Kia's ability to develop innovative new cars that look beyond the obvious is given free rein in the Kia Carens. Styled with a hint of SUV attitude, but exhibiting all the versatility and practicality of the most modern compact MPVs, it appeals to families and active couples; private and fleet users alike.
The Kia Carens is available with either five or seven seats, using the same platform as the Magentis saloon. It is spacious, comfortable, refined, safe and built to the highest quality standards.
With seven-seaters taking an increasingly greater share of sales in this traditionally five-seat sector, Kia's design team has inventively created two cars out of one. It is therefore able to satisfy all buyers without the need to produce models with different wheelbases, like some competitors.
This has partially been made possible by the ingenious way the fuel tank is mounted as an integral member of the rear subframe and suspension assembly, permitting a low floor, easy access and more 3rd row cabin space.
The version on sale in the UK is unique to Europe. It was designed by the same teams that devised the latest Sedona full-size MPV, and their brief was simple: to give the car a bolder, more robust, 'outdoorsy' look.
The front bumper, with its black lower centre section and foglamp housings, differs from the model on sale in other continents, and gives the car just a hint of the tough underbody protection fitted to off-roaders. This treatment is echoed in the rear bumper.
The difference between five- and seven-seat versions can be largely explained by changes to the second-row seats. In the seven-seater they slide fore and aft and the backrests tilt, making it possible for passengers to climb into the two rear seats with ease. In the five-seater the second row of seats has fixed positions.
Both models provide full MPV versatility without requiring owners to lift any of the seats out of the car when they need extra luggage space. In the seven-seater, the cushions of the centre-row seats tip forwards, enabling the backrests to fold down, while the rear row folds into recesses in the floor, leaving a totally flat surface free of interruptions. When the rear seats are in use, these recesses are available as hidden storage areas.
In the five-seat model the second row also adopts the seven-seater's 'fold flat' system, creating a completely level floor when the seats are collapsed.
In keeping with all other recent Kia model introductions, the quality of the fixtures and fittings is a match for those in any rival. All main surfaces have a soft-touch finish, while the controls and switches have a premium feel and action.
Two-litre petrol and turbodiesel engines are available, offering similar power and performance, so it's simply up to buyers to decide which best meets their needs and budget.
Kia's 2.0-litre Theta petrol engine produces 142bhp at 6000rpm and 189Nm of torque at 4250rpm, and is offered with a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic.
However, the majority of buyers opt for the greater flexibility and lower fuel consumption of the 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine, which develops 138bhp at 4000rpm and 305Nm of torque from 1800 to 2500rpm. The standard gearbox is a six-speed manual, but a four-speed automatic is again optional.
This 1991cc 16-valve CRDi engine features a second-generation high-pressure common-rail fuel injection system and a variable geometry turbocharger.
Despite running higher top gear ratios with both manual and automatic gearboxes, performance and economy are outstanding. Flexibility, driveability and efficiency go hand-in-hand with superb economy of up to 46.3mpg with the manual gearbox, depending on wheel and tyre choice.
The automatic gearbox is Kia's latest unit offering drivers the option of smooth, sequential Sports Mode manual shifting.
The Kia Carens is a transverse-engined front-wheel-drive car that takes advantage of the platform and chassis designed for the new Magentis saloon, though with a 20mm shorter wheelbase. It features a stiff body, a long 2700mm wheelbase and a wide track front and rear. There are also big wheels and tyres.
All of this allows the car to be steered and manoeuvred with minimal effort while ensuring good high-speed stability. At the rear, the complex and sophisticated in-wheel multi-link set-up, so called because its dual upper arms and long lower trailing arms are largely housed within the road wheels, ensures precise control over changes in camber angle during cornering for more stable handling, while minimising body roll for a smoother ride.
It also minimises intrusion into the cabin. Careful tuning of the new suspension to suit European roads and driving styles has resulted in a car which has the agility drivers demand with a level of ride comfort passengers will appreciate.
Kia rationalised the Carens range at the beginning of April 2008, trimming the number of models in the UK from 16 to 12 with the run-out of most of the Special Edition versions that had been on offer for the previous five months while adding new top-of-the-range LS seven-seater petrol options.
The range now consists of the 2.0-litre five-seater Special Edition S priced at just £10,995, the standard S at just £1100 more, six mid-range GS models - a mixture of petrol and diesel, manual and automatic - from only £13,145, and four luxurious seven-seat LS versions, all with seven seats, from a low start point of £15,145. The Kia Carens therefore continues to exhibit all the value-for-money characteristics for which Kia has always been renowned, yet adds significant build quality backed by a substantial five-year warranty.
All mainstream versions feature Kia's traditionally high level of specification. Even the budget-priced S models have 15-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers and door handles, tinted glass, an integrated four-speaker CD stereo compatible with MP3 players and an auxiliary power socket.
Air conditioning, front and rear electric windows, electrically-adjustable door mirrors, a tilt-adjustable steering column, central locking, six airbags and anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution (EBD) are also part of the standard package.
Mid-range GS models add larger alloy wheels (petrol seven-seat), body-coloured door mirrors, a roof rack and rails capable of taking an 80kg load, and front foglamps. The door mirrors are heated, the sun visor mirrors are illuminated, the steering wheel and gearlever have leather garnish and the interior door handles are metal.
For the ultimate in luxury, Kia offers the Carens LS which, over and above the GS, provides automatic headlights and wipers, front tweeter speakers, climate control instead of air conditioning, an electric tilt-and-slide sunroof, electric folding door mirrors and cruise control (diesel models).
AN MPV WITH SUV ATTITUDE
Most compact SUVs are distress purchases, bought out of need rather than desire. Families use them until the children have grown up and left home, then move on to something different. The Kia Carens changes all that. It is the world's first crossover MPV: a compact five- or seven-seater with SUV attitude.
It was designed by the same team that devised the Sedona full-size MPV, and the brief was simple: create a car with a bold, robust, outdoorsy look.
The version on sale in the UK is unique to Europe. The front bumper has a black lower section and foglamp housings that hint at the tough underbody protection fitted to off-roaders. The treatment is echoed at the rear.
Taking advantage of the Magentis platform, but with a 20mm shorter wheelbase, the Kia Carens is a strong, square-looking car with short overhangs, large wheels and tyres and a low step-in point for easier access.
The absence of fussy, unnecessary ornamentation is also typical of SUVs. The front end is clean and strong, with stylish jewelled headlamps and a characteristic Kia grille. The front bumper gives the car a particularly tough appearance, while the wide track and taut, clean body enveloping front wheels of 15 or 16 inches in diameter adds to the muscular appearance.
This is not at the expense of aerodynamic efficiency, a major contributor to good fuel economy, however. The drag coefficient is an impressively low 0.32, in part thanks to the engine undertray that channels air cleanly beneath the car to the diffuser-like rear.
The base of the windscreen is well towards the front of the car and leads into sweeping A-pillars. There is a bold styling crease just below the waistline, while the side mirrors are on the doors rather than the window frames to improve visibility and reduce air turbulence. A low-sited side rubbing strip adds to the impression of toughnes while providing excellent protection against knocks and scrapes when opening the doors in confined spaces.
The muscular appearance is continued at the rear. There is an upwards kink in the base of the C-pillar that gives the car a particularly chunky appearance, and this is echoed in the deep, square shape of the tailgate, recessed behind prominent bumpers that sweep up to the rear lights.
THE INSIDE STORY
There will never be a clear solution as to whether five or seven seats is the ideal in a compact MPV. Both styles have supporters and opponents. With the Kia Carens, all debate is stifled: we offer both. And thanks to the car's long 2700mm wheelbase, we have been able to do so without having to resort to two different body lengths like some competitors.
Within a length of just over 4.5 metres, Kia has found solutions to satisfy any compact MPV buyer. To make this possible, Kia's engineers have ingeniously made the 55-litre fuel tank an integral part of the rear suspension and subframe assembly, creating space for the folding rear seats of the seven-seater model.
The Kia Carens is also wide and tall, with an unusually low step-in height, adding to its practicality and ease of use. The low floor is especially beneficial to small or infirm passengers.
One of the differences between five- and seven-seat versions is found in the second-row seats. In the seven-seater, they slide fore and aft and the backrests tilt, making it possible for passengers to climb into the third row with ease. In the five-seater, they have fixed positions.
Both models provide full MPV versatility without requiring owners to lift any seats out of the car when they need extra luggage space. In the seven-seater, the middle-row cushions tip forwards, enabling the backrests to fold flat, while the two rear seats drop into recesses in the floor. This leaves a totally flat cargo area free of interruptions. When the rear seats are in use, the recesses are available as hidden storage areas.
There is an enormous 2106 litres of luggage space in both models when being driven as two-seaters. With two rows of seats in use the five-seater can swallow 430 litres of cargo and the seven-seater a slightly smaller 414 litres. The seven-seater has a minimum of 74 litres of space for bags.
In both versions, the front seats recline to form a bed with the middle seats. The centre and third row of seats can also be used to form a bed in the seven-seater.
Cabin storage is greater than owners will ever need. By adopting a foot-operated parking brake and raising the position of the gearlever to the centre console, Kia's interior designers have created the space for a wealth of storage areas around the driver and front passenger.
There is a large compartment beneath the centre armrest, cupholders in the front and rear of the centre console, a sunglasses holder in the headlining, large door pockets with recesses for bottles, a drawer under the passenger's seat and a generously-sized glovebox.
Door pockets and lidded compartments with cupholders above the rear wheelarches provide useful spaces for passengers in rows two and three to store loose items.
All passengers benefit from excellent interior space and shapely seats mounted low enough for ease of entry but high enough to give a commanding SUV-style view of the road. The driver and front passenger enjoy particularly wide cushions and backrests. Passengers in the first two rows have excellent headroom, while the two rear seats in the seven-seater are spacious enough to accommodate someone up to 1.8 metres in height.
A low floor and hip point make for easy access and a more car-like driving position than in many MPVs. All versions have a tilt-adjustable steering column contributing towards a first-class driving position. The rakish angle of the windscreen and the door-mounted side mirrors give excellent visibility.
In keeping with all recent Kia model introductions, the interior trim is of high quality, stylish and robust. All main surfaces have a soft-touch finish, while the controls and switches have a premium feel and action.
The ergonomic layout and stylish look of the instruments and switchgear add weight to the quality of the Kia Carens. A sporty thick-rimmed steering wheel neatly frames a three-dial instrument cluster that has orange-red backlighting at night. There are chrome door handles on most models, while the centre of the dash has a soft-paint finish.
The Kia Carens also provides owners with the safety features they demand for themselves and their families. Six airbags - twin front, side and full-length curtains - are fitted as standard, and the front passenger airbag features a cut-off switch, allowing a rear-facing child seat to be mounted there.
The anti-lock braking system (ABS) that allows the car to be steered and braked simultaneously incorporates electronic brake force distribution (EBD), ensuring that stopping effort is automatically directed to the wheels with most grip. This shortens stopping distances while preventing loss of control when braking hard on slippery surfaces.
RANGE FINDER
Kia rationalised the Carens range at the beginning of April 2008, trimming the number of models in the UK from 16 to 12 with the run-out of most of the Special Edition versions that had been on offer for the previous five months while adding new top-of-the-range LS seven-seater petrol options.
The range now consists of the 2.0-litre five-seater Special Edition S priced at just £10,995, the standard S at just £1100 more, six mid-range GS models - a mixture of petrol and diesel, manual and automatic - from only £13,145, and four luxurious seven-seat LS versions, all with seven seats, from a low start point of £15,145. The Kia Carens therefore continues to exhibit all the value-for-money characteristics for which Kia is renowned.
All mainstream versions feature Kia's traditionally high level of specification. Even the budget-priced S models have 15-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers and door handles, tinted glass, an integrated four-speaker CD stereo compatible with MP3 players and an auxiliary power socket.
Air conditioning with second-row ventilation ducts, front map lamps and a sunglasses holder, front and rear electric windows with auto-down on the driver's side, electrically-adjustable door mirrors, a front wiper de-icer and variable intermittent front wipers add to the convenience and comfort of all occupants.
There is a tilt-adjustable steering column, eight cupholders, central locking, two 12-volt power sockets, six airbags (twin front, side and full-length curtains), anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution (EBD), active front headrests to reduce the chances of whiplash injury if the car is hit from the rear, child safety locking on the rear doors, ISOFIX chikd-seat mounbting points on the outer second-row seats and side impact protection beams. An immobiliser and locking wheel nuts help protects against theft.
Mid-range GS models add 16-inch alloy wheels (petrol seven-seat), body-coloured door mirrors, a roof rack and rails capable of taking an 80kg load, and front foglamps. The door mirrors are heated, the sun visor mirrors are illuminated, the steering wheel and gearlever have leather garnish, the interior door handles are metal and an alarm is standard.
For the ultimate in luxury, Kia offers the Carens LS which provides over and above the GS automatic headlights and wipers, front tweeter speakers, climate control instead of air conditioning, an electric tilt-and-slide sunroof, electric folding door mirrors and an intermittent rear wiper. There is black instead of grey upholstery, cruise control (diesel only), a trip computer and metal scuff plates on all four side doors.
The Kia Carens is available with either five or seven seats, using the same platform as the Magentis saloon. It is spacious, comfortable, refined, safe and built to the highest quality standards.
With seven-seaters taking an increasingly greater share of sales in this traditionally five-seat sector, Kia's design team has inventively created two cars out of one. It is therefore able to satisfy all buyers without the need to produce models with different wheelbases, like some competitors.
This has partially been made possible by the ingenious way the fuel tank is mounted as an integral member of the rear subframe and suspension assembly, permitting a low floor, easy access and more 3rd row cabin space.
The version on sale in the UK is unique to Europe. It was designed by the same teams that devised the latest Sedona full-size MPV, and their brief was simple: to give the car a bolder, more robust, 'outdoorsy' look.
The front bumper, with its black lower centre section and foglamp housings, differs from the model on sale in other continents, and gives the car just a hint of the tough underbody protection fitted to off-roaders. This treatment is echoed in the rear bumper.
The difference between five- and seven-seat versions can be largely explained by changes to the second-row seats. In the seven-seater they slide fore and aft and the backrests tilt, making it possible for passengers to climb into the two rear seats with ease. In the five-seater the second row of seats has fixed positions.
Both models provide full MPV versatility without requiring owners to lift any of the seats out of the car when they need extra luggage space. In the seven-seater, the cushions of the centre-row seats tip forwards, enabling the backrests to fold down, while the rear row folds into recesses in the floor, leaving a totally flat surface free of interruptions. When the rear seats are in use, these recesses are available as hidden storage areas.
In the five-seat model the second row also adopts the seven-seater's 'fold flat' system, creating a completely level floor when the seats are collapsed.
In keeping with all other recent Kia model introductions, the quality of the fixtures and fittings is a match for those in any rival. All main surfaces have a soft-touch finish, while the controls and switches have a premium feel and action.
Two-litre petrol and turbodiesel engines are available, offering similar power and performance, so it's simply up to buyers to decide which best meets their needs and budget.
Kia's 2.0-litre Theta petrol engine produces 142bhp at 6000rpm and 189Nm of torque at 4250rpm, and is offered with a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic.
However, the majority of buyers opt for the greater flexibility and lower fuel consumption of the 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine, which develops 138bhp at 4000rpm and 305Nm of torque from 1800 to 2500rpm. The standard gearbox is a six-speed manual, but a four-speed automatic is again optional.
This 1991cc 16-valve CRDi engine features a second-generation high-pressure common-rail fuel injection system and a variable geometry turbocharger.
Despite running higher top gear ratios with both manual and automatic gearboxes, performance and economy are outstanding. Flexibility, driveability and efficiency go hand-in-hand with superb economy of up to 46.3mpg with the manual gearbox, depending on wheel and tyre choice.
The automatic gearbox is Kia's latest unit offering drivers the option of smooth, sequential Sports Mode manual shifting.
The Kia Carens is a transverse-engined front-wheel-drive car that takes advantage of the platform and chassis designed for the new Magentis saloon, though with a 20mm shorter wheelbase. It features a stiff body, a long 2700mm wheelbase and a wide track front and rear. There are also big wheels and tyres.
All of this allows the car to be steered and manoeuvred with minimal effort while ensuring good high-speed stability. At the rear, the complex and sophisticated in-wheel multi-link set-up, so called because its dual upper arms and long lower trailing arms are largely housed within the road wheels, ensures precise control over changes in camber angle during cornering for more stable handling, while minimising body roll for a smoother ride.
It also minimises intrusion into the cabin. Careful tuning of the new suspension to suit European roads and driving styles has resulted in a car which has the agility drivers demand with a level of ride comfort passengers will appreciate.
Kia rationalised the Carens range at the beginning of April 2008, trimming the number of models in the UK from 16 to 12 with the run-out of most of the Special Edition versions that had been on offer for the previous five months while adding new top-of-the-range LS seven-seater petrol options.
The range now consists of the 2.0-litre five-seater Special Edition S priced at just £10,995, the standard S at just £1100 more, six mid-range GS models - a mixture of petrol and diesel, manual and automatic - from only £13,145, and four luxurious seven-seat LS versions, all with seven seats, from a low start point of £15,145. The Kia Carens therefore continues to exhibit all the value-for-money characteristics for which Kia has always been renowned, yet adds significant build quality backed by a substantial five-year warranty.
All mainstream versions feature Kia's traditionally high level of specification. Even the budget-priced S models have 15-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers and door handles, tinted glass, an integrated four-speaker CD stereo compatible with MP3 players and an auxiliary power socket.
Air conditioning, front and rear electric windows, electrically-adjustable door mirrors, a tilt-adjustable steering column, central locking, six airbags and anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution (EBD) are also part of the standard package.
Mid-range GS models add larger alloy wheels (petrol seven-seat), body-coloured door mirrors, a roof rack and rails capable of taking an 80kg load, and front foglamps. The door mirrors are heated, the sun visor mirrors are illuminated, the steering wheel and gearlever have leather garnish and the interior door handles are metal.
For the ultimate in luxury, Kia offers the Carens LS which, over and above the GS, provides automatic headlights and wipers, front tweeter speakers, climate control instead of air conditioning, an electric tilt-and-slide sunroof, electric folding door mirrors and cruise control (diesel models).
AN MPV WITH SUV ATTITUDE
Most compact SUVs are distress purchases, bought out of need rather than desire. Families use them until the children have grown up and left home, then move on to something different. The Kia Carens changes all that. It is the world's first crossover MPV: a compact five- or seven-seater with SUV attitude.
It was designed by the same team that devised the Sedona full-size MPV, and the brief was simple: create a car with a bold, robust, outdoorsy look.
The version on sale in the UK is unique to Europe. The front bumper has a black lower section and foglamp housings that hint at the tough underbody protection fitted to off-roaders. The treatment is echoed at the rear.
Taking advantage of the Magentis platform, but with a 20mm shorter wheelbase, the Kia Carens is a strong, square-looking car with short overhangs, large wheels and tyres and a low step-in point for easier access.
The absence of fussy, unnecessary ornamentation is also typical of SUVs. The front end is clean and strong, with stylish jewelled headlamps and a characteristic Kia grille. The front bumper gives the car a particularly tough appearance, while the wide track and taut, clean body enveloping front wheels of 15 or 16 inches in diameter adds to the muscular appearance.
This is not at the expense of aerodynamic efficiency, a major contributor to good fuel economy, however. The drag coefficient is an impressively low 0.32, in part thanks to the engine undertray that channels air cleanly beneath the car to the diffuser-like rear.
The base of the windscreen is well towards the front of the car and leads into sweeping A-pillars. There is a bold styling crease just below the waistline, while the side mirrors are on the doors rather than the window frames to improve visibility and reduce air turbulence. A low-sited side rubbing strip adds to the impression of toughnes while providing excellent protection against knocks and scrapes when opening the doors in confined spaces.
The muscular appearance is continued at the rear. There is an upwards kink in the base of the C-pillar that gives the car a particularly chunky appearance, and this is echoed in the deep, square shape of the tailgate, recessed behind prominent bumpers that sweep up to the rear lights.
THE INSIDE STORY
There will never be a clear solution as to whether five or seven seats is the ideal in a compact MPV. Both styles have supporters and opponents. With the Kia Carens, all debate is stifled: we offer both. And thanks to the car's long 2700mm wheelbase, we have been able to do so without having to resort to two different body lengths like some competitors.
Within a length of just over 4.5 metres, Kia has found solutions to satisfy any compact MPV buyer. To make this possible, Kia's engineers have ingeniously made the 55-litre fuel tank an integral part of the rear suspension and subframe assembly, creating space for the folding rear seats of the seven-seater model.
The Kia Carens is also wide and tall, with an unusually low step-in height, adding to its practicality and ease of use. The low floor is especially beneficial to small or infirm passengers.
One of the differences between five- and seven-seat versions is found in the second-row seats. In the seven-seater, they slide fore and aft and the backrests tilt, making it possible for passengers to climb into the third row with ease. In the five-seater, they have fixed positions.
Both models provide full MPV versatility without requiring owners to lift any seats out of the car when they need extra luggage space. In the seven-seater, the middle-row cushions tip forwards, enabling the backrests to fold flat, while the two rear seats drop into recesses in the floor. This leaves a totally flat cargo area free of interruptions. When the rear seats are in use, the recesses are available as hidden storage areas.
There is an enormous 2106 litres of luggage space in both models when being driven as two-seaters. With two rows of seats in use the five-seater can swallow 430 litres of cargo and the seven-seater a slightly smaller 414 litres. The seven-seater has a minimum of 74 litres of space for bags.
In both versions, the front seats recline to form a bed with the middle seats. The centre and third row of seats can also be used to form a bed in the seven-seater.
Cabin storage is greater than owners will ever need. By adopting a foot-operated parking brake and raising the position of the gearlever to the centre console, Kia's interior designers have created the space for a wealth of storage areas around the driver and front passenger.
There is a large compartment beneath the centre armrest, cupholders in the front and rear of the centre console, a sunglasses holder in the headlining, large door pockets with recesses for bottles, a drawer under the passenger's seat and a generously-sized glovebox.
Door pockets and lidded compartments with cupholders above the rear wheelarches provide useful spaces for passengers in rows two and three to store loose items.
All passengers benefit from excellent interior space and shapely seats mounted low enough for ease of entry but high enough to give a commanding SUV-style view of the road. The driver and front passenger enjoy particularly wide cushions and backrests. Passengers in the first two rows have excellent headroom, while the two rear seats in the seven-seater are spacious enough to accommodate someone up to 1.8 metres in height.
A low floor and hip point make for easy access and a more car-like driving position than in many MPVs. All versions have a tilt-adjustable steering column contributing towards a first-class driving position. The rakish angle of the windscreen and the door-mounted side mirrors give excellent visibility.
In keeping with all recent Kia model introductions, the interior trim is of high quality, stylish and robust. All main surfaces have a soft-touch finish, while the controls and switches have a premium feel and action.
The ergonomic layout and stylish look of the instruments and switchgear add weight to the quality of the Kia Carens. A sporty thick-rimmed steering wheel neatly frames a three-dial instrument cluster that has orange-red backlighting at night. There are chrome door handles on most models, while the centre of the dash has a soft-paint finish.
The Kia Carens also provides owners with the safety features they demand for themselves and their families. Six airbags - twin front, side and full-length curtains - are fitted as standard, and the front passenger airbag features a cut-off switch, allowing a rear-facing child seat to be mounted there.
The anti-lock braking system (ABS) that allows the car to be steered and braked simultaneously incorporates electronic brake force distribution (EBD), ensuring that stopping effort is automatically directed to the wheels with most grip. This shortens stopping distances while preventing loss of control when braking hard on slippery surfaces.
RANGE FINDER
Kia rationalised the Carens range at the beginning of April 2008, trimming the number of models in the UK from 16 to 12 with the run-out of most of the Special Edition versions that had been on offer for the previous five months while adding new top-of-the-range LS seven-seater petrol options.
The range now consists of the 2.0-litre five-seater Special Edition S priced at just £10,995, the standard S at just £1100 more, six mid-range GS models - a mixture of petrol and diesel, manual and automatic - from only £13,145, and four luxurious seven-seat LS versions, all with seven seats, from a low start point of £15,145. The Kia Carens therefore continues to exhibit all the value-for-money characteristics for which Kia is renowned.
All mainstream versions feature Kia's traditionally high level of specification. Even the budget-priced S models have 15-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers and door handles, tinted glass, an integrated four-speaker CD stereo compatible with MP3 players and an auxiliary power socket.
Air conditioning with second-row ventilation ducts, front map lamps and a sunglasses holder, front and rear electric windows with auto-down on the driver's side, electrically-adjustable door mirrors, a front wiper de-icer and variable intermittent front wipers add to the convenience and comfort of all occupants.
There is a tilt-adjustable steering column, eight cupholders, central locking, two 12-volt power sockets, six airbags (twin front, side and full-length curtains), anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution (EBD), active front headrests to reduce the chances of whiplash injury if the car is hit from the rear, child safety locking on the rear doors, ISOFIX chikd-seat mounbting points on the outer second-row seats and side impact protection beams. An immobiliser and locking wheel nuts help protects against theft.
Mid-range GS models add 16-inch alloy wheels (petrol seven-seat), body-coloured door mirrors, a roof rack and rails capable of taking an 80kg load, and front foglamps. The door mirrors are heated, the sun visor mirrors are illuminated, the steering wheel and gearlever have leather garnish, the interior door handles are metal and an alarm is standard.
For the ultimate in luxury, Kia offers the Carens LS which provides over and above the GS automatic headlights and wipers, front tweeter speakers, climate control instead of air conditioning, an electric tilt-and-slide sunroof, electric folding door mirrors and an intermittent rear wiper. There is black instead of grey upholstery, cruise control (diesel only), a trip computer and metal scuff plates on all four side doors.