Insurance Group: 19
MPG: 39.2
CO2: 174
0-62 Mph: N/A secs
BHP: 130 BHP
Range: 431 miles
PROS: The Carens has fairly low running costs and a good amount of standard equipment.
CONS: Both the driving experience and the quality of the interior are poor. The Carens 1 1.6 can only seat five people, so why not just buy a family saloon?
The 1.6-litre petrol engine delivers 130bhp at 6300rpm and 116 lb-ft of torque. This gets it from 0-62 mph in 11.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 110 mph. The engine pulls the car along fairly well but when fully loaded it struggles with hills and there is a lot of engine noise. The brakes are powerful but lack feel.
The handling of the Carens is also poor and there is a lot of roll in corners. The steering is light which makes parking easy but this means there is not enough feedback and feel for the driver on faster roads. The suspension is also poor and bumps and imperfections can be felt in the cabin. Grip through the corners is poor.
The Carens has come on leaps and bounds from its predecessors. The boxiness has been replaced with a sharper design and the curves at the rear of the car offer a look which is much improved, adding a sporty edge. Chrome extras are standard on most models, giving a touch of class to this budget MPV but unfortunately the interior falls short of expectations.
Standard equipment includes air conditioning, an MP3-compatible CD player, electric windows, remote central locking, body coloured bumpers and door handles and electric mirrors.
The Carens 1 1.6 can only seat five people which defeats the point in having one in the first place.
There is decent leg and head room throughout the car and plenty of storage space, including cup holders. With all the seats up there is still a decent 430 litre storage capacity in the boot with an expansive 2,106 litres available when seats are folded down or removed.
The quality of the build also feels robust, so reliability shouldn't be an issue. The fit and finish are good and Kia has a pretty good reputation for reliability which is represented by its seven year, 100,000 mile, warranty which is offered as standard.
For safety, the Carens scored four stars in the NCAP crash tests with twin airbags, curtain airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS) and active head restraints fitted as standard.
The Carens will give you 39.2 mpg and emits 174g/km which is poor for a car of this class. Insurance premiums should be low under insurance group 10 and a price tag of £14,695 is highly attractive for drivers on a budget.
Overall, the Carens performs well for its class but, with only five seats, it misses the point. Your money could be better spent elsewhere.
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