Even if the MPV segment is becoming less and less popular in Europe, Kia wants to offer its clients a fresh alternative in the segment. So it updated the current generation Carens, as the model reached its midlife cycle.
Available on the UK market at the end of this year, the revised Carens comes with new front and rear bumpers and fog lamp design, and an updated ‘tiger-nose’ grille. These changes are accompanied by the addition of a new exterior paint finish, Mysterious Blue, as well as three new designs for 16-, 17- and 18-inch aluminium alloy wheels. The updated model also boasts new rear combination lamps with a distinctive new light signature.
On the inside, the new Carens comes with new seat upholstery – available with a new knit cloth pattern, or leather with a diamond-woven pattern – as well as new metallic and gloss-black accents throughout the cabin, and a new carbon-effect dashboard trim. The interior of the Carens is available with either black or beige upholstery.
For those looking for gadgets, the Carens is available with Kia’s 7.0 or 8.0 inch touchscreen HMI (human-machine interface), with navigation, Kia Connected Services powered by TomTom, and rear-view parking camera. The new HMI also incorporates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for full smartphone integration. Android Auto is designed to work with Android phones running 5.0 (Lollipop) or higher. The Apple CarPlay is available for iPhone 5 or newer on selected models.
To ensure a good consumption for its UK clients, Kia has engineered a new Eco Pack for the 114 bhp 1.7-litre diesel engine, incorporating Idle Stop/Go (ISG) technology, Michelin low rolling resistance tyres, and a series of revised gear ratios. This leads to producing carbon dioxide emissions as low as 109 g/km when paired with the car’s six-speed manual transmission.
