Kia All New Carens

The Kia Carens, which is a compact MPV launched in 1999, has now been updated and this new version, made under the codename "RP", is becoming a bit more interesting for ordinary families.

2013 Kia Carens

Here it is. It made a world premiere at Paris Motor Show last year and this car isn't quite a looker when you look at its boxy proportions. It could almost be a potential threat to the Chevrolet Orlando MPV, that's for sure but unlike the Orlando, the all new Carens is smaller in dimensions. That's a flaw for the new model but unlike the Orlando which comes with some utter Cruze-like interior that doesn't make sense to the driver, the  new interior of the Carens is a bit modest if I'm honest. Sadly though, if you are opting for a seven seater model, access to the third-row seats still has the conventional way of folding the second row seats which I'm afraid that most of the dirt of your shoes might ruin the back of the 2nd row seats and you may have to clean it again whereas the Orlando comes with an easier access to third-row seats, respectively.

2013 Kia Carens interior

Whereas the Orlando comes with the 2.0L diesel and a 2.0L LPG engine, the all new Carens decided to take smaller ones because of its size. Well, what powers the new Carens? A 1.7L CRDi-VGT engine or a 2.0L liquefied petroleum injection engine. The 1.7L diesel engine produces about 140PS of power, that's 23PS less than the Orlando's 2.0L diesel engine. Also, combined fuel economy for the Carens with the 1.7L CRDi-VGT engine is 13.2km/L, that's also less than the Orlando with the 2.0L diesel mated with automatic transmission. Oh, that Carens with the 1.7L diesel engine is available only with a 6-speed automatic.

How about the one with the 2.0L LPGi engine on it? That's good news because while the Chevrolet Orlando with a 2.0L LPGi engine has 140PS of power, the new Kia Carens with the 2.0L LPGi engine edges out with 154PS of power. That's 14PS more! Also, it's much more economical than the Orlando LPGi because the new Carens with the 2.0L LPGi engine has a fuel economy of 9km/L. Make it 9.5km/L if you're opted with the Carens LPGi model with a 6-speed manual transmission.

Unlike the Orlando, the new Carens also come with a party piece that you will notice and that is the SPAS, the one where the Carens uses sensors to find a parking space and then automatically parks it for you. This self-parking system is so surprising, you can even blindfold yourself and then when you remove it and notice that if your new Carens is parked, you'll get yourself a grin on your face. You can even do this even while you have some busy stuff in your hand such as playing something on your PSP, your iPhone, iPad, anything...

Here's the price list for the new Carens, all priced in Korean Won:


뉴 카렌스 1.7 VGT 프레스티지 A/T 24,200,000
뉴 카렌스 1.7 VGT 노블레스 A/T 27,150,000
뉴 카렌스 1.7 VGT 디럭스 A/T 20,850,000
뉴 카렌스 1.7 VGT 럭셔리 A/T 22,350,000
뉴 카렌스 2.0 LPI 프레스티지 A/T 23,000,000
뉴 카렌스 2.0 LPI 노블레스 A/T 25,950,000
뉴 카렌스 2.0 LPI 디럭스 A/T 19,650,000
뉴 카렌스 2.0 LPI 럭셔리 A/T 21,150,000

뉴 카렌스 2.0 LPI 디럭스 M/T 18,000,000

Furthermore, the all new Carens is "great value" for your money if you can't afford a Chevrolet Orlando by yourself and that's the end of it.

But the question is, should you really buy this new Carens over the Chevrolet Orlando? I don't know but the jury's out because a Kia Carens with a 1.7L diesel starts at around 20,850,000 Won, that's definitely affordable than the Chevrolet Orlando diesel's starting price of 22,100,000 Won. That's right. You can really afford one rather than the Chevy MPV.

Since Columbian Autocar Corporation said that they're going to bring this new model to the Philippines soon in diesel only, I just think of something odd because since we're a Euro II country, I'm afriad that this new Carens doesn't work here because the 1.7 diesel is Euro V compliant and you know the rules...

Guess they really broke the rules, eh?

Photo: Kia Motors