Kia Carens Is Kia’s Upcoming MPV - Global Reveal On Dec 16 | V3Cars

The Kia Carens will go on sale sometime in the first quarter of 2022. The carmaker earlier codenamed the MPV ‘KY’. We’ve already seen the spy shots of the 2022 Carens testing on the Indian roads with heavy camouflage. Kia’s Anantpur plant in Andhra Pradesh will make this upcoming Ertiga and Nexa XL6 rival.

The Kia Carens will have the following notable features:

• ​​​​​​​Telematics
• LED headlamps
• LED DRLs
• 10-inch touchscreen
• Sunroof
• Sunroof (most likely panoramic sunroof)

The Carens is likely to use Sonet’s platform with a longer wheelbase and offer 1.5L petrol and 1.5L diesel engines. Kia may also offer the 1.4L turbo petrol engine in Carens. Here are the expected engine specs for the Carens:

The KY or Carens is likely to use the Sonet’s platform and offer 1.5L normal petrol and 1.5L turbo diesel as engine options. There were rumours suggesting that Kia are working on an auto-clutch manual transmission (ACMT) for their 1.5L diesel engine. If this rumour comes true, then we may see the Carens come with ACMT with petrol as well as diesel engine. Kia already sells the Seltos 1.5L normal petrol with the 6-speed ACMT. The auto-clutch transmission will make it a very convenient car to drive in city traffic for families.

Coming to the name, Kia say that the word Carens derives from the concept of ’Car + Renaissance’. They say that Carens falls under RV (Recreational Vehicle) segment, which is for modern Indian families and it will revolutionize the market. They also claim that the Carens will redefine family commuting in India. Carens will offer a premium experience with high-tech features and practicality. Carens will offer the boldness of an SUV in its design, which the spy shots justify.

The Kia KY or Kia Carens is not the first car to challenge the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. The Renault Lodgy and Nissan Evalia have tried and failed. The Datsun Go Plus also tried the same formula in an affordable package and failed. The only car surviving is the Mahindra Marazzo. However, it’s a different animal altogether. The Marazzo is larger, has a ladder frame chassis and no petrol and CNG engine options.

In the MPV business, the Renault Triber, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga/Nexa XL6 and Toyota Innova rule their respective segments. On the upper end of this MPV business, 3-row SUVs like the Tata Safari, MG Hector Plus and Hyundai Alcazar are stealing some business from the Innova but it’s still holding strong and remains in high demand.