September 2022 - Kia Carens Diesel Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

Also Read: Kia Carens Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

Maruti Nexa XL6 Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Kia Carens Diesel?

The pros or advantages of Kia Carens diesel are:

• Low starting price; overall, value-for-money pricing for higher variants too
• Option of diesel engine itself is becoming a luxury and the Kia Carens offers it with the option of an automatic transmission as well
• Fairly low incremental asking price of Rs. 90,000 for the automatic transmission
• Attractive starting price for the size of the car and a well-loaded mid-spec Prestige Plus variant
• Higher variants are loaded with features like sunroof, optional captain seats, electric tumble in second row, 2nd and 3rd row AC vents, cruise control, reclining 3rd row seats, TPMS, ventilated front seats, LED headlamps, Bose music system, etc.
• Good number of standard features like 6 airbags, all disc brakes, HSA, TPMS, ESC, front and middle row armrests, split 2nd and 3rd row seat backs, etc.
• Captain seats layout in the top variant costs Rs. 5,000 less than bench seat option

The Kia Carens diesel has the following shortcomings or problems:

• LED headlamps not available in the otherwise well-loaded mid-spec Prestige Plus variant
• Torque converter automatic transmission is the least efficient type of automatic and it drastically impacts the fuel efficiency in stop-and-go traffic
• Diesel-automatic is only available in the top variant
• The turbo diesel variants carry a Rs. 1.80 - 1.90 lakh price premium over the 1.5L normal petrol variants
• 16-inch wheels may look small on a car this large
• MPV-like styling may put off some buyers
• Captain seats are not available in lower variants and remains exclusive to the top-spec, Luxury Plus variant, just like the automatic transmission

What Is The Price Of Kia Carens Diesel Variants?

The 1.5L turbo diesel engine is available in all 6 variants with a manual transmission, with prices ranging from Rs. 11.40 lakh to Rs. 17.80 lakh. The 1.5L turbo diesel engine is also available with a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission, but it’s only in the top-spec Luxury Plus variant. It costs Rs. 17.70 lakh, which is Rs. 90,000 more than the Luxury Plus diesel-manual trim. The top model is available with 2 seating options - 7-seater with a bench seat in the second row and 6-seater with separate captain seats in the second row.

The Carens diesel carries a premium of Rs. 1.80 - 1.90 lakh over the 1.5L normal petrol engine models. Compared to the equivalent turbo petrol variants, the Carens diesel is only Rs. 20,000 more expensive. Besides the higher fuel efficiency and longer tank range, there aren’t many reasons to choose the Carens diesel over the turbo petrol.

Compared to the 1.5L normal petrol, it’s quite expensive even after considering the efficiency and performance gains. Carens 1.5L petrol buyers will have to drive the diesel model for over 85,000km to recover the higher upfront cost. The Carens 1.4L turbo petrol-manual buyers who are considering the diesel engine will have to drive the car for about 10,000km to recover the Rs. 20,000 upfront price difference through better mileage.. The 1.4L turbo petrol-automatic buyers considering the Carens diesel-automatic have a kilometre-to-breakeven of about 17,500 to save Rs. 20,000 and justify the diesel model.

While the price difference between the Carens turbo petrol and Carens diesel is small, the turbo petrol model itself is quite expensive for the performance gains it offers over the 1.5L normal petrol engine. However, for personal use, we’ll still suggest choosing the turbo petrol engine for better drivability, performance and experience. Diesel engines take a while to warm up before they achieve optimum engine temperature for efficiency and longevity. So, if you have less running, then you should consider the petrol engine only as it warms up faster and offer silent operation.

Note: Check your Car EMI with our - Car EMI Calculator

Kia Carens Diesel Premium - Base Model Features & Review

The base Premium variant of the 2022 Kia Carens diesel costs Rs. 11.40 lakh (ex-showroom). The turbo diesel engine costs Rs. 1.80 lakh more than the base model with the 1.5L normal petrol engine but only Rs. 20,000 more than the 1.4L turbo petrol model. The most notable features of the Carens Premium base model are:

• All power windows
• 2nd and 3rd row AC vents
• 15-inch steel wheels with normal diesel
• 16-inch steel wheels with turbo diesel
• Full wheel covers
• Split folding 2nd and 3rd row seat backs
• Height-adjustable driver seat
• All wheel disc brakes
• Front and middle row armrest
• 2nd row slide and recline
• 3rd row recline
• 2nd row electric tumble
• Tyre pressure monitoring system
• 5 USB-C chargers
• Thorax side and curtain airbags
• Hill start
• ESC
• Auto door lock

This variant doesn’t get a few important features like power mirrors, cooled glovebox, remote central locking, rear defogger, washer wiper, steering-mounted controls and any kind of music system. This variant lacks several key features and gives us enough reasons to not recommend the Carens Premium.

Kia Carens Diesel Premium vs Prestige Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The Prestige variant of the Carens diesel costs Rs. 12.60 lakh, which is Rs. 1.20 lakh more than the base Premium variant. It adds the following features over the base Premium variant:

• Rear camera
• 8-inch touchscreen
• Wireless Android Auto
• Wireless Apple Carplay
• Steering-mounted controls
• Remote central locking
• Power mirrors
• Digital instrument cluster
• Fabric leather upholstery
• Auto headlamps

The Prestige variant of the Carens doesn’t get auto AC, rear washer, wiper and defogger. From a feature perspective, this variant seems reasonably loaded with almost all must-have features. So budget buyers should consider this variant instead of the base Premium variant or stretch the budget for a higher variant.

Kia Carens Diesel Prestige vs Prestige Plus Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The Carens Prestige Plus variant also gets the 1.5L turbo diesel engine with manual transmission option. The Prestige Plus turbo diesel manual costs Rs. 14.10 lakh (ex-showroom). For the Rs. 1.50 lakh incremental price over the lower trim, this variant adds the following notable features:

• Rear defogger
• Rear washer wiper
• Auto AC
• Keyless entry with push-button start/stop
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Cruise control
• Remote engine start with keyfob
• Power folding mirrors
• Rear door curtains
• LED tail lamps
• LED DRLs
• Cooled cup holders in 1st and 2nd row

The Prestige Plus variant has almost all of the must-have features we expect from a car of its class. We wish the Prestige variant also had LED headlamps and the option of captain seats in the second row. This variant seems very well loaded as it’ll offer a good ownership experience. The only notable feature missing in this variant is the LED headlamps. While the Carens Prestige Plus isn’t a great value-for-money option, it offers some must-have features, which most Carens buyers will appreciate. For this balanced feature set and somewhat reasonable price tag, we will still recommend the Prestige Plus variant to most Carens diesel buyers.

Kia Carens Diesel Prestige Plus vs Luxury Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The Luxury variant of the Carens diesel only gets a manual transmission and costs Rs. 15.50 lakh (ex-showroom), which is 1.40 lakh more than the lower Prestige Plus variant. The Luxury variant gets the following additional features over the Prestige Plus trim:

• LED headlamps
• LED fog lamps
• Larger 10.25-inch touchscreen
• Telematics
• Dual-function LED DRLs
• Telescopic steering
• Multi-colour ambient lighting
• Folding tables for 2nd row
• Auto-dimming inside mirror
• Air purifier
• Under seat tray
• Leather upholstery

The Luxury variant seems properly loaded for personal use. It justifies the upgrade over the Prestige Plus with the additional features, but we’ll instead suggest stretching a bit more for the full luxurious cabin experience.

Kia Carens Diesel Luxury vs Luxury Plus Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

With the 7-seat layout, the top-spec Luxury Plus variant of the 2022 Carens diesel-manual costs Rs. 16.80 lakh while the automatic costs Rs. 17.70 lakh. It carries an incremental price of Rs. 1.30 lakh over the lower Luxury variant. The automatic transmission itself only adds about Rs. 90,000 over the Luxury Plus manual.

This is the only variant with a 6-seat configuration, as it is available with optional captain seats in the second row. Surprisingly, with the luxurious second-row captain seat feature, it will cost you Rs. 5,000 less and you can have it with manual as well as automatic transmission. Following are the additional features of the Luxury Plus variant:

• Optional captain seats (for Rs. 5,000 less)
• Puddle lamps
• Sunroof
• LED cabin lights
• 2 extra speakers
• Bose sound system
• Ventilated front seats
• Paddle shifters with automatic transmission
• Auto wipers
• Wireless phone charger

The top variant offers a few good-to-have features including the option of captain seats in the second row. This is suitable for buyers who want all the features in the car. For buyers who are comfortable stretching their budget beyond the Prestige Plus variant, the Luxury Plus is a good upgrade as it not only offers more features, but also offers better value for money over the lower Luxury and Prestige Plus variants. Unless you need the bench seats in the second row, we’ll suggest choosing the captain seats option. It offers significantly better experience to second row occupants than a bench seat. Not to mention, the feeling of exclusivity as it’s only available with the top-spec Luxury Plus variant while costing Rs. 5,000 less than the 7-seat option.

Which Variant Of The 2022 Kia Carens Diesel Should You Buy?

With the diesel engine, the base Premium variant is worth skipping as it doesn’t offer several must-have features. The Prestige diesel is suitable for you if you don’t want to stretch your budget any further. Otherwise, the Prestige Plus for another Rs. 1.50 lakh is a solid package with a balanced feature set. However, it doesn’t justify the incremental price jump in terms of value for money. This variant still earns our recommendation for Carens diesel buyers.

The Luxury variant adds just enough value to justify the price jump from the Prestige Plus variant but if you’re comfortable stretching the budget just a bit more, then the top-spec Luxury Plus variant is a better option. The top variant offers all the bells and whistles for a no-compromise ownership experience while offering better value for money than the Prestige Plus and Luxury variants. Moreover, it gets the option of captain seats in the second row, which costs Rs. 5,000 less than the 7-seat version. So, you’re better off stretching your budget just a little bit more for the top-spec Luxury Plus variant, especially with the 6-seat layout.

What Are The Engine Specifications Of The Kia Carens Diesel?

The 1.5L turbo diesel engine of the Kia Carens sits towards the bottom of the list in comparison to its rivals with 3-row seating configurations. The Mahindra Marazzo, MG Hector Plus and Toyota Innova Crysta’s respective diesel engines make more power than the Carens diesel. The Hyundai Alcazar shares the engine with the Carens and has identical spes. We expect this engine to have adequate but not explosive performance for ferrying 6-7 adults.

There’s one area though, where this engine shines and that is fuel efficiency. With an official ARAI-tested figure of 21.3kmpl, this engine has a better mileage figure than even the Alcazar, which is the only other car in this comparison with a 20kmpl+ figure. The other noteworthy specification of the Kia Carens diesel is the inclusion of automatic transmission. The Alcazar and Innova Crysta are the only other cars in this comparison with a diesel-automatic combination. The sad part about this combination is that it’s only available in the top variant and will remain out of reach for many buyers.

On the positive side, it carries a nominal incremental asking price of Rs. 90,000 over the Luxury Plus variant. Please note that it suffers a bit with a lower mileage figure than the Carens diesel-manual because of the torque converter automatic transmission. It’s a tried-and-trusted piece of hardware but quite inefficient, especially in stop-and-go traffic involving a lot of idling.

You can use our Fuel Cost Calculator to see how any petrol, diesel or CNG car will cost to run based on the latest fuel price in your city.

Fuel Cost Calculator India

What Are The Dimensions Of The 2022 Kia Carens?

The Kia Carens is longer than the Alcazar but shorter than all other diesel-powered 3-row cars. It’s also wider than only the Alcazar but it has the segment-best wheelbase of 2780mm, which is slightly longer than even the Innova Crysta and Mahindra Marazzo.

*Estimated

What Are The Colour Options Of The 2022 Kia Carens?

The 2022 Carens is available in the following 8 colour options:

• Metallic white
• Flat white
• Red
• Grey
• Silver
• Blue
• Brown
• Black

The base variant only gets flat white and silver colour options. The Prestige gets flat white, silver and grey colour options. Prestige Plus onwards, all variants get all colour options except for flat white. Instead, they get metallic white colour.

Note: Here is a quick look at our length-based segmentation of cars to give you an idea of how we classify cars based on their size.