The Fact Maker

Kia India launches Carens in India; special introductory price starts from INR 8.99 Lakhs

  • The Carens comes with standard 6 Airbags along with multiple active and passive safety features under Robust 10 Hi-Safety package
  • Offered in 19 variants, prices ranging from INR 8.99 to 16.99 Lakhs (ex-showroom, pan-India)
  • Maintenance Cost for Carens starts from as low as 37 Paisa per kilometre
  • Introduces ‘My Convenience Plus’ aftersales initiative, exclusively for Carens owners
  • Introduces ‘My Kia’ app; an app for the existing and prospective buyers of Kia in the country
  • Over 19,089 booking received so far, enhances production

Chennai : Kia India, the fastest-growing carmaker in the country, today announced the launch of its fourth and latest ‘Made-for-India’ offering, the three-row recreational vehicle, Carens. The Carens’ Premium Smartstream 1.5 Petrol 6MT variant is priced competitively at INR 8.99 Lakhs (ex-showroom, pan-India). The Carens is offered in 19 variants with prices ranging from INR 8.99 to 16.99 Lakhs (ex-showroom, pan-India). This highly anticipated model is available in 5 trims, 3 engine and 3 transmission options. With a comprehensive list of features and a strong emphasis on safety, the Kia Carens is designed to be one of the safest cars in the country and the most compelling value proposition for modern Indian families, packing the sophistication of a family mover and the sportiness of an SUV in one. So far, the company has received 19,089 bookings for the car in just over 1 month since the bookings opened on 14th Jan,2022.

The Kia Carens is available in five trim levels: Premium, Prestige, Prestige Plus, Luxury, and Luxury Plus. The vehicle comes in seven-seater configurations from Premium to Luxury trims, with the Luxury Plus trim offering both 6- and 7-seater configurations. The Robust 10 Hi-safety package, which includes 6 airbags, DBC, VSM, HAC, ESC and All-Wheel Disc Brakes, to name a few, comes standard on all five trim levels, making the Kia Carens one of the safest family movers. The Kia Carens is offered with three engine options: Smartstream 1.5 Petrol, Smartstream 1.4 T-GDi Petrol, and 1.5 CRDi VGT Diesel, mated with three transmissions – 6MT, 7DCT, or 6AT.

Low Maintenance Cost

In addition to the exciting pricing, the Carens also offers maintenance cost as low as 37 Paisa per kilometre. The company continues to personalise the vehicle servicing process for its customers and offer a competitive maintenance cost for all its models in the country.

Commenting on the occasion, Tae-Jin Park, Managing Director and CEO, Kia India, said, “Since inception, we have remained focused on adding value to Indian customers’ driving experiences through our ground-breaking vehicles and services. The Carens is a true Kia, offering Best in Class features, immaculate design and practicality, a wide range of variant choices at a compelling price point. The pricing offers us an opportunity to cater to an even more diverse set of our customer. We will enhance our production to meet this increased demand.”

He further added: “We are confident also that our customers will have a wonderful ownership experience of the Carens, which incurs maintenance cost starting from as low as 37 paisa per kilometre. The value proposition offered would make this a vehicle of choice for modern Indian families.”

New initiative:

My Convenience Plus

Along with the launch of the Carens, Kia India also announced the launch of the Carens ownership differentiator: ‘My Convenience Plus’. The initiative offers comprehensive coverage for new Carens buyers that provides them complete peace of mind.

‘My Convenience Plus’ is a Carens-exclusive aftersales initiative that can be purchased alongside the vehicle and includes PPM (Pre-Paid Maintenance), EW (Extended Warranty), and optional RSA (Road Side Assistance). The initiative is the industry first aftersales initiative, unrivalled by any other OEM in the country. It is available with pan India coverage and uniform pricing across the country. The customers can choose from Premium and Luxury package, which covers the car for 4 and 5 years respectively. The initiative also offers an attractive package on car care services, if availed during the program tenure, and protects the customers from inflation in service cost.

My Kia

With the vision to offer utmost convenience to its customers, the company also launched the ‘My Kia’ mobile app – a one-stop solution for existing and prospective customers for all their needs related to Kia. ‘My Kia’ app is available on iOS and Android platforms wherein prospective customers can request test-drive, video consultation and can even book their preferred Kia car. The existing customers of Kia can use this app for Service appointment and reminder, request pick and drop and track service progress, etc. Customer can also get real-time notifications, tips and FAQs for direct assistance from Kia through a unique customer dashboard. The app also offers a unique and exclusive reward program for existing customers, offering exclusive discounts on various consumer brands across different categories like Fashion, Travel, F&B, Electronics, and Lifestyle etc.

Ex-showroom PRICES (in INR)

Fuel Efficiency: (in kmpl) – (ARAI approved figures)

  • G1.5 with 6MT: 15.7 KM/L
  • G1.4T with 6MT: 16.2 KM/L
  • G1.4T with 7DCT: 16.5 KM/L
  • D1.5 with 6MT: 21.3 KM/L
  • D1.5 with 6AT: 18.4 KM/L

Carens bookings started on 14th January,2022. Customers can book their variant of choice through the Kia India official website: www.kia.com/in, and via any of the authorized dealerships of Kia India by paying an initial booking amount of INR 25,000. The initial response from the market has been overwhelming, registering a record number of 7,738 bookings within the first 24 hours itself. The number of bookings received to date has reached the 19,089 mark, demonstrating the people’s enthusiasm for the most anticipated three-row recreational vehicle. The Carens will be available first to Indian customers and will be rolled out from the company’s state–of–the–art manufacturing facility in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. This facility will also serve as the Carens’ mother plant, serving the rest of the world as India becomes a key manufacturing and export hub for Kia Corporation.

Annexure:

Kia Carens exemplifies Kia’s commitment to consumer insight-driven product innovation and orientation. It is aimed at modern Indian families who are tech-savvy, aspirational, socially connected and enjoy travelling with their loved ones. The Kia Carens is loaded with multiple class-leading features, which gives it an edge over existing family movers in India. Moreover, the car brings much-needed excitement in the three-row seater segment. This includes:

  • 26.03 Cm (10.25”) HD Touchscreen Navigation with Next Generation Kia Connect
  • BOSE Premium Sound System with 8 speakers
  • Cabin Surround 64 colour Ambient Mood Lighting
  • Smart Pure Air Purifier with Virus and Bacteria Protection
  • Robust 10 Hi-Secure Safety Standard Package – (6 Airbags, ESC, VSM, HAC, DBC, ABS, BAS, All Wheel Disc Brakes Standard across all trims)
  • Ventilated Front Seats
  • Multi Drive Modes (Sport/Eco/Normal) linked with Ambient Mood Lighting
  • 2nd Row Seat “One Touch Easy Electric Tumble”
  • Sky Light Sunroof
  • Large Cabin Space led by Longest Wheelbase in the class

Colour options:

8 colour options with 3 All-New Colours

  • Imperial Blue (New Colour)
  • Moss Brown (New Colour)
  • Sparkling Silver (New Colour)
  • Intense Red
  • Aurora Black Pearl
  • Gravity Grey
  • Glacier White Pearl
  • Clear White

Safety Features:

The Kia Carens is a true family car, offering several active safety features. The model comes with Robust 10 Hi-Secure Safety Standard Package, a first in India. Included as standard across all trims of the Carens are 6 airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Hill-Assist Control (HAC), Downhill Brake Control (DBC), Brake Assist System (BAS), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Rear Parking Sensors, Highline TPMS and All-Wheel Disc Brakes. While the ESC protects the car from the loss of traction, HAC and DBC let drivers confidently drive on uphill and downhill roads. Additionally, the VSM ensures occupant safety by offering stability to the car when the driver must perform sudden braking and turns. Continuing this focus on safety, the company has also offered Front-Parking Sensors, Highline TPMS, and Rain-Sensing Wipers with the car, giving utmost confidence to the driver at all times and allowing them to fully focus on road conditions ahead.

Interiors:

The Carens interior is sophisticated and plush, wrapped around a high-tech dashboard to appeal to the always-connected consumer. The car’s interior has many storage spaces throughout the cabin, and the first-row seats are ventilated, adding to the car’s convenience factor. The Carens packaging is one of the most important factors to consider and offers plenty of room for adults in the third row, thanks to the longest wheelbase in its class.

Key highlights of interior:

  • 2nd Row One-Touch Easy Electric Tumble Seat
  • Bose Premium Sound System With 8 Speakers
  • Smart Pure Air Purifier With Virus & Bacteria Protection
  • Kia Connect – Next Gen Connected Car Technology
  • Ventilated Front Seats
  • 31.7 CM (12.5”) Full Segment LCD Cluster With Advanced 10.6 Cm (4.2”) colour TFT Multi-Information Display
  • Cabin Surround 64 Color Ambient Mood Lighting
  • Smartphone Wireless Charger with Cooling Function

Exterior:

For the first time, the Carens styling introduces the “Opposites United” design language to India. The two main pillars on which Carens’ exterior development was based were futuristic and bold design. It is the result of a collaboration between the Kia Design Centre in Namyang, South Korea, and the Indian design team.

Key highlights of Exterior:

  • Kia Signature Tiger Face With Digital Front Grille
  • Star Map Led Drls With Crown Jewel Led Headlamps
  • Star Map Led Tail Lamps
  • Sky Light Sunroof
  • R16 – 40.62 Cm (16”) Dual Tone Crystal Cut Alloy Wheels
  • Chrome Rear Bumper Garnish With Diamond Knurling Pattern

Powertrain and performance:

Carens offers a surprisingly wide range of powertrain choices in its class

  • Choice of three engines – Smartstream 1.5 Petrol, Smartstream 1.4 T-GDi Petrol and 1.5 CRDi VGT Diesel
  • 3 transmission options: 6-speed manual, an intuitive 7-speed DCT, 6-speed automatic
  • Additionally, automatic variants of the Carens offer Multi-Drive modes for added convenience and driver-confidence

Ride and handling:

The Carens is supported at the front by McPherson struts and the rear by a coupled torsion beam axle setup. With disc brakes all around and across the board, the ride quality has been tuned to absorb everything in its path, providing a comfortable driving experience for all.  Carens prototypes have been driven and tested for over 1,00,000 kilometres on Indian roads, and across a variety of conditions, resulting in a driving character that offers a compliant ride quality and high comfort.

Kia Connect:

With Carens, the connected car platform gets a complete revamp with the next-generation Kia Connect app, which replaces the previous UVO system. Kia Connect now hosts updated and exciting features with added safety and convenience. One of the major updates with Kia Connect is the enhancement of OTA (Over the Air) Map and System Updates, which is now capable of updating software without visiting the Kia workshop. The Carens will come equipped with 66 connected car features and what is more exciting is that the AVNT of the vehicle now supports ten native languages.