Our requirements were simple, a comfortable 7-seater, preferably diesel within 20 Lakhs.

BHPian kaustavguha recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello everyone, this is my first ever review/ report on Team BHP so kindly bear with me and correct me where I have made mistakes.

I have tried to divide the post into various sections to make It easier to navigate.

The need

• We were proud owners of a 2016 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga ZXI+ which was serving us well, we bought it in February of 2016 just after the facelift for the 1st generation Ertiga was launched, back then our running was quite low because I was still doing my masters and did not need a car to commute to college and my father doesn’t drive and did not want to hire a driver to commute to work hence we picked the petrol version(Maruti still sold diesels back then.)
• Fast Forward to 2020, COVID-19 happened, and both my father and started commuting to work together in the Ertiga after the lockdown was relaxed for obvious fears of travelling by public transport.
• I am a 1st generation driver in my family so using a car for daily commutes was never something we ever thought of until the pandemic.
• Our workplace is roughly 50 kms from home and we were clocking close to 2000 kms a month!
• For the 1st 4 years of the Ertiga, it had run 19 k kms, and the year after it had run close to 25 k kms just in 1 year!
• The need for a diesel/ car with better mileage began in early 2022 when the Ertiga clocked 45 k kms.

The search

• As in most Indian families, no matter how old you are, you need the blessings of your parents before taking any big decision and in June of 2022, we began our search after my parents and better half agreed to a new car.
• Our requirements were simple, a comfortable 7-seater, preferably diesel within 20 Lakhs.

The test drives

Mahindra XUV 700

• The first car that came to my mind was the new XUV 700, in my opinion, it was a really good-looking car with a spacious interior and a premium up-market feel; I went to the Mahindra dealer closest to home and was promptly offered a test drive of the diesel automatic.
• The drive was really good, the AC was really good (quite an important deciding factor as I live in Kolkata), the boot space was really good with the last row folded down and the car had a great road presence. When asked when I get the car, the SA said that there is a minimum of 6 months waiting for the diesel auto but the wait could be more. Quite disheartened by the wait, I decided to explore some other options.

Hyundai Alcazar

• Went to the Hyundai showroom, and asked for the TD of the Alcazar, the SA said that the diesel TD car was unavailable and I did not want to TD the petrol one because I had no intentions of buying a petrol; however I sat in the display vehicle in the showroom and I have to say, the interiors feel like that from a segment above, but the 3rd row is quite cramped, there isn’t much space, although we will rarely need it, I still wanted a spacious 3rd row, after some thought decided to drop the Alcazar.

Kia Carens

• Right next to the Hyundai Showroom is Eastern KIA, this time I took my wife along with me so that I could come to a conclusion.
• Had already talked to an SA over the phone and he said that the TD cars would be available.
• After reaching the showroom, we were shown a Diesel Manual Carens, at that point in time I was not even considering the automatic.
• Drove the car for a good 15 kms and the SA kept explaining the different features to my wife and me throughout the drive and he never asked me to cut the TD short.
• Returned to the showroom and asked about the waiting period for the Luxury Plus 7-Seater Diesel Manual, the SA said on the booking form it would be 24 weeks but we may be able to get one within 8 weeks.

Went home and after a discussion with my parents we decided to book the car, the following Saturday we went to the showroom, showed the car to my parents and the SA offered another TD, we happily went on another TD and now everyone was on board.

Came back to the showroom and booked a Carens Luxury Plus 7-Seater Diesel Manual in Imperial Blue.

The slight hiccup

• We had booked the car in the last week of June and in the 1st week of September our SA called me and asked me to come for PDI, overjoyed I went to the showroom the very next day but I saw that Kia had started providing one smart key along with the cars and the second key would be provided within 6 months, I found this to be unacceptable, in some unfortunate incident if the smart key is lost or damaged, the car can only be unlocked with the second key, but it cannot be started; I told the SA I have no issues in waiting but I want both the keys along with the car; the SA agreed after some back and forth with the GM.

The Delivery

• In early November I got a call from the SA and he said that a Carens Luxury Plus 7-Seater Diesel Automatic in Imperial Blue was available and I could have it immediately, I was a bit confused as I had never driven an automatic before, but I also wanted the car and the price difference wasn’t that much of a concern, so I asked for a TD of the automatic.
• After the TD I really wanted the automatic, the convenience it provided in city traffic and it was very smooth in the shifts (it is a torque converter).
• We finalised the car after PDI and the registration-related formalities were done and the 28th of November 2022 was decided as the D-Day.
• We arrived at 3 PM at the showroom, and after a quick second PDI, checked all the documents and the accessories requested; we went for the delivery.

The Likes

• Very spacious for a family of 4, being a large individual, space was a priority.
• The A/C is an absolute chiller; even for the 3rd row occupants thanks to the roof-mounted A/C Vents.
• The 2nd row type C charging ports.
• The ventilated seats.
• The upmarket and premium feel of the interiors, the piano black dash looks like that from a segment above.
• The torque converter AT box is smooth.

The Dislikes

• At 20 Lakhs+ OTR a 360-degree camera would have been nice.
• The headlights are good for the city but on the highways, they feel quite dim.
• A fabulous infotainment system but no wireless Android Auto/ Apple Car Play?
• At that time the UV Cut glasses were not being offered, a necessity in the era sun-film ban.
• The gauge cluster is a bit basic for a car at this price.

Despite the dislikes, the Carens fit our requirements and budget the best, hence no other cars were given a second thought.

The booking and delivery experience was really good at Eastern Kia Newtown, Kolkata; they were courteous and attended to most of my requests.On the day of delivery took a nice pen for the SA and his team leas and a box of sweets for the dealership.

The cost break-up:

• Variant: Kia Carens Luxury Plus Diesel Automatic 7-Seater
• Ex-Showroom Kolkata 17,99,900.00
• Road Tax. 1,79,990.00
• Registration 740.00
• Insurance 62,605.00
• Accessories 7,496.0
• Extended Warranty 26,532.00 (4th and 5th Year, Unlimited km)

• Fastag 500.00

Total 20,77,763.00

No discounts were being offered at all, the showroom provided me with the 3D Mats complementary.

I opted for the lifetime road tax, in West Bengal you can choose to pay the road tax at 5-year intervals or lifetime as it made more sense to me.

I opted for the Extended Warranty for unlimited kms 4th and 5th year as Kia is still new to the Indian market and I just wanted that peace of mind; unlimited kms because my running right now is quite high; 2000-2500 kms per month, mostly on the highway.

The safety

• The car has a lot of safety features as standard like ABS, EBD, Hill Hold, Hill Decent control, and 6 Airbags.
• It did score a 3-star safety rating which is a bit concerning but I always take GNCAP ratings with a pinch of salt.

The Features

This is probably the best part, the feature list goes on and on, I will try to list the most prominent ones:

• Ventilated seats, work really really well.
• Apple Car play is really difficult to imagine the infotainment without it.
• The 10.8-inch infotainment system is really smooth.
• The Bose sound system, for someone like me, who isn't an audiophile is very good.
• The ambient lights look soothing at night and the brightness and colour can be controlled.
• The Keyless entry makes everything a lot more convenient.
• Charging ports in every row.
• The reverse camera is of very high definition and the adaptive guidelines make life a lot easier.
• The front parking sensors are a lifesaver on narrow streets, although a 360-degree camera is missed!
• The front cup holders are cooled and in summer they are quite efficient in keeping a bottle of water cool.
• The driver's seat is adjustable for everything except the lumbar support.
• The Steering wheel is tilt and telescopic adjustable.
• Being an automatic the gear knob is nice and chunky, and the different positions are clearly demarcated and easy to understand.

• The driving modes do make a difference between throttle response and gear shifts quite noticeably between normal sport and eco.
• Kia Connect sends and alarm to your phone if you forget to lock your car or if a door boot or bonnet is open.
• With Kia Connect you can remotely do a lot of functions but most importantly lock, unlock, and start your car along with the A/C.
• The Automatic headlights and wipers work like a charm, and once you get used to it, it is difficult to remember to turn off the lights.

The looks

• I think the car looks very good for an MPV, especially in imperial blue(when clean).
• The DRL is large and very bright and they double up as indicators that in LED looks cool!
• The tail lights have a connected design which makes the car look very premium.
• Overall a very upmarket look for an MPV
• The built quality is good there are no creeks or squeaks anywhere in the car, and nothing shakes or rattles(as of now).
• The panel gaps are very consistent and the paint finish seems to be very good.
• The car comes with 16-inch alloys which IMO looks good in with the car, the MRF Wanderers are pretty good although for the next tire change, I will probably go for the Bridgestone B390s.

The Interior

• The interior is very well put together the leather-wrapped steering wheel, and the piano black finish on the dash all look really good.
• The front seats provide good adjustment, anyone could be comfortable in this; under-thigh support is also good.
• The 2nd row is also adjustable and has very good knee and headroom; it is wide enough for 3 adults of average built.
• The cream colour seats go very well with the navy dash and door cards.
• The soft-touch part of the doors feels very good.
• The 2nd and 3rd row both have adjustable recline which is a major plus.
• Lots of bottle holders and cubbies for your cell phones etc.
• The 2nd row curtains are a good size and prove a good shield from the sun.

It is very easy to find a comfortable driving position and there are not many blind spots.

The boot is extremely spacious with the 3rd row folded down but with it up, a few mid-sized bags will fit.

The Performance

• With 250 nm of torque and a smooth auto box, it pulls and pulls, you will reach the speed limit before the engine runs out of power.
• The torque converter auto box is really smooth, at 80 kmph the engine is at 1700 rpm which is very fuel efficient.
• If you need to overtake and you floor the accelerator the gearbox shifts down pretty quickly.
• If you put it in sport mode the car will hold gears longer and also the throttle feels more responsive.
• The brakes have a good bite to the pedal and the braking performance is also good.
• The engine is super silent for a diesel, most petrol bunk attendants mistake it for petrol.
• I have driven the car for 30 k kms at the time of writing this and most of that has been on the highway.
• The car is reasonably easy to manoeuver in city traffic but on narrow streets, it gets a bit tricky.
• The NVH levels are good, you hardly hear any road noises or wind noises.

The all important kitna deti hain?

• The mileage in city traffic is 12 kmpl and on the highways, if driven conservatively it will return 16 kmpl.
• This is with my driving style.
• The ride quality is very good, feels a lot better than the Ertiga.
• It absorbs small bumps on the road very well, you will only feel the sharper ones.

The service

• For all the service and body work I went to Eastern Kia.
• At the 1k kms service it is just a basic checkup and wash, which took around 2 hours, the SA asked me if I had any issues with the vehicle, but I did not.
• The bill came out to zero and the car was washed very well.
• At the 10k kms service the usual work like engine oil, oil filter, air filter, ac filter was changed, I asked the SA to get the wheel alignment and balancing done as well. The labour was free on this service.
• The service took around 4 hours and pick up and drop was available but I decided to go in myself.
• The bill was Rs. 4,514.
• At the 20k kms service the same things were done and the SA recommended AC evaporator cleaning, I was skeptical at first but decided to get it done, and it did improve cooling, the route that I travel on has a lot of dust so I thought of getting it done. The labour was free on this service as well.
• I also got the wiper blades changed.
• The bill was Rs. 6,814
• At around 28 k kms there was a whistling noise coming from one of the front wheels, took it to the service centre and the front brake pads had nothing left in them and a small rock had got stuck between the brake pad and disc causing lines on the disc, the SA recommended to change the discs and the brake pads and I agreed.
• The bill came out to Rs. 16,789.
• At the 30 k kms I got all the wiper blades changed, the wheel alignment, wheel balancing, and the AC evaporator cleaned as mentioned earlier; this was in addition to the usual service jobs.
• The bill was Rs. 15,253
• Overall I am happy with the service experience.

The Body Shop Experience

• Unfortunately, in November of 2023, I had a slight graze with another car near home, and the rear right door was dented, sent the car for bodywork and there was a bit of delay due to the Diwali holidays but the work was done flawlessly and the insurance company paid for everything, I only paid the mandatory deductible.
• A few days after I got the car back, at a signal a Tata ace smashed against the left-side ORVM and broke it completely, thankfully no one was injured. This time as it was just the mirror, I did not want to go through insurance for this because it meant leaving the car with the service center again for 3-5 days, I asked the SA to paint the ORVM cover and let me know when it is ready to be fitted, and 2 days later I went in for around 10 mins and the job was done.
• Overall I am very happy with the car and would recommended it to anyone looking for a 7-seater in this price range.

Thank you so much for reading, if you have any questions please do ask!

A few pictures of the delivery and the blessings of the almighty at Adyapeath.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Carens improved on its previous score. The 2024 model was awarded 5 stars for child safety.

The 2024 Kia Carens was recently evaluated by Global NCAP. The car was awarded a 3-star rating for adult safety and 5 stars for child safety, improving on its previous score.

According to the crash test report, the Carens offers good head protection to the driver and passenger’s head in the frontal impact test. The protection offered to the driver’s neck was weak, while the passenger’s neck received good protection. Driver’s chest showed adequate protection and passenger’s chest showed good protection. The protection for the knees was rated as marginal, while the driver’s tibias showed good and adequate protection and the passenger’s tibias showed good protection.

In the side impact test, the head, chest, abdomen and pelvis protection were rated as good. The side pole impact test was not performed on the Carens.

In the frontal impact test, the child seat for the 3-year-old was able to prevent head exposure, offering full protection. The rearward-facing child seat for the 18-month-old was able to prevent head exposure.

Prices for the 2024 Carens start at Rs 10.52 lakh, while the new variants are priced from Rs 12.12 lakh (ex-showroom).

Kia has updated the Carens or the 2024 model year. The carmaker has introduced 7 new trims, including diesel manual and 6-seater variants.

Prices for the 2024 Carens start at Rs 10.52 lakh, while the new variants are priced from Rs 12.12 lakh (ex-showroom). The top-spec X-Line variant has also been updated and now costs Rs 19.67 lakh (ex-showroom).

The 1.5-litre diesel engine is now available with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The Carens Diesel MT is available in both 6 and 7-seat configurations with prices starting at Rs 12.67 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Prestige+ (O) variant in 7DCT and 6AT now gets an electric sunroof, an LED map lamp and a room lamp. Additionally, the Prestige (O) variant offers the choice of 6 or 7 seating capacity, a leatherette-wrapped gear knob, a smart key with push-button start, an LED Rear Combination lamp, LED DRLs and a positioning lamp.

The Premium (O) trim gets new features such as keyless entry, an 8-inch infotainment system, a shark fin antenna, a steering-mounted remote control, a burglar alarm, and more. All variants now get a 180W charger.

The Carens X-Line gets additional features like a dashcam, auto up/down for all windows with voice commands. The X-Line variant is also available in a 7-seat configuration.

The Kia Carens is now available in the Pewter Olive exterior colour.

It is the first price hike announced by Kia India this year.

 Kia India has announced that it plans to increase the prices of its cars by up to 3% from April 1, 2024. It is the first price adjustment by the brand this year and will affect models like the Seltos, Sonet and Carens. 

Commenting on the latest price hike, Hardeep Singh Brar, National Head - Sales and Marketing of Kia India, said, “Due to the continuous increase in commodity prices, adverse exchange rate and rising input cost, we are compelled to implement a partial price hike. The company is absorbing a significant portion of the increase, allowing customers to continue driving their favourite Kia cars without a major dent in their pockets".

Kia has sold almost 1.16 million units in India and overseas markets combined to date. Seltos sales have surpassed 6,13,000 units, followed by Sonet with over 3,95,000 units and Carens with 1,59,000 units.

57% of Seltos buyers opted for variants that offered connected car features.

Kia India has achieved a new sales milestone. The carmaker has sold over 4,00,000 vehicles equipped with connected car features in India.

Connected car features are only available on the top variants, which account for 44% of the brand’s overall sales in India. At 65%, the Seltos makes up the majority of the sales.

According to Kia, 57% of Seltos buyers opted for variants that offered connected car features. Variants equipped with connected car tech make up 31% of the Carens sales, while 21% of Sonet buyers opted for these features.

The connected car features offered on Kia cars include Hinglish commands, Remote Window  Control, Remote Engine, AC start and Valet mode.

The new hybrid powertrains are likely to be introduced by 2025.

Tae-Jin Park, MD of Kia India, recently revealed that the company was looking into alternate powertrains, including hybrids. If the latest reports are true, then the carmaker may have already begun working on electrifying its existing petrol engines in India.

Reports suggest that Kia is developing strong-hybrid versions of the 1.2-litre and 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engines that are currently available in India. The new hybrid powertrains are likely to be introduced by 2025.

Kia’s global portfolio includes several strong-hybrid models like the Carnival, K8 sedan and SUVs like the Niro, Sorento and Sportage. However, these are powered by a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine paired with an electric motor, which won’t be ideal for a cost-sensitive market like India.

Localisation of the battery and motor components would enable Kia to bring its hybrid tech to India, paving the way for models like the Seltos, Carens and Sonet to get hybrid options in the future. However, it is said that a new compact SUV (codenamed: AY) could be Kia's first hybrid model in India. It is expected to be positioned between the Sonet and Seltos.

Source: Autocar India

The biggest advantage of selecting this was their size - which fits perfectly in the slot/grill

BHPian ptaneja recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The only thing I really missed in this variant were functional fog lamps. Even the top-spec variant has useless fog lamps in terms of throw.

After a lot of research, finalized HJG Future Eye 4 fog lamps. The biggest advantage of selecting this was their size - which fits perfectly in the slot/grill without any cutting or making holes in it. Slide it in, use 3M double tape and you are done.
Also, the same set of lights has dual colors - white and yellow.

Purchased it via Amit - 8800878716 ( he has a YouTube channel - RideWithResponsibility ) - he ships/couriers pan India.

Cost - 3400

Purchased Minda wiring harness and 3 way switch from Karol Bagh, Delhi.

Wiring Harness Cost - 800

Switch - 200

Installation - 300 ( including extra wire )

I have not driven it extensively at night, but so far on a stationary car, just love the throw and road-hugging visibility.

Looks Post Installation -

Pre/Post Installation -

Wiring Harness -

Switch Installation -

Wire runs parallel to the gear central console.

I have not attached a switch or drilled hole anywhere. It's stuck between the seat and the central console.

Light Throw -

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Kia Carens is available in seven variants – Premium, Prestige, Prestige Plus, Luxury, Luxury (O), Luxury Plus and X-Line.

The Kia Carens is no longer available in the Moss Brown shade. Customers now get only six colour options: Intense Red, Imperial Blue, Aurora Black Pearl, Sparkling Silver, Gravity Grey and Glacier White Pearl.

The Kia Carens is available in seven variants – Premium, Prestige, Prestige Plus, Luxury, Luxury (O), Luxury Plus and X-Line. Prices start at Rs 10.45 lakh (ex-showroom).

Kia offers the 2023 Carens with two petrol and one diesel engine option. The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol makes 113 BHP and 144 Nm and is paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox, while the 1.5-litre diesel puts out 113 BHP and 250 Nm. It is paired with a 6-speed iMT and 6-speed automatic.

This year, Kia introduced the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine on the Carens. This engine makes 158 BHP and 253 Nm and is offered with either a 6-speed iMT or a 7-speed DCT.

The Kia Carens is available in six variants, including the recently launched X-Line trim.

Kia India has achieved a new sales milestone as sales of the Carens surpassed the 1 lakh unit mark.

The Kia Carens was introduced in the country in February last year. It is available in six variants, including the recently launched X-Line trim.

The Kia Carens is available with a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 113 BHP and 144 Nm, which is paired with a 6-speed manual and a 1.5-litre diesel engine that puts out 113 BHP and 250 Nm and is offered with a choice of a 6-speed iMT and 6-speed automatic.

In 2023, Kia added the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine to the Carens line-up. It makes 158 BHP and 253 Nm and is paired with either a 6-speed iMT or a 7-speed DCT.

Earlier this month, Kia rolled out the Carens X-Line at a starting price of Rs 18.95 lakh (ex-showroom). It features a Matte Graphite exterior and is available with a choice of 1.5-litre turbo-petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engines.

The Carens X-Line is available in a 6-seater configuration and comes in two variants: Petrol 7DCT and Diesel 6AT.

Kia has launched the 'X-Line' variant of the Carens at a starting price of Rs 18.95 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Carens X-Line is finished in a Matte Graphite colour scheme and gets Two Tone Black and Splendid Sage Green interiors. It gets a gloss black grille, black rear skid plate, roof rack and ORVMs. It rides on 16-inch dual-tone alloy wheels and features silver front brake calipers.

Inside, the Carens X-Line gets Splendid Sage Green upholstery with Orange stitching, a black steering wheel with Orange stitching and a matching gear knob. It is available in a 6-seater configuration.

The Carens X-Line is equipped with a Rear Seat Entertainment unit for the left-hand side rear passenger. It features Podcasts, Screen Mirroring, Pinkfong, and a variety of other entertainment and news apps. The system can be controlled via a remote-control app installed on the user's phone.

The Carens X-Line is available in two variants: Petrol 7DCT and Diesel 6AT. The 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine produces 158 BHP and 253 Nm and is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, while the diesel version uses a 1.5-litre unit that puts out 113 BHP and 250 Nm and comes paired with a 6-speed automatic.

Kia Carens X-Line ex-showroom prices:

• Petrol 7DCT - Rs 18,94,900
• Diesel 6AT - Rs 19,44,900