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THERE
was a time when the Kia brand was synonymous with cheap
and low quality. Things have changed since then and the
Korean carmaker has boldly taken great strides over the
years to polish its act. Now, it is safe to say that Kia
manufactures some of the best automobiles in the world.
One such
example is the all-new Carens, which this writer, along
with several other colleagues from the motoring beat,
was given a chance to test the vehicle from Makati to
the Subic Bay Freeport and back. While inside the free
port, we were also allowed to take it through the
challenging twists and turns of the former US naval
base’s former “magazine” (jargon for weapons storage
area), as well as an off-road section with steep ascent.
During
the one-day event, our group of journalists scrutinized
every inch of the vehicle and put it through what some
might call “abuse.” Throughout the entire procedure,
one could discern smiles and hear words of admiration
from members of the group.
Opting
to launch the vehicle with little fanfare, Columbian
Autocar Corp. (CAC)—exclusive importer and distributor
of Kia in the Philippines—instead decided to put its new
product’s reputation at stake by inviting the media to
put it though its paces.
Felix J.
Mabilog Jr., president and chief operating of CAC,
explained that the name Carens is an acronym for the
words “car” and “renaissance.” The latter word is indeed
quite apt since it also means “rebirth” in French.
Indeed, the Carens represents Kia’s second coming in the
world of automobiles.
Classified as an MPV (multipurpose vehicle), the all-new
Carens’s origins can be traced to the Kia Multi-S
concept vehicle, which took a bow during last year’s
Frankfurt Motor Show.
Striving
to create a next-generation vehicle for active lifestyle
families, Kia developed the new Carens to meet the
demands of buyers who wanted the combined traits of an
MPV and an SUV.
The
Carens seats seven people and offers more height (40 mm)
and width (by 50 mm) than its predecessor (the vehicle
was not offered in the Philippines). It also has a
longer wheelbase and slightly longer overall length.
This has created additional head, leg and shoulder
room—in all three rows of seats.
An
efficient cooling system, well-contoured seats that come
in either beige-and-black or gray-and-black fabric, and
adjustable seats make the passenger compartments of the
Carens one of the most comfy in town.
Engineers have cleverly mated the fuel tank with the
rear subframe, which results in more space for third-row
seats, allowing them to slide forward and down whenever
the backrests are folded, ensuring the luggage area has
a flat floor.
Stronger
and stiffer, yet lighter, the Carens sits atop a
monocoque body that makes use of high-tensile-strength
steel that helps increase torsional stiffness.
Perhaps
the biggest revelation of the Carens is its fit and
finish, which is comparable to that of its Japanese
rivals.
Kia says
that it is offering the New Carens with a choice of two
engines (gasoline and diesel) and four transmissions
(five speed and six-speed manual, as well as four-speed
automatic). The test vehicles were all powered by Kia’s
2.0-liter 16-valve Theta gasoline engine with
continuously variable timing (CVVT), which cranks out a
maximum of 145 ps at 6,000 rpm, and mated to a
four-speed automatic transmission.
A
2.0-liter CRDi with variable geometry turbo (VGT) that
is capable of 140 ps at 4,000 rpm and 305 Nm of torque
between 1,800 and 2,500 rpm is set for introduction
later in the year. Both engines are Euro 4 compliant.
On the
road, the all-new Carens is fun and easy to drive. It
tracks well in a straight line on the highway and the
MacPherson strut fronts and multilink suspension in the
rear, the Carens provides a very comfortable ride even
on the rough roads inside the naval magazine.
One of
the most noticeable niceties of the vehicle is its
smooth-shifting automatic transmission, which features
an electronic controller that keeps tabs on
acceleration, deceleration, engine speed and road speed,
ensures safe gear changes with excellent shift quality,
and adapts to the driver’s driving style.
A Sport
Mode system allows the driver to choose between fully
automatic shifting or manual gear shifting. When
shifting in Sport Mode, all one needs to do is move the
gear lever into the right-hand gate then push it forward
to shift up or back to shift down.
Considering all that comes with the vehicle and an
attractive price of P819,000, the Carens serves itself
up as an excellent choice for those on a budget but who
don’t want to compromise on quality.
This is
one MPV-cum-SUV that will definitely set the market
ablaze. |
