Family car review: Kia Carens 1.7 diesel

People carriers, or MPV’s to give them their official title, have been popular in Ireland for almost 20 years now. Irish buyers are not prepared to accept ‘van with windows’ styling and high running costs as penalties for owning one anymore though. A new breed of stylish, economical models has arrived on the market in recent years including the Citroen Grand Picasso and the Ford Grand C-Max. Kia has recently launched its 7 seat Carens – Mummypages got behind the wheel to see if it is worthy of our mums’ hard earned money.

Kia as a brand has been transforming its image in recent years, and the general feeling in the motoring world is that its cars are more than a match now for the likes of Ford and Renault. The Carens looks distinctive if not particularly radical, with attractive headlights at the front, and a sloping window line.

Inside, the Carens is a nice surprise. The material quality used throughout the cabin is way better than you might traditionally expect from either Kia or an MPV, we were super impressed. The dash area looks plush and is covered in classy, soft touch plastics, while driver visibility is excellent, in part due to the back window which is almost vertical.

The middle row features three equally sized seats, meaning three teenagers won’t feel cramped. These seats move back and forward individually meaning legroom can be adjusted to suit the occupant. This also facilities rear seat passengers getting in and out with relative ease, rather than having to almost pole vault over the middle row like in some MPV’s. All seat backs fold flat too, which allows flexibility if you are carrying both passengers and large items at the same time. All three are fitted with ISOFIX child seat mounts.

Two third row seats fold flat into the floor, which is done by pulling a strap which is a doddle to use – there is no lifting or dragging involved. These seats are best reserved for kids – although you could squeeze teens or adults into them for a short journey as the middle row seats can be slid forward enough to create suitable legroom for a bigger person.

The suspension is set up with passenger comfort in mind which is no bad thing in an MPV. As a result some rivals like the Ford Grand C-Max feel more lively to drive, but the Carens grips the road impressively and does not lean too much in corners. The 1.7 litre diesel engine is more than powerful enough for both town and country trips, and on the motorway it is impressively quiet. It won’t tow a large horsebox or trailer but that won’t be a deal breaker for most families.

Is it good value for money?

Prices start at €26,490 for the TX model which has alloy wheels, cruise control, air con and a leather steering wheel. You must pay €27,790 for the EX model though which adds dual zone climate control, privacy glass, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors, safety windows (which prevent trapped fingers), automatic lights and wipers, and fog lights. This is a lot of extra kit for €1,300, and at that it is still cheaper than the entry level Renault Grand Scenic and Ford Grand C-Max. Road tax is €270 per year. There’s also a 7 year warranty, which adds to the appeal.

Is there loads of storage space?

Fine for short trips, you will probably need a roof box for a family holiday if you are a family of six or seven. With all 7 seats in use there is very little boot space. With the third row folded flat though the storage area is wide and tall, and there is no awkward boot lip to thwart you lifting heavy items out either. There are lots of places for family essentials like toys and ipads, including storage boxes under the seats and the floor.

Is it baby friendly?

It’s one of the best. The individual middle row seats are all fitted with child seat mounts, and the large, airy cabin mean strapping babies in quickly and safely is simple. You may not fit a double buggy in the boot unless one of the third row seats is folded into the floor though.

Is parking easy?

Like any MPV, parallel parking will require accuracy in the average parking spot. We think MPV’s should always be fitted with parking sensors – parking a large car with kids and luggage on board is a challenging task. The Carens only has them fitted as standard on the mid spec model unfortunately. Visibility is great due to the high driving position, large windows and mirrors, and the narrow rear corners. Overall manoeuvrability is acceptable.

What about safety?

Hard to fault the Carens here. Front, side, and full length curtain airbags are standard, while stability control and stability management minimise the chance of the car going out of control. There is no drivers knee airbag though, which is becoming common on family cars. The Carens scored a full 5 stars in the Euro NCAP crash test.

Mummypages Verdict

Thumbs Up:

Sharp styling

Superb interior quality

Baby friendly

Strong engine

Thumbs down:

Third row only for occasional use

No parking sensors on the base model

Mummypages Ratings

Baby friendliness: 4.5/5

Safety: 5/5