Kia Carens – a 7-seater high-ground clearance vehicle priced under 600 million VND

The high-ground clearance model from Kia features an SUV-inspired design, an optimized spacious interior for seven occupants, and is available from 599 million VND after incentives.

Kia Carens interior. Photo: Kia

The Kia Carens offers a compelling package as a 7-seater high-ground clearance vehicle, combining practicality, a spacious interior, and a variety of amenities for families, all within an accessible price range. Kia Vietnam reports cumulative sales of nearly 33,000 units, making it a strong contender in the segment priced under 600 million VND. Its design sets it apart from rivals, blending modern aesthetics with the sporty character of an SUV.

Kia Carens in Vietnam. Photo: Kia

The Carens' exterior boasts a modern, athletic SUV look. The front features distinctive starmap LED daytime running lights, inspired by constellation maps, appealing to urban drivers. These are complemented by LED headlights designed to resemble crystal formations. At the rear, starmap LED taillights echo the front's design with their constellation map graphics. A two-tone rear bumper, accented with a diamond-pattern chrome strip, adds to its sophisticated appeal. Higher-end versions come equipped with 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels featuring a whirlwind design, enhanced by wheel arch cladding and chrome trim running along the side.

Inside, the Kia Carens prioritizes space and comfort. With a generous wheelbase of 2,780 mm and overall dimensions of 4,540 x 1,800 x 1,750 mm (length x width x height), the interior is optimized for seven occupants across three rows. A ground clearance of 190 mm, combined with a flat roofline, gives the vehicle an imposing, SUV-like presence.

The seating configuration offers flexibility for various needs. The second row can recline or fold in a 60:40 split with a simple button press. The third row provides a maximum recline angle of 33 degrees, ensuring comfort for larger families on long journeys. According to Kia Vietnam, the trunk space behind the third row can accommodate four 22-inch suitcases, equivalent to 80 kg of luggage, suitable for extended trips. This smart seating customization provides significant convenience for users, including a one-touch fold function for the second row, facilitating easy access to the third. For expanding cargo capacity, the rear seats can be folded flat, creating a large and versatile storage area. The substantial wheelbase ensures that the third row of the Carens is practical enough for adults to travel comfortably over long distances.

Kia Vietnam positions the Carens as a versatile vehicle, designed to offer amenities beyond its price point and cater to user needs. Given Vietnam's tropical climate, the model features intelligently designed ceiling-mounted air conditioning vents and a dual-zone independent air conditioning system, ensuring rapid and even cooling throughout the cabin. The horizontal layout of the interior creates a spacious and airy feel. The driver's cockpit is ergonomically designed with a modern control panel, a sporty D-cut steering wheel integrating various function buttons. Additional conveniences include push-button start, an armrest with integrated storage, and ambient interior lighting.

Powering the Kia Carens is a 1.5 Smartstream gasoline engine, delivering 113 horsepower and 144 Nm of maximum torque. To optimize engine power and fuel consumption, Kia has equipped it with dual-port fuel injectors. Power is managed by an intelligent variable transmission (iVT). Safety features include four-wheel disc brakes, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), and hill start assist (HAC).

Further enhancing safety and convenience, the vehicle is equipped with front and rear parking sensors and a reverse camera to assist drivers with parking and maneuvering. Three-point seatbelts are standard across all versions, along with ISOFIX child seat anchors. Nguyen Minh Tuan, 34, an office worker in Hanoi and owner of a Kia Carens 1.5G Luxury, shared that he and his family initially considered a B-segment SUV but found the Carens offered superior features for its price.

"For the same money, my family and I got a 7-seater, offering more comfort for long trips with three adults, two young children, and ample luggage space," Tuan stated, adding that the air conditioning cools quickly, which is very convenient during the hot summer weather.

Tran Van Hung from TP HCM, who uses his Kia Carens for both family and business purposes, highly commends the 7-seater for its economy and fuel efficiency. "It has an SUV-like appearance that many customers appreciate; it feels a bit more luxurious than other popular models in the segment. The Carens is quite economical on mixed roads; I've used it for over one year without encountering any issues or minor faults," Hung said. He also noted that Kia Vietnam's after-sales service system offers reasonable costs, and the vehicle maintains stable fuel consumption.

The Kia Carens is available in the Vietnamese market in two versions: the 1.5G IVT and the 1.5G Luxury, priced at 599 million VND and 639 million VND respectively. It comes with a 5-year or 150,000 km official warranty, whichever comes first.