- Comfortable ride
- Performance of 1.8-litre engine only adequate
- Poor calibration and harsh downshifts from automatic transmission
- Limited rear seat space and comfort
Overview
Released in July 2000, the Kia Carens was a six-seat people mover. Manufactured in Hwasung, South Korea, the front-wheel drive Carens was powered by a 1.8-litre four cylinder petrol engine that was mated to either a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission.
Engine
The Mazda-sourced 1.8-litre ‘FP’ petrol engine had a cast iron block, alloy cylinder heads, double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 9.5:1.
Dimensions
Sharing its platform with the Mentor , the Kia Carens was 4450 mm long, 1730 mm wide, 1600 mm tall and had a 2570 mm long wheelbase.
Suspension
The Carens had MacPherson strut front suspension and independent, three-link rear suspension.
| Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carens | 1.8-litre petrol I4 | 4sp auto, 5sp man. |
81 kW at 5750 rpm | 152 Nm at 4500 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment consisted of a driver’s airbag.
Standard features
Standard features for the Kia Carens included a four speaker sound system with CD player, air conditioning, central locking, power mirrors, power windows and a tilt adjustable steering wheel. Inside, the Carens had three rows of seats; the second row seats had a 50/50 split and fold function and could also slide forward to improve access to the third row of seats.
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