Kia Carens MPV (2006- ) expert review

The revised Kia Carens is a clear step forward from its predecessor, replacing that model’s boxiness with a sharper design. There is evidence of a shared design philosophy with other Kias: The front end shares a distinctive style with the Picanto. Towards the rear of the car the curves transform into smart creases and it looks a lot better – even a little sporty. Chrome extras are standard on all models except the base model and they give it a little more class than its bargain-basement rivals.

The Carens’ interior hasn’t moved with the times as well as the exterior. There are tell-tale cheap plastics on the fascia, steering wheel and especially the flimsy door handles. The heating controls are pleasingly clear and chunky, but the same can’t be said for the clumsy audio controls. The centre console is a bit of a reach for the driver and lack of steering-wheel mounted stereo controls makes it worse. Even though we had the dearest model there were still quite a few blank buttons from missing features that were unattractive, and those on the steering wheel rattled at speed.

The Carens’ selling point is its seven seats. The extra pair at the back slide out with minimum fuss and easily stow away into the floor again. But they’re only big enough for children – much like any other car in this class. In the other seats leg and head room are decent and there are plenty of storage spaces and cup holders. With the centre and rear seats folded flat there’s a voluminous 2,106 litres of storage space ready to swallow up anything you throw at it. With all seven seats up you’ve still got 414 litres available.

The handling is definitely the Carens’ weakest card. On quick roads the chassis lolls from corner to corner with more body roll than a Mazda 5 or Vauxhall Zafira. The steering is light which, on the one hand, makes for effortless parking, but at speed gives too little feedback and sensation to the driver. It feels twitchy and nervy on twisting A-roads. Its ride is not sufficiently comfortable for a car designed to carry lots of people. Road bumps are translated into jarring thuds and its basic grip does not inspire comfortable, confident driving.

There are two engine options – a 2.0-litre 142bhp petrol unit and a diesel of the same capacity. We tested the diesel, which produces slightly less power but, more usefully, over 50 per cent more torque. It pulled the car along adequately but struggled in its ability to tackle hills when loaded up.  The engine makes a lot of noise, which isn’t helped by the automatic gearbox, letting the engine thrash away, reluctant to change gear. The brakes are powerful but lack feel – the pedal has a lot of travel in it and braking is not progressive, resulting in jerky stops.

The Carens falls into insurance group 10, which is reasonable, and its CO2 output of 189g/km is fairly low. But the automatic does you no favours with fuel consumption. A quoted figure of 39.8mpg (combined) was more than we managed during our test. You’re far better off with the manual, which gets 6.5 miles more to the gallon and has an even lower CO2 output (163g/km). Whichever you go for, although the base price is low, used values are poor.

Sturdy and uncomplicated, there’s not much to go wrong with the Carens. The fit and finish look good, Kia’s reputation for reliability is sound and a seven-year warranty covers any concerns you might have.

The Carens scored four stars for adult occupant safety in its EuroNCAP test. The car has a decent complement of safety features – another step forward over its predecessor. All versions have twin airbags, curtain airbags, ABS, active head restraints in the front and side impact protection.

The Carens’ equipment level is surprisingly good for the low price. All models feature air conditioning, MP3-compatible CD player, electric windows all round, electric mirrors and plenty of internal lights. Our top-of-the range LS model added some worthwhile extras: climate control, cruise control, trip computer and a rear parking sensor – although the latter was far too loud.

The Carens is a cheap and well-equipped seven seater. It can carry decent loads, should be very reliable and is well backed-up by Kia in the event of any problems. Depreciation is the biggest concern for buyers of a new Carens – but no more so than the Zafira. But with a list price starting at £12,000 it’s a decent option for MPV buyers on a budget. If you are set on a Carens, plump for the manual for better performance and running costs.