Kia hopes a more stylish entry like the Carens will help it gain traction in the global "people-mover" category.
Kia is bringing its penchant for stylish design to the people-mover segment at this year’s Geneva Motor Show with a new model that will eventually be sold around the world.
The all-new Kia Carens is a compact MPV designed and engineered from the ground-up to meet the needs of modern families, the maker claims, with a cab-forward design, choice of four powertrains, up to seven seats and a broad range of convenience and safety features.
“I wanted to give the new Carens a sleeker look and feel, to create a design that envelops its functionality and versatility in something altogether more athletic and dynamic,” says Peter Schreyer, president of Kia and Hyundai design. “This new-found visual dynamism is important – this car needs to look appealing and attractive – but during its design and development stages, we never lost sight of the fact that its packaging flexibility and adaptability are why people buy these cars.”
The new Carens will offer 5- and 7-seat packages.
Like its sibling Korean brand, Kia has so far had relatively limited success in targeting what Americans know as minivans. But despite the steady decline in the size of the market – as consumers shift to alternative like Kia’s Sorento, the maker appears ready to make another try.
“The all-new Carens takes Kia back into one of the most important and competitive sectors of the European market with a strong contender for class-honors,” said Benny Oeyen, Vice President Marketing and Product Planning, Kia Motors Europe.
Oeyen noted the new new Carens has a spacious and versatile interior with options for five or seven seats and large storage compartments throughout the cabin.
The new Carens is shorter, narrower and lower than the previous-generation model. However, cabin space is generous thanks to the longer wheelbase and cab-forward design which places the base of the A-pillar above the front-wheel centre line.
Its overall height, meanwhile, is one of the lowest in class – giving the model a more sporty appearance and the styling is enhanced by LED daylight running lights and optional LED rear combination lamps.
In Europe, such niceties as air conditioning and side window blinds will be standard features. Heated front- and second-row seats are optional and buyers can also choose a heated steering wheel and a supervision instrument cluster with a 4.2-inch TFT LCD screen that displays high-definition graphics.
In Europe, Kia plans to offer two diesel and two gasoline powertrains. Both gasoline engines feature direct injection to boost power output without increasing fuel consumption. The fastest version of the new Carens, the 2.0-litre gasoline model, reaches 60 miles per hour in 9.7 seconds and has a top speed of 120 mph.
Innovative ‘active’ safety features available for the new Carens will include Lane Departure Warning which uses a forward-facing video camera to monitor the car’s position in relation to lane markings and triggers a warning in case of unintended lane departures at speeds above 60 kph. SPAS features automatic steering control by ultrasonic sensors and an on-board computer to safely perform parallel parking. The computer ‘takes over’ the task of steering, while the driver remains in control of the accelerator and brake.