The Top Gear car review:Kia Carens

Name: Kia Carens
Item: Carens Diesel Estate (2013)
Rating: 7
Author: Top Gear

£17,995 – £27,095

Full screen

1/5

7/10

Overall verdict

It’s handsome, well-built and pleasant, with Kia’s monster warranty an added draw.

For:

Cheap, good looking, lots of space, and, err, cheap

Against:

S-Max is the better drive, interior is drab, meek petrol version

Overview

What is it?

It’s an important milestone for Kia, that’s what. Yes, it’s a seven-seat MPV, but it’s also the last of the company’s range to benefit from Peter Schreyer’s now famous ‘Tiger-nose’ design philosophy. And as a result, doesn’t it look like a handsome thing? Sure, it’s no Ferrari 488, but it’s certainly better looking than before, making it less likely to be used as a projectile for bored millionaires.

Naturally, it’s grown in stature, but in a pleasing way: it’s lower, longer and narrower than before with lots of room to spare on the inside. Space in an MPV is considered a good trait, we think.

Title	0–62	CO2	MPG	BHP	Price
The fastest 1.7 CRDi [139] 3 5dr	10.0s	118g/km	62.8	139	£24,245
The cheapest 1.6 GDi 1 5dr	10.9s	143g/km	45.6	133	£17,995
The greenest 1.7 CRDi 2 5dr	13.2s	117g/km	62.8	114	£20,940