KIA Carens is feature filled, mileage conscious, and the third row offers comfortable seating for adults. The second row can also be adjusted for more space.

Bharata•6 May 2026

2/5

The Kia Carens looks bold but is not worth the expense. It doesn't offer much beyond its appearance.

Sumanth RJ•23 Apr 2026

4/5

Kia Carens Clavis is a more premium vehicle if you can stretch your budget.

Kia Carens Expert Reviews

Autocar score

We like

Feature-rich
Spacious, premium cabin

We don't like

Diesel performance with full load
Thirsty petrol engines

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Kia Carens Images

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Questions you may find useful

Prasad

•6d

Looking to buy a used 6-7-seater family car with a budget of Rs. 7-12 lakh, mainly for city use and occasional highway trips. I need something spacious, comfortable, reliable, and feature-loaded, with good road presence. My driving is not very high, so I am looking for a practical option with decent maintenance costs and fuel efficiency.

Autocar India

•5d

Mostly city runs with the family and the odd highway trip on a Rs. 7-12 lakh budget points straight to the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga ZXi petrol as the best fit. It is easy to drive in traffic, has a light steering and a smooth petrol engine. Inside, it gives real 6-7 seat flexibility, rear AC vents, and enough features in the ZXi variant to ease daily use. Running costs and service are among the lowest, parts are easy to find, and it delivers sensible fuel use for your low monthly driving.Know the trade-offs: the third row suits kids or short adults, and with full load it feels more relaxed than fast on the highway. Cabin feel is functional rather than premium.If you want a plusher look and captain seats while keeping similar running costs, look for a Maruti Suzuki XL6 within budget. If you can stretch to the top of your range, a Kia Carens petrol offers more features and road presence. Overall, the Ertiga lines up best for practical, spacious, and easy city family use.

Priyobrata De

I recently sold my Celerio ZXi(O) manual and am looking for a new car under Rs 13-14 lakh. I am not keen on turbo or 3-cylinder engines. My yearly running is around 8,000-10,000km, with 70% city use. I shortlisted the Honda Amaze ZX CVT/MT, Honda Elevate V MT and Kia Seltos HTE(O) MT. I also checked out the Kia Carens Premium(O), Kia Syros HTK+/HTK+(O). I want something comfortable for my parents, suitable for bad roads and reliable in the long term, especially with future E27 and BS7 norms coming. What should I buy? I am mostly a sedate driver, but occasionally like to put pedal to the metal on highways. I am buying it in the second half of June 2026 and will pay upfront. P. S. - I am mostly a sedate driver, but occasionally like to put pedal to the metal on highways. P. P. S. - I am buying it in June 2026, second half, and will pay upfront.

Autocar India

•1w

Given your specific requirements and budget, you should consider the Honda Elevate V MT. It comes with a simple 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with four cylinders. It feels smooth and easy to drive in traffic and has enough punch for those rare highway runs. The higher seat offers a good view out, and the good ground clearance makes dealing with bad roads easy, while its size is still friendly for city parking. Rear space is good, the backrest angle is comfortable, and the entry to the cabin isn't very high, all of which your parents will appreciate.However, if your parents’ comfort takes top priority, the Kia Carens Premium 1.5 petrol is the alternative to consider for its reclining and sliding second row and softer ride. It’s easier for elders to get in and out, but it's harder to park.

Honda Elevate

Kia Carens

Tata tiagio

•2w

Hi autocar, we are looking at 7 seaters, our budget is 24L, we are fine with Mt or automatic as long as it's a torque converter. Our usage is mostly on the highway, and we want effortless and efficient highway runs We also want to avoid Tata Motors due to their service. We want cruise control, Android Auto, multi-drive modes, parking camera. It should be FWD We don't want a sunroof

Autocar India

•2w

The Kia Carens Diesel Automatic (1.5 AT) in HTK Plus trim is the best fit for your needs. It is front‑wheel drive, the diesel with the proper automatic feels relaxed at 90-110 kph, and overtaking won't stress the engine. It also uses less fuel on long runs than most petrols. You get cruise control, Android Auto, a parking camera, and drive modes, so your feature list is covered without paying for a sunroof.A thing to note. While the Carens Clavis' flexible seating makes the third row usable for adults, luggage space with all seats up is limited. However, that's an issue you'll face with most three-row vehicles.Alternatively, the Mahindra XUV 7XO in petrol-AT and diesel-AT are options. The 7XO isn't as comfortable for third row passengers, but performance is far superior to the Carens, in case that is higher on your list of priorities. The AX3 trim is within your budget and gives all the features you desire.

Kia Carens

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Chandra shekhar Jha

•4w

Hi, which 6-seater SUV should I buy around 15 lakh in Pune? I am looking for good safety, average performance with around 15+ kmpl mileage, a sunroof, and an automatic with decent power.

Autocar India

•3w

The Kia Carens diesel automatic is the closest match to your brief. It is not an SUV in shape, but it gives you the space, easy access to the third row, and the features you want at this price. Pick the diesel with the automatic gearbox, because that is the one most likely to meet your 15kpl goal in real-world use while still feeling strong enough with a full load. The Carens also offers important safety gear across trims like multiple airbags and stability control, and mid-to-higher trims offer a sunroof, which makes long trips nicer for the second row.Two things to keep in mind for your budget. The exact Carens trim that bundles diesel, automatic and a sunroof may sit a bit above Rs 15 lakh on-road in Pune, so you may need a small stretch of the budget. Also, it feels more like a family car than a tough SUV, so if you want a high, rugged feel, this will not give you that.If the sunroof is not a must and you want to stick closer to Rs 15 lakh, the Maruti Suzuki XL6 automatic 6-seater is the value pick. It is smooth in the city, uses less fuel than most petrol rivals, and is easy to live with, but it does not offer a sunroof, and its engine isn't punchy. If you must have an SUV, there is the Citroen Aircross, which also offers smoothness and punch. That said, its third row is not as spacious as the others, and it also doesn't offer a sunroof.

Sourabh

I am confused between the Kia Carens Premium Optional and the Maruti Suzuki XL6 Zeta (petrol). My annual running is around 6,000 km, mostly in the city. My priorities are comfort, safety, good mileage, ease of parking in tight spaces, and good handling and driving performance.

Autocar India

•3w

For mostly city use with tight parking and a focus on comfort, safety and efficiency, the Maruti Suzuki XL6 Zeta petrol suits you better. It is easier to manoeuvre in traffic and small parking spots, and the light steering makes low-speed driving effortless. It is more economical in daily city use, while also offering a comfortable ride over broken roads and very relaxing second-row captain seats for everyday runs. It also gives you the option of a smooth automatic, which adds to ease of use, whereas the Kia Carens Premium (O) is manual only. The Carens, in comparison, is the more spacious and premium feeling car with better overall comfort for longer journeys, but it is larger and less convenient in tight urban conditions. The only drawback with the XL6 is that it cannot match the Carens for outright space and cabin feel, but overall, it is the more sensible and user-friendly choice for your usage.

Maruti Suzuki XL6

Kia Carens

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