Kia Carens (2013-2016)

By Jonathan Crouch

Models Covered

5DR MPV (1.6 GDI 133BHP PETROL / 1.7 CRDI DIESEL – 114BHP & 139BHP)

Introduction

With smart looks, a practical interior, great build quality and solid engineering, Kia’s third generation Carens turned out to be a much improved 7-seat compact MPV. Though well appointed, it offers strong value and efficient running costs. In other words, you get pretty much everything families are looking for in this segment. Here, we’re looking at the original version of this MK3 model that sold in the 2013 to 2016 period.

The History

In many ways, the Kia brand has been built on MPV motoring and for years, its large Sedona model was its best seller here. By the turn of the century though, it was clear that people carrying segment growth lay in smaller designs, a market targeted with the original Carens model of 2000. This was the kind of car Kia used to make, cheap, practical and very dull. Signs that the brand could do better arrived with its 2006 replacement, but that was still an MPV you bought on sticker price, not necessarily because you really wanted one.

Kia though has no room for such cars in its model line-up any more and accordingly, when this third generation Carens was launched in 2013, it was clear that it needed to offer a big step forward, with more desirable styling, impressive quality and hi-tech engineware. It needed to be practical too, given that by now, Kia was no longer offering that big Sedona MPV, hence the decision to only offer this post-2013 Carens with 7 seats. Do earlier versions of this MK3 model make sense for used car buyers? Let’s find out.

What To Look For

Very little goes wrong with typical third generation Carens models; in fact, our ownerships survey almost completely failed to find anyone at all who was dis-satisfied. The closest we came to that was with an owner who felt that the diesel engine didn’t pull cleanly and evenly, a glitch that was quickly cured by their local dealer.

Otherwise, just look out for the usual things; kerbed alloys and damage caused to interior plastics by unruly children. Make sure that the service book is fully stamped up by a franchised dealer too.

On The Road

Kia was keen that this third generation Carens should be far more class-competitive in terms of its on the road driving experience. But it was also mindful of how low a priority this is for most potential buyers. Cars of this kind are usually seen as functional items, with comfort and composure greater priorities than power and dynamic response. So a compromise was reached during development. Nothing too dramatic was done to either ride or handling but a much stiffer body, fancy Flex Steer variable weight steering and a range of more willing engines all aim to keep your interest once you’ve dropped off the kids at school.

Though the 6-speed manual gearbox isn’t the slickest, the steering’s nicely direct, even if it doesn’t offer a great deal of feedback. But in all Carens models, you can try and do something about that thanks to the standard inclusion of Kia’s Flex Steer system. It offers the driver a choice of Normal, Comfort or Sport steering modes, something fun to experiment with for the first few miles but ultimately not of much use given that ‘Comfort’ is rather too light and ‘Sport’ a bit too heavy.

Under the bonnet, buyers get to choose between a 133bhp 1.6-litre GDi petrol unit or a 1.7-litre CRDi turbodiesel, offered in 114 or 134bhp states of tune, the latter available with the option of a 6-speed auto gearbox. Most will be choosing between the GDi petrol unit or the lower-powered diesel, both capable of around 112mph flat out. On paper, the diesel gets there in a more leisurely fashion, the 0-62mph sprint taking 12.6s as opposed to 10.9s but in practice, the CRDi model’s greater reserves of torque (there’s 95Nm more of it) make it feel a more willing companion. The diesel’s heavier engine also puts a bit more weight over the front wheels, which makes the car feel slightly more positive when cornering.

And the best engine you could choose? Well, it’s probably the one that, thanks to high pricing, hardly any UK customers will buy – the 1.7 CRDi diesel in its pokiest 134bhp state of tune. Go for such a variant and, as with the lower-powered unit, you have to be up around 1,500rpm before the grunt really propels you forward but once it does, the extra torque (up from 260 to 330Nm) is quite noticeable - to the point where it’d be a real boon if you were regularly using the car heavy laden or on longer trips.

Overall

The easy sell here will be to buyers of previous first and second generation Carens models. This MK3 model was such a big step forward that Kia could justifiably have re-named it and started again. Buy one and you get the same strong build quality, reliability and long warranty you had before but now wrapped up in a more effective, desirable and efficient package. Yes, also a pricier one, but the value proposition still remains strong in comparison with obvious rivals.

You certainly get a lot more for your money here than rivals from brands like Ford, Renault and Citroen can offer. For the money you’d give to these makers for a five-seat compact MPV, Kia provides a seven-seater design that’s better equipped, just as efficient and, to some eyes at least, even arguably better looking.