Kia Carens test drive since 2008 Minivan

All photos of Kia Carens since 2008

Change and surprise

The new Kia Carens is more vivid, stylish and outwardly outwardly mini-wen (unlike the previous generation).

Another example of the action of Korean power to surprise (as translates from the English slogan of Kia the Power to Surprise). The Korean grew up, began to look more expensive and more thoroughly behaved on the road, but the price tag about $ 28,000 makes its image less attractive against the background of more eminent competitors.

And the image for Korea and Korean cars means a lot of because local manufacturers talk about their victories in competitions at the most reliable, most purchased, etc. Now Kia is trying to convince society that the price tags for their products should not bashfully blush modest numbers. They may well match the prices of Europeans and Japanese.

There are more recognizable features in the appearance of Carens. Kia is not the first to collect a successful one with the world along the thread all the more so since the result, in general, is not like anything. The mouth of its radiator lattice is opened wider, headlight disperseers became transparent, and fog lights are planted in specially designated trapezoid nests. The central air intake is shifted down, which makes it look more aggressive.

The back optics also became more expressive, and in the bumper there is a semblance of a diffuser with an integrated muffler into it. Without a doubt, the new Carens has become larger than its predecessor. We check for sure: 55 longer, wider by 52 and higher by 41 mm. The wheelbase also increased by as much as 130 mm, and the track became wider than 80 mm. All this became possible thanks to the platform from Kia Magentis (and Hyundai NF).

To make sure that the changes in the dimensions have positively affected comfort, just look inside. On the second row of seats, the three of them can be safely accommodated, while not touching the knees of the backs of the front seats, even if people are sitting there taller than 190 cm.

As for the aesthetics of space that grew in size, the Koreans again surprised: a good designer taste and high quality fitting of details. The central console is made with metal trim, and the devices are quite large in size. Three circles of devices are looking directly at the driver: a speedometer in the center, a tachometer on the left, and the indicators of the temperature of the coolant and fuel level on the right. Indications are well read both day and night. On the edges of the central console are the diffusers of the cabin heater. Between them, a scoreboard with a clock, an alarm button and a nest for installing a radio. (Unfortunately, the full -time radio tape recorders Kia do not offer only speakers and antenna).

Prices
Kia Carens

From 726,000 rubles. The standard equipment includes a 2.0-liter engine, mechanical KP, ABS, steering wheel, front and two side airbags, air conditioning, central locking door locks, windows electric drives, immobilizer, central lock. Automatic transmission is available in the top set itself, which costs from 813,000 rubles.

Below is the climate control panel with a small but informative monochrome display. The gearbox lever, like many mini-wenes, is located on a kind of pedestal, but does not form the central tunnel, in contrast, for example, from the interior solution in Ford Galaxy. The driver’s chair is soft, without pronounced side support. But the range of adjustments in length and height is sufficient.

The floor of the passenger compartment is lowered by 40 mm; This made it possible to seriously increase the capacity of the rear of the cabin on the seats of the third row with relative comfort, two people tall 180 cm.

In the Carens movement, both as a bus and as a sedan. The pendants (they, along with the platform, migrated here from the magentis sedan) are very energy -intensive, but the rolls and longitudinal buildup are observed even in not the most active maneuvers.

And the engine is not bad! The 2.0-liter 145-horsepower unit perfectly pulls on the bottoms and medium speeds, with five-speed mechanics, allowing to optimally realize the entire power transmitted by the wheels.

For the lazy, a four -speed machine with manual switching is available. Carens with it is somewhat losing in the dynamics of acceleration, but however, you can not rant about the advantages of automatic transmissions for a long time.

The ESP system turned on, not embarrassed, adjusts the driver’s actions, brakeing the cranning wheel. The main plus of the system ESP OFF button, located to the left of the steering wheel. The steering wheel itself does not look like a precortion, but it has a good feedback and acuteness: the steering wheel winds up only 2.86 turns from the stop to the stop.

The brakes deserved compliments with their predictability and informative pedal. It should be noted that now in Carens all brakes are disk. This has a beneficial effect on slowdown: for a complete stop with 100 km/h, a mini-van requires about 42 m. The impression remaining from a trip to Carens is twofold. On the one hand, competitors have a dozen pleasant bonuses included in the same starting amount: from a regular radio to a more grip driver.

The fact that there are only 5 seats in the database, and the fact that the diesel engine did not go to Russia also does not make Carens honor. But, on the other hand, the mini-van perfectly coped with the main task of organizing the maximum space for the transportation of passengers, while not offending the driver.

Carens did not disappoint with comfort, visibility and other little things that have developed in a picture with the image of a solid family car.

The car was provided for the test company Dakar, the official dealer Kia

Text: Alexander Korobchenko
Photo: Roman Ostanin