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I know I am going off topic.

But I guess, the tag 'unsafe' or 'crash test ratings' will always be mentioned whenever Kia would launch a new car.

Let's forget 'safe cars with unreliable engines and mechanicals', and start to accept that Kia has chosen to put safety below other parameters, and carry forward our conversation from there.

Kia cars offer great value, looks, reliability and features. If only, they could add safety to that list. That would make their cars literally unbeatable.

I do strongly disagree on your statment:
"It's better to buy/recommend a 2-3 star car with 5 star engine instead of a 5 star car with 0 star engine with pathetic reliability."

Its your life, your choice, can not say anything what you wish to do with your life. But, I would prefer to be taken out alive from the mangled remains of my car, when the time comes. And I will recommend others keeping that in mind.

It is definitely due to the retractable head-rests. It should be okay once the head-rests are set to their correct positions (note that the shoulder line height of the front and sec row seats are almost similar).

Few things came to my mind -

1) Too much use of chrome in exterior - not for my liking
2) Looks may not be important for an MPV, but surely worst looking car from Kia in Indian market (IMHO)
3) Tail light looks too gaudy
4) Some sort of similarity with XUV 700 at dashboard and rear profile
5) If priced too much (> 20%) higher than Ertiga or XL6 - I can't think of any reason to choose Carens over them

Maybe off topic, but what is a 5 star engine? Is the parameter reliability, power, or displacement? Let’s face it, the engines we have on sale today are mostly based on tried and tested technologies over the years. And most of the engines employ similar components. Sure, Suzuki and Honda are known to have better Petrol engines while Tata may not. Even the newer generation of turbo engines have come off age today and most of the cars have trouble free engines and gearboxes in their first 10 years of lifetime. We have had cases of engine failures in certain turbo engines and even certain gearboxes like the DSG from VW, but that’s a very small percentage.

The point is, engines, gearboxes have all reached a state where reliability is a given, most of the time. The failures in these components are extremely rare. But that’s not the case with safety, isn’t it? We never had 2 airbags as standard in most cars up until 2-3 years ago! And same with other safety features. So this is an area where manufacturers are yet to evolve, Tata flaunts 5 stars crash rating on select cars while they don’t want to test some of their other cars. Whereas Maruti and Hyundai and now even Kia don’t really bother about anything remotely to do with a crash test. The blatant cost cutting in the construction of Kia Seltos was documented in our own forums, where some sections of the car have a lower steel quality than the international models. Sure, this is true for many cars in India, but we are not even close to a point where we can take some of the basic safety features for granted. We are very far from that and hence all that noise we make around crash tests, use of ultra high strength steel is important.

So while Kia may have got it right with the Carens by ensuring a lot of safety features are standard, I would like them to make an effort in ensuring that their cars have decent construction quality and the body shell is safe when there is a collision. Mahindra and Tata are doing it, so why shouldn’t Kia?
When Kia and MG gave big screens and Panoramic sunroofs, we all asked Tata and Mahindra why they couldn’t do the same, didn’t we? Seeing Mahindra and Tata standardising safety in their newer cars, it doesn’t look like a cost issue, it looks like what one sees as priority. And Suzuki, Hyundai and Kia need to get this priority higher up in their list.

While I would agree to the "reliability being important" part of your post, I would suggest you re-read the bold part of your own post. That is completely wrong, whichever way you look at it.

And since when Kia became a reliable car manufacturer!? A car that rattles, but continue to clock lakhs of KM even if you badly maintain it and abuse it, is reliable. And even if it does break down, it is usually an easily replaceable, inexpensive child part, not the whole transmission or braking that fails (Like Toyota, for example). Taxis around the world are primarily Toyota, not Kia. Militants in Afganistan or people movers on non-existing roads, all drive Toyota for a reason.

Kia, IMO, is a manufacturer of good looking, well assembled cars that have all the gizmos and features and multiple power-train options. It suits the middle path- not for pure enthusiasts, nor for old-school car lovers.

Chrome+sunroof+turbo/GT badging+big tires with beautiful alloys+ventilated seats+ambient lighting = Swag.

All manufacturer's in India build cars, According to Indian government safety protocol. 2016 Vitara Brezza is the first car in India to comply with the Indian government's new safety protocol that came into effect in 2017. If their car complies with protocol, then what's the problem? They don't need to send car to a private agency like Global ncap to prove it, as their protocol is different from the Indian government protocol. So It's not a problem with manufacturers, the government has to improve its protocol and make it stricter.


Yes, similarly, I would like Tata and Mahindra make an effort to make sure their cars have a decent reliability and mechanical quality. Compared to other brands they lack in this department.

Hm. 6 airbags. But the curtain airbags don't seem to cover the 3rd row passengers!!

Ref: https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attac...216_122106.jpg

Contrast with XUV700 where the curtain airbags protect 3rd row passengers too: https://auto.mahindra.com/suv/xuv700...tions-features

I don't understand the strategy of two partner companies launching the same cars in the same segment. Why can't they fight in different segments? I mean how is a Creta different from Seltos and how is Carens going to be different from Alcazar except for some features which can be added any time? It's the same with VW/Skoda. How exactly will it increase the market share, I have no clue.

Well, you just said what I was thinking. If Govt is okay with Tata & Mahindra to sell "unreliable engine" cars, they should come up with a protocol and make it stricter.

If some manufacturers can attest their "reliability" outside government norms, then other manufacturers can rightly attest their "safety" outside government norms.

I was following this thread for months now and my expectation was shatered the moment I saw the car. Thanks to the front design, the split headlamp setup didn't suit this car. I did some modifications with the help of paint tool and I wish if they had designed something on those lines. Sorry for my poor try.

Well, how many of you absolutely hate gloss trims on the interior? I mean they look good, but are easily scratched and attract dust easily and this Car's whole dashboard is made out of it. :Frustrati

Is it just me or anyone else see a Qualis in the looks of Carens? Especially in the side profile pics, I see a present day iteration of Qualis if it had continued... :)

Can't agree more with you on this. If someone debates on KIA being reliable, it would only be a self example of someone driving their car daily to office and back home. I don't see the newer generation cars (read Koreans) being reliable yet. It is a long journey down the road for them. While the Japanese have proven a point and the Indian brands like TATA and M&M are easily the most reliable vehicles (if they are commercial, they more or less are reliable).

Simple, they'd rather get cannibalized by their own models rather than give other players a chance. Also customers see them as more options so win win for both.

I pre-booked Carens yesterday by paying ₹51,000. Surprisingly, I have been given a waiting period of upto 3 month post launch, and same was even written by the salesperson on the booking form. He said mine was the 2nd booking with them.

I also have a booking for XUV700, which is due to be delivered in July. One of the reasons for booking Carens was early delivery. But with 3 months waiting post launch, it could stretch to May, at which point I just might decide to get the XUV.