CARS: KIA CARENS
KIA South Africa has continued with the promise it made at the beginning of the year to introduce new cars this year by bringing the Carens that can load up to seven passengers.
This car enters the category of Kia that they call multi-utility vehicle (MUV). Some companies call this type of vehicle multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). It will be a competitor of Toyota Rumion, Suzuki Ertiga, Hyundai Alcazar, Mitsubishi Destinator and others.
This is not the first time Carens is selling in South Africa as it was sold in 2006 but then disappeared.
The current launch is the fourth model to go on sale in India, where it is due in 2022.
There are LS, LX, EX and SX.
They differ in what they come with but what they have in common is the engine installed under the bonnet. All have 1.5l turbo diesel with 85kW power and 250Nm torque. The gearbox is a 6-speed manual on the LS and a 6-speed automatic on the others.
I drove the SX automatic in Johannesburg when it was launched this week and felt it showed plenty of power. If you want to pass other cars, you have to give it a little time to pull the power properly and then pass, but maybe it will be better if the engine has started properly because it was still new.
The bumps were hiding their sound inside. It helps that the height is 195mm and to see the road clearly.
The one we were driving had less than 200 kilometers on it and on diesel it was showing that it consumes 6.3l/100km. They say it consumes 5.3l/100km (5.0l/100km in the manual). With a tank they say you travel 850km.
If you look at the front of the Carens, you can tell it’s an electric car because of the way the grille is built up as if it’s closed.
It has LED headlights and daytime running lights with an integrated line.
The LS has covered wheels, headlights that turn on when it’s dark, a rearview camera and an 8-inch infotainment screen.
If you step up to the LX you get 17-inch rims, power mirrors, roof rails, leather-trimmed seats, cruise control, wireless charging and more.
In the EX, LED daytime running lights have been added, it is praised by a button, the infotainment screen is 12 inches, it has sensors in the front and back and so on.
The last one is the SX, which is the one we were driving, it has everything as it has LED lights, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat and the front ones are heated, Bose speakers, ambient lighting, smart cruise control, tells you when you are leaving the lane, full body cameras, wireless Apple CarPlay and more.
The way it’s built inside is nice and it’s easy to get into the back seats.
It needs to be neat because the front and bottom is decorated with a cream-like color and I can see that it will quickly reveal the dirt.
On the back I like that they put two USB charging ports and on the back there are aircon vents.
In the rear seats, children can sit well, but in the middle, you can bring them forward a little.
There are also charging and aircon vents.
Like most passenger cars, when all the seats are in the upright position, the cargo space is limited. However, he is able to recline the seats and we increase. It also helps to put the spare tire under the car.
Personally, I see it may be very attractive to families who are lazy Rumion and Ertiga are popular and in the business of transporting people. Those in business may be put off by the higher price than the ones I listed at the beginning but maybe there will be a few who will be attracted by its economical diesel engine.
Price:
LS Manual – R399,995
LX auto – R459,995
EX auto – R499,995
SX car – R599,995
All come with a five-year warranty that includes roadside assistance and a three-year service plan.