The new Kia Carens will be launched in India on February 15. Essentially the three-row derivative of the popular Kia Seltos, the Carens is Kia’s fourth model for the Indian market and, in true Kia fashion, will be available with a wide choice of engine, gearbox and trim levels. Bookings are currently underway with the booking amount set at Rs 25,000.

• Carens will be available with three engine options
• Bookings currently open
• All variants get 6 airbags, ESC and hill descent control

Based on the Seltos platform, the Carens is a notably longer vehicle than the former – 225mm longer overall and featuring a 160mm longer wheelbase to free up space for a third row of seats. In terms of design, the Carens gets a familiar MPV-like profile but with a number of crossover-inspired design elements thrown in. Kia has also made an effort to give the car an identity of its own, with little to link it to the Seltos.

Inside, too, the Carens gets its own unique dashboard design, along with a blue and beige or black and beige dual-tone interior finish to the cabin, depending on the variant. The Carens gets a 7-seat layout as standard, with only the fully-loaded variant, offered as a 6-seater, getting second-row captain's seats.

Kia Carens: variants and features

The Carens will be available in five trim levels – Premium, Prestige, Prestige Plus, Luxury and Luxury Plus.

All variants will pack in a long list of safety features, including six airbags, ESC, stability control, hill start assist and hill descent control, a tyre pressure monitor, and all-wheel disc brakes. In terms of comfort and convenience features, all variants will get AC vents for all three rows and a one-touch electric tumble function for the middle-row seat.

Fully loaded variants, meanwhile, will get all the feel-good kit, including ventilated front seats, a 10.25-inch touchscreen with connected tech, a sunroof, an air purifier, wireless phone charger, among others.

Kia Carens: engine options

Buyers will have three engines to choose from – a 115hp, 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with a 6-speed manual; a more powerful 140hp, 1.4-litre turbo-petrol paired with either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed dual-clutch auto; and a 115hp, 1.5-litre diesel available with either a 6-speed manual or torque converter automatic.

The turbo-petrol and diesel will be available across all variants, with only the fully-loaded Luxury Plus available with the option of automatic gearboxes.

Kia Carens: expected price

Expect the Carens to be priced in the Rs 12 lakh-20 lakh (ex-showroom) range, with rivals expected to include higher variants of the Maruti XL6 and Mahindra Marazzo, along with larger three-row SUVs such as the Hyundai Alcazar and Mahindra XUV700.

Kia Carens test drives begin February 1 onwards; series production commences