Looking for a stylish, comfortable and spacious family car that is a cross between an MPV and an SUV?
Grand Motors, the exclusive distributor of Kia vehicles in Brunei is bringing in the all-new Kia Carens into the Bruneian market.
First introduced more than 20 years ago, the latest Kia Carens is a fresh new take on the three-row seater with its unique design, generous cabin space and class-leading features setting a new benchmark for the Korean automaker.
This recreational vehicle is another global product from Kia that brings the sophistication of a family mover and the sportiness of an SUV in one compelling package.
Futuristic and bold exterior
Following in the footsteps of its stylish sibling the Kia Sportage, the Carens injects a perfect dose of athleticism and elegance, captivating from every side with its latest design language.
Displaying a dynamic stance in a confident SUV-like exterior, the Carens showcases a range of styling attributes to make it stand apart on roads.
The three-row seater exudes a strong presence with its bold and daring design language that embodies the company’s latest design philosophy – ‘Opposites United.’
The smooth design language flows perfectly through the captivating front fascia; it gets a futuristic tiger grille that is further complemented by the distinctive star map LED DRLs that is inspired by constellations.
Moreover, the SUV-like side profile, high front end with a pushed-back A-pillar, and a straight roofline with optimum ground clearance make it a capable recreational vehicle.
On the rear side, the wrap-around LED tail-lamps blend seamlessly with the slim horizontal design, giving the all-new Carens a stunningly wide impression from the back.
The SUV comes in a wide range of colours that draw eyes to it the moment it drives by. Customers can choose from Intense Red, Glacier White Pearl, Clear White, Gravity Grey, Aurora Black Pearl and more.
Not only that, but three new colours have also been introduced on the Kia Carens – the mysterious Imperial Blue inspired by Azurite minerals; a low saturation Moss Brown for a unique look; and Sparkling Silver with metal particles that gives the paint a sense of vitality.
Convenience and comfort
On the inside, the premium cabin of the Kia Carens impresses with its high-quality materials, cutting-edge infotainment technologies and striking design.
The interior of the Kia Carens is based on the design pillar – ‘Joy for reason’ – which creates happiness through a combination of a warm and relaxing aesthetic.
The Carens offers a great mix of comfort and convenience to suit your every need, boasting a lush cabin with minimal clutter and high-quality materials everywhere you touch.
What’s more, the Carens is loaded with multiple features offering complete comfort, convenience, safety and optimum driving pleasure to customers.
The seven-seater also comes complete with technology that really speaks to the younger consumer.
This includes a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system that enables full, seamless smartphone integration compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto.
Not only that, but the Kia Carens also comes with a wireless smartphone charger with a cooling function and multiple USB charging ports, making life easier on the road
Passengers can also enjoy the sound quality of the sensational sound quality from the 8-speaker BOSE Premium Sound System.
To further stylise the interior, the Carens also comes with 64 LED mood lighting. The mood lighting lets you choose from different colours, creating an ambience to match their every mood.
Moreover, its best-in-class length wheelbase gives the Kia Carens a more comfortable stance on the road providing it with a more spacious and versatile interior.
The spacious cabin can seat up to seven people in three rows. The seven-seater provides both the driver and passenger ample space for headroom and legroom.
Once seated in the SUV, the cabin makes passengers feel at home as the seats are nicely sculpted for both the driver and passenger’s comfort and high-seating position that give the ultimate MPV feel to it.
Engineered to offer driving pleasure and safety
Under the hood, the all-new Kia Carens come with both petrol and diesel powertrains combined with multiple transmission options, including the 8-speed IVT, 6-speed AT and 6-speed MT.
Moreover, the fourth-generation Carens is a true family car and presents itself as the embodiment of what the Korean automaker stands for in terms of safety and technology and is one of the safest vehicles in its class.
The seven-seater comes equipped with innovative and safety functions which offer the ultimate confidence and maximum comfort in all journeys.
All variants and specifications come with six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Hill-Assist Control (HAC), Downhill Brake Control (DBC), and All-Wheel Disc Brakes
One of the highlighted safety features is the Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) which ensures occupant safety by offering stability to the car when the driver must perform sudden braking and turns.
Continuing this focus on safety, the Carens also includes features such as Front-Parking Sensors, Reverse Camera, and Rain-Sensing Wiper giving utmost confidence to the driver at all times and allowing them to fully focus on road conditions ahead.
Behind the wheel of the Kia Carens
As for performance, the all-new Carens delivers a refined and composed journey.
It boasts a range of sturdy powertrains, from the Smartstream G1.5 8AT to the 1.5L CRDi VGT 6MT.
The Bruneian team had a chance to test out the 1.5L CRDi VGT 6AT that provides the ample amount of power for our drive from the Kafe De’Kopi at Tungku Link to the Katok Highway,
The versatile G1.5 with its six-speed auto transmission produces 115ps at 4,000rpm and 250 Nm of torque at 1,500 rpm
We spent most of our time in the busy Gadong area moving along effortlessly with the cars around us turning heads.
Moreover, along with the twist and turns of the tight roads at Kg Katok, the responsive steering and handling are good and there was minimal body roll.
Throughout the journey, the Kia Carens was perfectly stable and planted which inspired confidence from behind the wheel.
The overall impression is that the Kia Carens satisfies both in its style and everyday practicality. It is comfortable, versatile and easy to drive, perfect for long journeys with a big family.
To see the vehicle up close, visit their showroom in Beribi or call them at 2613888 or follow their Instagram @kiabrunei for updates.
This article was first published on 04 June 2022 in our Weekly Epaper issue 196 |
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
