2013 Kia Carens: Kia Announces Carens UK Specification and Pricing

2013 Kia Carens

Kia UK has now announced pricing and specification details for the all-new Carens that is now available to order from Kia dealerships across the UK.

The all-new third-generation 7-seater Carens completes the design-led revolution that President and Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer began only a few years ago, by renewing every model in the range, and that has completely transformed Kia’s image and driven the company towards year after year of record sales.

All versions of the New Carens in the UK have a versatile and spacious seven-seat interior. There are three highly efficient and modern engines – one petrol and two turbodiesels – two transmissions and three trim and equipment packages.

The 7-seater Carens maintains the leap in quality with every successive new model from Kia, thanks to the classy materials and sophisticated detailing. The wide fascia and crash pad have been split into an upper information area and a lower control area for ease of use, with all switches placed exactly where the driver would expect them to be.

The cabin trim is characterised by minimal panel gaps and soft-to-the-touch surfaces. Each trim grade comes complete with its own unique seat material – black cloth, black woven cloth with keep-clean texture or a choice of two leathers (depending on exterior colour choice). A leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearshifter with chrome surround are standard in the Carens interior specification, along with faux leather garnish on part or all of the door interiors. The two upper trim grades have black high-gloss panels with a grille pattern in the dash, upper centre console, doors and steering wheel spokes, and all models have metallic finish door handles and chrome accents within the cabin.

The increased space within the cabin and boot is reflected in the improved and more intelligent storage and usability features of the new Carens. The standard cooled glovebox is supplemented by second-row under-floor storage, a centre console box, front and rear door pockets large enough to hold drinks bottles and front seat-back pockets. The front seat backs also have fold-up tables with cupholders in most versions, and there are cupholders in the second and third rows. The middle-row centre seat folds to create a table.

The new-style front seats provide greater support in the shoulder area for taller occupants. Ten-way power adjustment for the driver, and integral heaters in both front seats, are standard with the highest trim grade. The individual second-row seats are lighter for easier adjustment and folding, and all three have built-in three-point seat belts. A tilting and sliding mechanism on the outer two improves access to the rear. Third-row seats are also easier to move as a result of the introduction of rigid but lightweight plastic parts, and redesigned head restraints ensure no obstruction to the driver’s rear visibility when the seats are unoccupied.

Overall, the models technical specification is impressive. The petrol engine is the 1.6-litre Gamma GDi direct-injection unit that, with 133bhp and 165Nm of torque, ensures relaxed motorway performance and easy-to-drive, flexible responses in stop-start driving. Combined fuel economy is 44.1mpg, with comfortably more than 53mpg possible when cruising, while the Carens CO2 emissions are an impressively low 149g/km. But this is not at the expense of brisk performance. The petrol Carens can accelerate from 0-60mph in 10.9 seconds and has a top speed of 115mph.

The new Carens family car is also available with two versions of the European-designed 1.7-litre CRDi manual transmission turbodiesel engine, developing either 114bhp and 260Nm of torque or 134bhp and 330Nm. Those high torque figures are maintained over a wide rev range, giving the Carens supreme driveability even with a full complement of passengers on board. The standard version delivers maximum torque from 1,250 to 2,750rpm and 0-60mph acceleration in 12.6 seconds with a 112mph top speed. The more powerful engine option develops its 330Nm between 2,000 and 2,500rpm, which allows 0-60mph to be completed in 10.0 seconds and a top speed of 119mph.

Both 1.7 CRDi power outputs are extremely clean and fuel-efficient. Combined cycle fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are 60.1mpg and 124g/km and 56.4mpg and 132g/km respectively, and a diesel particulate filter is fitted as standard.

The 1.7 CRDi version with the six-speed automatic transmission delivers 134bhp and 320Nm of torque between 1,750 – 2,500rpm, that allows a 0-60mph to be completed in 11.6 seconds and a top speed of 116mph. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are 46.3mpg and 159g/km.

Kia’s Intelligent Stop & Go (ISG)engine stop-start system is standard on all manual-gearbox models. A new accelerator pedal design makes driving more comfortable with a design that puts less stress on the driver’s ankle articulation.

The MacPherson strut front and torsion bar rear suspension has been tuned to ensure precise handling and taut body control. This minimises undesirable lateral movement which can make passengers travelling in the middle and rear rows queasy. At the same time the suspension is supple enough to prevent the effects of bumpy and uneven roads from being felt in the cabin.

ike many other models in the Kia range, Carens is available with Care-3 – Kia’s all-inclusive servicing package that provides retail customers inflation-proof servicing costs for the first three or, in the case of Care-3 Plus, five services of the vehicle‘s life. It is also fully transferable to subsequent owners. Care-3 is available on Carens for £329. Care-3 Plus is available for £609.

As with all new Kias, Carens comes with an industry-leading seven year / 100,000 mile warranty (unlimited mileage in the first three years) that is fully transferable to subsequent owners.

2013 Kia Carens |Source: Kia Motors UK