A new people mover

Kia is all set to launch the Carens in India which the company is hailing as a recreational vehicle. So how is it to drive and to be driven in? We find out

- Rahul Ghosh

Kia has hit the bull's eye in India by launching products like the Seltos and the Sonet. Now though the company is all set to launch the Carens. So what is the Carens? Is it an SUV or an MPV? As far as the company is concerned, they refer to it as a recreational vehicle. So let's find out what the Carens is all about.

The Carens at first look do not look as muscular or aggressive as an SUV. The front-end design is very different from the Seltos and the Sonet and comes with a sleek set of lights. There are LED DRLs and then there is a set of full LED headlights and an LED fog light set as well. The Tiger Nose treatment has been kept low-key although there are traits visible. Overall the front-end design looks smooth rather than sporty. In profile, one can see the traits of an MPV. The Carens is 4,540mm long, 1,800mm wide, and 1,708mm tall. The wheelbase stands at 2,780mm. Now if we compare it to its cousin the Hyundai Alcazar, the Carens is longer, wider and taller as well. It also sports a longer wheelbase. Another trait of it being an MPV shows itself in form of the rather long rear door which should make ingress easy. The Carens also ride on smaller 16in wheels as compared and this again is a trait of it being more of an MPV. At the back, the Carens look smart with its LED wraparound tail light panel. The two tail lights are joined by a reflector panel. We would have loved if this panel lit up like the Volkswagen Taigun.