Kia Carens test drive since 2008 Minivan

Available value

The goods are face
If you do not know how the manufacturer himself classifies Kia Karens, then, looking at the car, most likely you will call him a universal. We, perhaps, would attribute it to the class of excessively gaining weight of increased capacity. Such a car has already outgrew the station wagon, but is not yet perceived as a mini-van (the silhouette is not the same). But the manufacturer attributed its model to the mini-wenes, and it was in this role that Karence hit all thick and thin catalogs.
This happened recently - in 2002, so we have a completely fresh machine, created in order to replenish the model range of the company with a large and at the same time affordable car. Let's see how much it succeeded.
At first, as usual, about prices. Karence is produced with three engines - two gasoline 1.6 liters, 77 kW and 1.8 liters, 93 kW, as well as a turbodiesel of 2.0 liters, 83 kW, but the official importer still supplies cars with motor 1, to Russia 8 liters with mechanical or automatic gearboxes. The price of a machine with mechanics starts at $ 14,990 (LX equipment) or, to be completely accurate, conditional units that are almost equal to the dollar. This amount includes air conditioning, hydraulic power, an electric drive of four glasses and two mirrors, an immobilizer, a central castle, an adjustable steering column and audio training. Add another guarantee for five years or 150 thousand km for a body, engine and other large nodes that are not subject to rapid wear.
The option of the configuration is more expensive. In the car for $ 15,950 there are already climate control, fog lights, heated mirrors and lower windshield, rain sensor, as well as the driver’s chair adjustable in height and the key-circuits with the remote control of the central locks.
Similar configuration options with an automatic machine will be approximately $ 1500: LX with additionally installed roof extension and central remote control will cost $ 16,500, and, however, without relings - $ 16,950. Next - more. Equipping the car with an ABS system, two airbags and heated seats will increase the price by about $ 800. A copy with mechanics will pull $ 16,950, with an automatic machine - $ 18,350. True, the latter will also have a target stability system. If you put one on Karens with a mechanical box in appendage to pillows and ABS, the price will increase to $ 17,350.
You can add an electric hatch, a leather interior, cast wheels, side pillows, relings and parking sensors to everything named. Then the machine with mechanics will cost $ 18,350, and with an automatic machine - $ 19,350.
A car with an automatic gearbox in the LX configuration for $ 16,500 came to our test.

WHAT IS INSIDE
It is difficult to resist, so as not to start with an automatic gear selector. At Karens, he settled on the steering column - it seems that the main market for the sales wanted to see the States.
For those who often change cars, this is unusual. However, you adapt to an unusually located lever quite quickly - for some dozen trips. He has all the same familiar provisions: on top of the parking, lower back, neutral, drive, second and first. You can forcibly limit the operation of the box with the first three gearboxes by clicking the button to turn off the overdrave (O/D OFF) on the front panel. As you can see, almost everything is familiar. There is no exception of manual switching, but for machines in this price range, such an option has not yet become the norm.
As a compliment to the manufacturer, we can say that, making a choice for the interior between cheap dermatin and expensive plastic, we stopped at the latter. Thanks to this, for example, the rim of the steering wheel does not slip out of the hands and does not stick to them (with both had to meet). We include good visibility, comfortable and easily readable devices, good chairs to the pluses of the driver's workplace. To minor disadvantages - control of the rear janitor, carried out from steering wheel switches to the panel.
There are many spaces inside Karens. For measurements, in addition to a standard mannequin (see. Fig.), A very large editorial staff helped us - a height of 195 cm and a weight of about 125 kg. Settling forward, he pushed back his chair and, having furred a little in it, said: normally. At the same time, there was still a fist over his head, and there was almost no stock on the knees. When a large person, leaving the front seat adjusted for himself, climbed back, he, as it is customary to say, sat down on himself, then a few moments said: four with a minus. It was free overhead again, but the knees in the front seat still rested. You yourself understand that if someone more modest dimensions sat down for himself, the assessment was higher.
With a fairly spacious salon, Karence has a good trunk - impressive length and width, but not very high, to a soft sliding shelf. However, under the floor there is a huge box for trifles, and the shift shelf is easily removed - load at least to the ceiling.
We draw attention to the fact that KIA has high thresholds, and this is a good on our country, but there is no reliable protection of the motor from below in the standard configuration. This minus can be eliminated for additional payment.
Boxes, pockets and shelves in the car are enough - on the central console, tunnel, doors, on the casing of the rear racks in the trunk. But there are not as many options for transforming the salon as in modern Venans. The rear seat only folds in parts. In general, there is more from the station wagon.

How to go
A large car with an automatic machine and a 1.8 liter engine is classified as those cars that have the possibilities of suspension and steering is higher than the ability of a power unit. This is probably not bad and not good.
The energy intensity of the suspension is quite high, at least at moderate speeds and with incomplete loading. Note that the suspension is perceived by the fifth point as an elastic enough. On a good road, rather dense, bad - quite comfortable.
The engine, or rather a power unit, did not cause any special enthusiasm. We are convinced again: if there is no excess power, it is better to limit yourself to mechanics. Judge for yourself: with it, the car takes the first hundred in 12 seconds, and with a machine gun - already in 15. However, the city stream accelerates even more slowly, so this is enough for life.
If you go quickly or, as they say, actively, then there will be a lot of transitions for two gears down, as well as subsequent twisting of the motor up to 5-6 thousand revolutions - the engine will be well audible in the cabin. So with an automatic box, a moderate driving style is much more preferable. Then everything is quiet inside, and the car goes really smoothly and comfortable.
The steering of Karens is quite sensitive, which is especially convenient in the city, when you often turn or rebuild a lot. On the highway it could be a little sinking, however, you do not feel any inconvenience about the excessive sharpness of the steering wheel.
I really liked the brakes, primarily with its information content. The pedal force is enough to dose normal slowdown without bringing to lock. This is not often possible to hear about cars designed for ABS when it is not in this configuration. Of course, this does not mean that you can turn off your head while driving.
In the city, large external mirrors and a high landing help the driver of Karens - it feels more like an observation deck. True, the front drivers may not see the front of the hood. But this is a common feature of modern cars.
And yet, then what are the main features of Karens? It seemed to the author that in Russia its leading trump card is utilitarianism and orientation to eternal values: energy -intensive suspension, good spaciousness, relatively high thresholds, good visibility, configuration without pillows and ABS - may adherents of safety ideas, as the highest when creating a modern car. In our country, many, choosing a car, think not so high categories.

The salon is concise and functional. The plastic is solid, the steering wheel does not slip in the hands. Through the large slots between the knitting needles, devices are clearly visible.

There are a lot of drawers and niches in the cabin, but the glove box is small.

At the top of the eye, clock. Two lighting plafones in the cabin - in front and behind.

Under the floor of the trunk, a huge box for trifles. There are still two boxes along the edges from it - also below the floor level.

The control of the rear cleaners and the washer is not very convenient - two buttons to the left of the steering wheel.

Alexander Budkin.
Photo: George Sadkov

Source: The magazine "Driving"