31 May 2013
Changing the face of wagons
The market for new Multi Purpose Vehicles (MPVs) in New Zealand isn’t exactly buoyant these days, as buyer preference sway towards SUVs and hatchbacks, and the only place where MPVs are popular is on used car yards.
The Carens has returned more than two years since it departed NZ to complete Kia's range. But Kia NZ execs reckon their latest arrival is not an MPV, and that it slots into the wagon segment, even though the seven seats and high roof line are characteristics of an MPV.
The new Carens is based on the Cerato floor plan but it has a wheelbase that’s 50mm longer and there are two additional seats too. The grille is distinctively Kia’s tiger nose family design and the front fog lamps sit vertically like those fitted to the Sorento.
There is ample forward visibility due to the large windscreen and the high seating position. The interior is well laid out and the seats offer good support and are wrapped in quality material. There is a modest 4.3-inch touch screen for the radio that doubles up as the display for the reversing camera. The dashboard is nicely laid out, with all switches within easy reach of the driver, and gloss black inserts provide an elegant feel.
Making the most of its size
The three second row seats can move horizontally on separate rails to free up extra legroom for third row passengers and to gain access to the rearmost seats. The two seats in the luggage area are better suited for small passengers but when they are in use there is little room left for any baggage. They can fold down into the floor to improve storage room to a decent 492L, that’s a 71 litre improvement from the previous model. All the seats backrests fold flat, except for the drivers, to extend the loading room to accommodate larger objects as long as 2,454mm.
The second row has handy storage compartments located under the floor and trays fitted to the backrests of the front seats, similar to the types found on aeroplanes, which allow passengers to snack comfortably while on the move.
The previous model’s multi-link setup at the rear has been replaced by a coupled torsion beam suspension to free up interior floor space. The vehicle rides comfortably with handling that's competent for a car of its size and the NVH levels are rather subdued and refined. The electrically assisted steering gains the Flex-Steer system that’s also fitted to the new Cerato, which allows drivers to select from one of three pre-programmed steering weights; Comfort, Normal and Sport.
The 2.0L direct injection petrol motor in the new Carens is virtually the same engine fitted to the Cerato but there is 122kW/213Nm, marginally less power but more torque, and combined with the six-speed automatic transmission it has a claimed fuel economy of 7.9L/100km. When the Active Eco function is activated it reduces throttle responsiveness, adjusts the gearshift strategy and the airconditioning activation frequency to improve fuel economy.
Standard features include dual-zone climate control airconditioning, 17-inch alloy wheel rims, rain activating wipers, auto light activation, LED daytime running lamps, cornering lights, roof rails and rear parking sensors.
The previous model had a four-star Euro NCAP crash test result but as the new Carens is fitted with 35.9% more high-tensile steels, and has additional safety features, Kia anticipates when tested it will achieve a five-star ANCAP and Euro NCAP result.
The active safety features include Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist System (BAS).
Passive safety features are frontal and side airbags for front row occupants and two curtain airbags.
The new Carens is available in EX specification only and is priced at $37,990 which is a saving of $2,000 from the previous model. It should entice larger families looking for an occasional seven seater, without the need for an SUV style vehicle, to take a closer look. Kia New Zealand’s estimate of 250 units in a calendar year should be achievable if buyers can look past the people mover resemblance, as it offers sharp pricing for a practical family size vehicle.