Kia Carens with 160hp, 1.5 turbo-petrol launched at Rs 12 lakh

Kia has launched the updated Carens with new Real Driving Emissions (RDE) and E20 (20 percent ethanol mixed in petrol) compliant engines, with prices now ranging between Rs 10.45 lakh-18.95 lakh (ex-showroom, India). The updated Carens now gets a new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine in place of the older 1.4-litre unit, and Kia has also replaced the 6-speed manual gearbox with a 6-speed iMT on the turbo-petrol and diesel variants. Additionally, there are minor updates to the equipment list as well. 

1. All engines on Carens are now RDE compliant
2. 6-speed iMT gearbox replaces the 6-speed manual
3. Digital instrument cluster now standard across the range

Prices for the new turbo-petrol and diesel variants have gone up by up to Rs 50,000, while the naturally aspirated petrol variants see a Rs 25,000 bump in price.

RDE compliant Kia Seltos priced from Rs 10.89 lakh; loses turbo-petrol engine

Updated Kia Sonet gets RDE compliant engines; priced from Rs 7.79 lakh

2023 Kia Carens: updated powertrain options

The most significant update to the Carens line-up is a new 160hp, 253Nm, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine that replaces the older 140hp, 1.4-litre turbo-petrol unit. This new engine marks a 20hp, 11Nm bump in output, and while the 7-speed DCT has been retained, the 6-speed manual has been replaced by a new 6-speed iMT unit. With this, the Carens is now also the most powerful MPV in its class by a fair margin.

We had reported in December 2022 that Kia and Hyundai models would receive this new 1.5-litre engine. Now, this new engine has already made its way to the Alcazar, and will soon also be offered on the Seltos and Creta, replacing their respective 1.4-litre turbo-petrol units.

The other two engine options on the Carens – 115hp, 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol and 116hp, diesel engines (1hp more than before) – have also been updated to meet RDE norms and E20 fuel compliance. However, the diesel engine also loses its 6-speed manual gearbox in favour of the new 6-speed iMT unit. The diesel engine is also available with a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox, while the naturally aspirated petrol engine is solely available with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

2023 Kia Carens: digital instrument cluster now standard

Kia has also made a minor change to the equipment list on the Carens – the 12.5-inch digital instrument cluster with the 4.2-inch colour MID has been made standard across the range – it was previously offered from the Prestige trim onwards.

As before, the Carens continues to be offered in five trims – Premium, Prestige, Prestige Plus, Luxury and Luxury Plus. The top-spec Luxury Plus is the only trim to be offered in both 6- and 7-seater guise, while all other trims are 7-seaters only.

Other feature highlights on the Carens include auto climate control, a 10.25-inch touchscreen with connected car tech, keyless go, cruise control, ventilated front seats, wireless phone charging and rear-view camera. As for safety features, the Carens gets six airbags, ABS, ESC, hill start and descent control, and a tyre pressure monitoring system as standard.

2023 Kia Carens: rivals

The Carens rivals the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and the XL6 in our market. For reference, the Ertiga is priced between Rs 8.35 lakh-12.79 lakh, while the XL6 is priced between Rs 11.41 lakh-14.67 lakh, both prices ex-showroom, Delhi. The Carens is a fair bit more expensive than both its rivals, but it's also more premium with more powerful engines and an expansive features list.

Do you think the new 160hp, turbo-petrol engine makes the Carens a more exciting MPV than its rivals? Let us know in the comments below.