First Drive: Kia Carens
Building a family car today is deceptively difficult. I say this because it has to be practical without feeling too utilitarian, spacious without being bulky, and modern without isolating the very customers it’s meant to serve. Yet you get something like the Kia Carens, which does all of that and then some.
Now in its fourth generation and built in India, like the Sonet and Seltos, the Carens nameplate isn’t entirely new in South Africa. Kia sold the second generation locally before axing it, primarily due to timing and a market shift as more people moved towards SUVs, crossovers and bakkies. So, rather than seeing it as a new nameplate, it’s a returning one that South Africans haven’t really experienced in its modern form.
Where does it sit in the Kia stable?
To understand where the Carens fits in the Korean marque’s lineup, you first need to understand why the brand is entering this space at all. The 7-seater MPV segment is properly contested in SA with models like the Toyota Rumion, Suzuki Ertiga, Mitsubishi Xpander, and Renault Triber. These fight it out every month on the sales charts. Move slightly up the ladder, and you get the Alcazar from Kia’s sister company, Hyundai. Kia SA CEO Paul Turnbull made it clear at the launch that the Carens exists to pull buyers from both ends of that scope. Only time and sales will tell whether it’s winning that fight, though.
Aesthetically, it doesn’t look like a traditional MPV; in fact, Kia calls it an MUV (Multi-Utility Vehicle) simply because it offers three rows, genuine practicality and SUV-inspired design cues. Fair nomenclature if I am honest. In the Kia family, it sits between the Seltos and Sportage SUVs with four available variants: LS, LX, EX, and SX. Pricing starts at R399,995 for the entry-level LS and climbs to R599,995 for the fully-loaded SX. It’s worth noting that the LS is the only model in the range paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox, while the rest of the lineup comes with a 6-speed automatic.
What does it bring to the table?
It’s a strong spread of standard features across the range. Even the entry-level LS doesn’t feel like a base model, launching with 16-inch wheels, an 8-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, and rear park distance warning. Step up to the LX, and you get an automatic gearbox, 17-inch dual-tone alloys, roof rails, cruise control, and a wireless charger. The EX builds on that with LED daytime running lights, a smart key with push-button start, and a larger 12.3-inch infotainment display. Then there’s the SX, the derivative I experienced at the local launch, and it makes a particularly compelling case for itself.
At R599,995, it comes with an interior that carries a subtly premium feel, nothing overdone, but well put together in a way that doesn’t warrant any complaints. The Bose sound system is genuinely good; there are USB ports scattered throughout, even at the back for passengers who actually need them, as well as dedicated air vents for the second row. All these will make long family trips enjoyable. It also comes with a comprehensive suite of ADAS equipment, including Surround View Monitor, Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance, Lane Following Assist, and Smart Cruise Control with stop-and-go functionality, to name a few.
One honest caveat that unfortunately bugs a lot of 7-seaters at this price point, including the Carens, is the lack of boot space when the third row is raised. Children will be fine back there, while adults won’t be particularly comfortable.
How does it drive?
The Carens packs a 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine from the Hyundai-Kia Group stable, which also powers the Hyundai Alcazar, delivering 85kW and 250Nm to the front wheels. Interestingly, it’s the only diesel in this segment available with a manual transmission, which is an impressive point of difference, especially for customers who prefer that option in the base LS model. As for the SX, it’s more of a long-distance cruiser than an outright performer, as I also found with the Alcazar.
The launch drive took us through the back roads of northwest Johannesburg, where I found the throttle response to be relaxed off the line. The thing about this diesel powerplant is that it takes a moment to build momentum, though not to a point of frustration, because the trade-off is an engine that settles down and cruises nicely on the open road with low-end grunt, which is exactly what customers demand from such a car.
As for the ride quality, it leans firmer than you might expect from a family haulier, which takes some getting used to on broken surfaces, and I do feel like it could be a little softer. However, road and wind noise are well suppressed, which, combined with the Bose system, makes the Carens a genuinely relaxed long-haul companion.
Should you buy one?
The Carens arrives in a segment that’s been waiting for something to disrupt it from above rather than below. At R399,995 for the LS, it’s competitive, while at R599,995 for the SX, it’s genuinely well-specced for what you’re getting. The interior won’t embarrass you in front of guests, the safety tech is thorough, and the diesel engine is efficient enough to make the cost of moving a family of seven considerably less painful.
The only lingering question is fuel. Given diesel prices in SA, we asked Kia SA whether a petrol variant is in the pipeline. The answer was that they’d consider it if the demand is there. Knowing South Africans, the demand may already exist, and some buyers would rather not touch diesel at this point. It’s not perfect, but it’s an impressive MUV that doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t. It’s a properly thought-out family car that happens to look better than the class demands and feel more premium than the price strictly requires. In this segment, that combination is harder to pull off than it looks.
Pricing
- Carens LS 6MT: R399,995
- Carens LX 6AT: R459,995
- Carens EX 6AT: R499,995
- Carens SX 6AT: R599,995
