available with the manual.
Bookings for the Kia Carens opened on January 14th 2022, and the company registered over 7,700 orders on the first day itself.
The Kia Carens is the first of the brand's cars in India to be designed around its newer, more organic design philosophy that first debuted globally with the EV6.
