A Trip To Hometown With The KIA Carens Diesel AT - 2,000 KM Review

India is a highly SUV-dominated market. MPVs like the KIA Carens are the real underdogs, offering more practicality and suitable options for long-distance travel. Currently, only a few brands are offering MPVs priced under Rs 20 lakh in the Indian market, and the KIA Carens is one of the most feature-loaded and versatile MPVs in this price range. I recently took the KIA Carens Diesel AT for a 2,000 km trip to my hometown, fully loaded with 5 people and their luggage. The engine and transmission option I took was the 1.5-litre diesel engine with the 6-speed AT gearbox, and this engine performed exceptionally well. Let's delve in the details below, meanwhile, make sure you join our 91Wheels WhatsApp Community to stay updated on the latest automotive news.

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Comfort & Convenience

The Carens packs all the key aspects that you need in an MPV. It perfectly blends the SUV styling with MPV traits. It comes in 6- and 7-seater variants and the version I took was the 6-seater variant. The 6-seater variant comes with captain seats in the second row and the convenience it offers is just exceptional. Moreover, the last row comes with 50:50 split seat setup which can be conveniently folded if needed. We were 5 people in the Carens with 4 suitcases and some small bags.

We utilized 5 seats and folded one seat in the last row to keep our luggage. The captain seats in the second row offered immense comfort to the occupants, additionally, the free space in the center created some room for a small bag. Getting in the third row is quite easy with the one-touch tumble feature in the Carens. The third-row passenger was quite happy as he was able to get enough space for his leg movement. However, the under-thigh support in the third row is not as good for tall passengers. Coming back to the second row, the Carens offers a decent number of features such as 2 Type C charging ports for the second-row passengers, a folding tray table, individual roof-mounted AC vents, and a rear vents fan speed controller. The interior of the Carens packs everything that you need in a family car. The colour combination used inside the cabin gives a premium appeal and the presence of the electric sunroof and big window glass makes the cabin more airy.

Performance

If we talk about the engine specifications, the 1.5-litre diesel engine generates 116 PS of power and 250 Nm of peak torque. This engine comes mated with a 6-speed manual, a 6-speed iMT, and a 6-speed AT gearbox. The version I had was the 6-speed AT gearbox one. The automatic transmission in the Carens is well-tuned and offers smooth gearshifts. Even with the full load in the car, the engine was not stressed, and the gearbox performed incredibly well. The majority of the trip was on the expressway, and I maintained a cruising speed of around 90-100 kmph. The gearshifts were coming around 1,800 RPM, ensuring the engine operated calmly and efficiently throughout the journey. Moreover, if you want to drive it in an exhilarating manner, the Sports mode in the AT gearbox variant is for you. It delivers a spirited performance with delayed gearshifts, enhancing the thrill of the drive.

The fuel efficiency of the Carens Diesel was quite impressive throughout the journey. From the start, the MID was showing over 19 km/l, and on a few stretches it climbed up to 22 km/l. After entering the city, it dropped down to 19 km/l again. By the time I reached my destination, the MID was showing 18.9 km/l. This number showed how efficient diesel engines can be when driven with ease. The car remained under 2,000 RPM even at 100 km/h, highlighting the smoothness and refinement of the 1.5-litre diesel engine of the Carens.

Another feature worth your attention is the cruise control, which proved its worth throughout the journey. The controls are conveniently located on the right-hand side of the steering wheel, making it easily accessible. Moreover, the Carens also comes with pedal shifters which give you manual control over the transmission and you can shift according to your driving style and the situation of the road.

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Ride & Handling

The ride quality plays an important part when you are traveling long distances with family. With all the luggage and 5 people on board, the Carens was full to the brim,. The Carens offered a well-balanced ride quality on the highways, it easily absorbed all the small bumps and expansion joints, offering a comfortable ride quality inside the cabin in all three rows. The body roll is well-controlled in the Carens and all the passengers inside the cabin were happy.

The MPV remains stable even at high speeds which offers a better sense of handling. Moreover, the light steering wheel offers good control over the vehicle, and weighs well with the speed, offering a sense of confidence to the driver. Despite being fully loaded, the ample ground clearance ensured it did not scrap the ground even on uneven surfaces.

Things Which Could've Been Better?

The KIA Carens is one of the best MPVs you can buy under Rs 20 lakh in the Indian market. It offers good space, a good number of features, and several engine options. But there are some things which could've been better. The top-spec variants of the Carens come with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system that offers smooth operation but comes with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the brand could've offered wireless connectivity to enhance user-friendliness. Additionally, a few features such as cornering lamps, electrically adjustable seats, and a 360-degree camera, are missing which could've offered a better value proposition. Another aspect that could've been improved is the positioning of the air purifier. The air purifier in the second row eats up the space for the right-side passenger sitting on the second row.