For The seven-seater Carens is a practical and flexible MPV that's easy to drive, affordably priced and cheap to run. It all feels well screwed together.
Against The cheapest models only have five seats, and the cabin isn't as clever as it should be. The interior is drab, and the ride and handling don’t match the class leaders.
What Car? says
Its relative lack of comfort and refinement mean it's not the best MPV you can buy, but it's a credible effort and the competitive pricing means it's hard to argue against.
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There are 6 Kia Carens versions available
Buyer's notes
Target Price team says:
Owning a Carens should be a painless experience, thanks to the seven-year warranty that comes with every car. However, the results of the JD Power Customer Satisfaction Survey show up a number of problems with the old model.
The range is relatively straightforward, with just one petrol and one diesel engine. We’d take the diesel, for its superior economy and stronger performance when fully loaded. That said, the petrol is cheaper to buy and copes well enough around town.
Entry-level S trim is five-seat-only and comes with a modest list of standard kit, although at least you do get air-conditioning. It’s only available as a five-seater, whereas the more expensive GS and LS models can be bought with seven seats. We’d go for the GS in preference to the pricier LS to make the most of the Carens’ fine value for money.
Reader test team says:
Kia Carens MPV 2.0i GS 5st 5dr
We have had our Carens now for 6 months, and…
5
out of 5 stars
Kia Carens MPV 2.0 CRDi LS 7st 5dr
I have now owned this car for a month, having…
3
out of 5 stars
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