The three-row Kia Carens made its global debut on Thursday, ahead of its market launch in India early next year. Kia has also begun accepting bookings for the Carens, which be available in two seating layouts – six and seven seater. 

Once launched, the Carens will rival other three-row models in the market like the Hyundai Alcazar, Maruti Suzuki XL6, Mahindra Marazzo and Toyota Innova Crysta. Read on to see how it compares against these models in terms of dimensions, engines and gearboxes.  

• Kia Carens has the longest wheelbase
• Carens is the only one to offer a turbo-petrol option
• Rival Innova Crysta has the largest displacement engines

Kia Carens vs rivals: Dimensions

While Kia didn’t officially reveal the dimensions of the Carens, Autocar India was able to source exclusively that it will measure 4,540mm in length, 1,800mm in width, 1,700mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,780mm. However, it’s worth noting that the Kia’s dimensions are not ARAI certified yet.

In comparison to its rivals, the Kia has the longest wheelbase but is more or less on par in terms of the other dimensions. The Innova Crysta is the longest and tallest overall here while the Mahindra Marazzo is the widest of the lot. Hyundai’s Alcazar has the highest ground clearance and the largest tyres here. The XL6, meanwhile, is the smallest overall in this comparison.

Watch Kia Carens first look video

Kia Carens vs rivals: petrol powertrains

All models in this comparison, barring the Marazzo, come with petrol engines. The Carens comes with two petrol options, both of which have been borrowed from the Seltos SUV. First is the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated unit that puts out 115hp and 144Nm and is paired with a 6-speed manual only. The Carens has the distinction of being the only one to offer a turbo-petrol option here, which is the 140hp, 1.4-litre direct injection unit. The Carens turbo-petrol can be had with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

As for the rivals, the Innova Crysta has the largest displacement engine, which is also the most powerful and torquey (166hp/245Nm). The Toyota’s petrol engine can be had with either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic. The Alcazar is not far behind the Innova Crysta, with its 2.0-litre unit pushing out 159hp and 191Nm. Gearbox options for the Alcazar petrol include a 6-speed MT and 6-speed torque converter AT.  

The Maruti Suzuki XL6, meanwhile, has the smallest naturally aspirated engine here which has the least output. However, the XL6 is the only one here that comes with a mild-hybrid set-up with an integrated starter generator and a lithium ion battery, which is said to aid performance and efficiency.

Kia Carens vs rivals: diesel powertrains

All competitors here, except for the Maruti XL6, come with a diesel engine. The Kia Carens and the Hyundai Alcazar come with the same 1.5-litre diesel unit that also does duty in the Seltos and Creta. This unit has the smallest displacement here and the least amount of output, 115hp and 250Nm. Gearbox options for both Korean models include a 6-speed manual and 6-speed torque converter auto.

Mahindra’s Marazzo is also powered by a 1.5-litre oil burner, but it has a larger displacement and more power and torque than the Kia and Hyundai’s engine. However, the Mahindra can only be had with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

The Toyota Innova Crysta, meanwhile, has the largest diesel engine in this comparison, at 2.4-litres, and it has the highest output as well, at 150hp and 360Nm. However, unlike the others, the Toyota offers only a 5-speed manual, but a 6-speed torque converter is also part of the range.

So that’s how the new Kia Carens fairs against the competition, on paper. However, only a full road test comparison will determine how it stacks up in the real world. Stay tuned for that.  

Would you choose the new Kia Carens over its rivals? Let us know in the comments section.