2022 Kia Carens gets a rebirth as a crossover-ish MPV

It is no secret that the entire world is moving towards SUVs. And it does not become less of a secret with manufacturers churning out crossovers with names that were once famous for something else. Kia has joined this party with the 2022 Kia Carens.

Kia Carens is a familiar name for our market. The little minivan has been around for a while and has gone through three generations. But for the fourth generation, Kia dresses up the Carens as a “Recreational Vehicle”, or in other words an MPV that dressed up like a crossover. The Carens is built on a platform shared with the Seltos.

The 2022 Kia Carens’ design takes inspiration from the larger Kia Sportage. The MPV heritage shows up when you view it from the side. The long, flat roofline provides more headroom for all passengers. There are seats for six or seven passengers, with 2nd-row captain seats in the six-seat configuration.

The cabin is all-new with a fully digital instrument cluster as well as a large 10.25-inch infotainment system. Thankfully, they still offer separate traditional tactile buttons for climate control as well as other functions. The interior is spiced up with 64-color LED ambient lighting, an eight-speaker BOSE sound system, an air purifier, and ventilated front seats. The Carens being a Kia, does not skimp on any safety tech. This gets tech like Brake Assist, 6 airbags as standard, Hill Start Assist, and Hill Descent Control among others.

The engine options remain the same as the Seltos with a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated engine with 121 hp. In many other markets, the Seltos is also offered with a turbocharged 1.4-litre engine with 138 hp and a 1.5-litre diesel option as well. The Carens may also offer these.

As of now, the 2022 Kia Carens is revealed for the Indian market but it is sure to cross some borders soon.