Kia Carens 1.5D SX (2026) - Review

Fast Facts

Pros

• The diesel engine is a peach
• Ample space for the family, even in the second and third seat rows

Cons

• The beige interior attracts dirt quickly
• Not the most comfortable seats, and the driver's seating position needs work

SUVs, for the observant among you, have been all the rage lately. However, if you're like me and spent time car spotting what usually did the school runs in the 2000s, MPVs were all the rage. It made sense at the time for budding families who wanted a bit more space. The Carens was part of that craze back in the day. Still, it quietly left the South African market until its recent introduction  The current Carens is part of Kia's latest multi-pronged approach to offering a vehicle to suit every need  What separates the newcomer from the competition, though, is the MPV body style and the fact that it has a straight-up diesel engine  Kia still flies the diesel power flag high to good success, but does all this make the Carens a more tantalising deal? 

Styling

This is more on the reserved side of Kia's avant-garde styling as of late  If anything, the Carens follows Kia's EV styling, where it's less radical at the front and rear but has distinctive LED bar lighting signatures  Utility styling cues include features such as roof rails and some body cladding, to boot  Looking at the side profile, the Carens is as long as you'd expect, but it's also quite tall, which aids interior space, which we'll talk about  This is finished off with the 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels  The Carens is modern, yes, but it blends into traffic rather than standing out for attention  It's a decent-looking car.

Space and comfort

The make-or-break area for this vehicle  Does it hold the MPV torc  high  In short, yes  The Carens has oodles of space for your family to indulge in  Not only is there ample head, leg, and shoulder room, but, surprisingly, the second and third rows can accommodate both children and adults reasonably well  The second seating row is also on rails, so your passengers can adjust their seating as they'd like  Entry for the third row is via the passenger-side second-row seat flipping up, and entry from both sides would be welcome  The seating itself isn't on the plushest side, as the foam is harder for durability's sake, but the leather is decent enough  The driver's seat position feels quite van-like, with you sitting at pretty much 90 degrees, which isn't the most comfortable  I would like the option of either a blacked-out or grey interior instead of the off-white interior trim, as that colour tends to attract and show dirt more  Even the most behaved of children can get the parts mucky quickly.

Regarding boot space, with the third row folded up, you have 216 litres. With the third row folded down, there are 645 litres to play with. You should be sorted with the carrying capacity here.

On the tech front, the info slab includes 12-inch instrument and infotainment screens. I like how Kia has laid out the menus and such here; it's all easy to operate and easy to read. Interestingly, on the centre stack, you'll find a switch that lets you switch controls between the HVAC and media. It's a different way of handling this sort of control arrangement, and it worked fine for me. Complementing the infotainment setup is a Bose sound system. While the system has a decent amount of punch, some extra sound-deadening would help make it sound even more pronounced.

The cabin is decently appointed, and it should treat families well.

Performance

Powering the Carens is a 1.5-litre turbodiesel engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The engine produces 85 kW / 250 Nm, and all of it is sent to the front wheels.

Driving impression

I have to say, the diesel engine here is a good power plant. Even when puttering about with family in the car, along with groceries, the Carens didn't feel laboured in operation. There wasn't exactly a need to have a lead foot here. A light throttle was just enough to get a move on and manage a few overtakes. The suspension is as you'd expect with an MPV, absorbent enough on Johannesburg's roads. However, the primary ride is on the firmer side. From the secondary ride, the road resonance can be attributed to the CEAT SecuraDrive tyres, which, in my experience, are on the harder side and are the primary cause of the higher-than-expected road noise. Despite this, the Carens performs well on the highway. They were manageable in residential areas, where they spent most of their time during my testing.

Fuel consumption

Claimed fuel consumption for the Carens in diesel trim is rated at 5.3 L/100 km. During my time testing a combined-cycle vehicle, I managed around 5.5 L/100 km, which is indeed frugal.

Safety

Global NCAP: 

Adult: ★★★

Child: ★★★★★

• 6 airbags
• Park Distance Warning
• Blind Spot Collision Avoidance
• ADAS
• Surround-view monitor

Price

The Carens purchase price includes a 3-year/45 000km service plan and a 5-year /Unlimited km warranty and roadside assistance.

*Pricing stated here was correct when publishing and is subject to change without prior notice.

Competitors

• Chery Tiggo 7 
• GWM Ora 5
• Leapmotor B10
• Toyota Corolla Cross
• Omoda C7

Verdict

The Carens is in an interesting position among its competitors  On the one hand, with the entry-level 1.5 LS, it's a step above the Toyota/Suzuki Rumion/Ertiga of ering  But in this instance, with the top-spec 1.5D SX, there isn't really a 7-seater offering like this  On the frugality front, yes, there are hybrid competitors, but as shown here, the Carens in diesel form can compete  The service plan is on the shorter end, but it's not the end of the world here  With this in mind, in terms of pricing, the Carens is a safe bet for families looking to buy a 7-seater that isn't hard on the pocket  The ample space is handy, and it's dependable.