The 1.4L turbo petrol works well in the Carens. It has more than adequate performance to keep the enthusiast interested and at the same time, the mid range and intuitive DCT work brilliantly for sedate family duties.
Kia Carens Pros
Fresh styling that will appeal to a larger audience (unlike the polarising Alcazar)
A practical & sensible 3-row family car that's well-built. 3rd-row seat is actually useable
User-friendly interiors look really good (blue shade is awesome) and have quality parts
1.4L turbo petrol with 7-speed DCT offers more than adequate performance. Extremely refined too
Economical 1.5L diesel is available in MT & AT variants. Offers good driveability
Impressive ride quality with neutral car-like road manners
The Carens' safety package includes 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, TPMS etc as standard.
Kia Carens Cons
2nd-row legroom is just ordinary, despite the seat travel of the 1st-row being restricted
Diesel’s 113 BHP & 250 Nm – although adequate – are the lowest in the segment
Reliability of the 7 speed DCT in a heavier car is a concern
Unknown safety rating. The Seltos just barely managed a 3-star Global NCAP rating!
Some niceties missing vs the Alcazar - no 360-degree camera, no full virtual dials, no panoramic sunroof
Competitors like the Tata Safari, MG Hector & XUV700 offer way more spacious cabins