The Kia Carens line-up is set to expand in April and again in June with the introduction of new versions of the MPV. As we reported earlier, the Carens facelift will launch next month, and it will be sold alongside the current model but positioned higher. Kia India has now confirmed that the updated MPV will get a new name as suffix after ‘Carens’.
- Carens and updated MPV will be positioned like Ertiga and XL6
- Kia Carens, facelift and EV will see price range increase
Kia Carens facelift new name and positioning
Updated model will sit above current MPV in the Carens line-up
As mentioned above, the Carens facelift, which has been spied testing on numerous occasions, will be sold alongside the current model but positioned higher, essentially expanding the MPV’s line-up. The Carens range currently tops out at Rs 19.70 lakh, which means prices are expected to cross Rs 20 lakh for the range-topping variant of the updated MPV. Kia will position the two MPVs in a similar manner to how Maruti Suzuki has positioned the Ertiga (Rs 8.84 lakh-13.13 lakh) and XL6 (Rs 11.71 lakh-14.71 lakh).
Spy shots of the updated Carens show a more SUV-like, muscled design, and lighting borrowed from newer Kias like the Syros. It is likely that in order to provide greater differentiation between the lower (pre-facelift) and higher variants with the new suffix (facelift model), the 115hp 1.5-litre petrol engine may not be on offer with the newer Carens. However, the 160hp turbo-petrol engine and the 116hp diesel engine are expected to be shared between the two.
Kia Carens EV to sit at the top of the range
Considering that the Kia Carens EV’s price is expected to top out at around the Rs 25 lakh mark, the all-electric version of the MPV will be the range-topper. We’ve said earlier that the Carens EV will share its powertrain with the Hyundai Creta Electric, which comes with 42kWh and 51.4kWh battery pack options, with MIDC-rated ranges of 390km and 473km, respectively.
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
