Kia Carens is another blockbuster product from the South Korean carmaker among the masses and it instantly grew popular with its right pricing and list of modern features. Kia also focuses on Hi-safety features and the South Korean carmaker is promoting it thoroughly via advertorials. However, this in fact came after the recent global NCAP crash test results where the Carens scored a mere 3 stars. So what is the Hi-Safety Package of Kia Carens and does it really matter? Let's find it out!
Kia Carens Hi-Safety Package
A total of 10 safety features which are available right from the base variant of the Kia Carens! These include the following:
Six airbags
All four-disc brakes
Vehicle Stability Management
Electronic Stability Control
Hill Assist Control
Downhill Brake Control
Brake Assist System
ABS
Rear Parking Sensors
TPMS
Kia is keeping no stone unturned to promote safety via several advertorials and leaving a mark in the masses that Carens is a safe MPV. But is it really?
Check Out These Other Safer MPVs In A Budget
Renault Triber
It is one such budget MPV that seats 5+2 people and is priced between Rs 5.90 lakh and 8.51 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi. It scored 4 stars in the Global NCAP crash test rating and it does not even carry half of the safety features that Carens is equipped with.
So what did Renault do right? Well, they enhanced their focus on the build quality. The French carmaker knew that the safety of people is more important than gimmicks. Not only Renault but other carmakers too are understanding this concept and even Indian buyer is considering the build quality of their dream car to be a priority. No one would like to travel in a car that gives Hi-Safety Package but does not have a solid build quality.
Mahindra Marazzo
Lately, the Indian carmaker is on a roll by producing technologically advanced vehicles that not only bring up the latest features but also provide a solid build quality. One such product from Mahindra is Marazzo which is available in the market for years.
Mahindra Marazzo scored four stars at the Global NCAP crash test rating and is priced from Rs 13.17 lakh to Rs 15.43 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi. Interestingly, it only gets dual-airbags, ABS with EBD, and reverse parking sensors as standard. Now, imagine if it had got the Hi-Safety package as Kia, it would have easily scored 5-stars.
Maruti Ertiga
The latest version of Ertiga is equipped with ABS with EBD, four airbags, Brake Assist, ESP and Hill Hold Control. However, this wasn't the case with the older version yet it scored 3 stars at the Global NCAP. Maruti Ertiga is a solid product and one of the best-selling MPVs in the country. The carmaker knew that the basics has to be done right instead of playing with gimmicks and the safety of the people.
Bunny Punia, head of content at 91Wheels further adds, "I feel instead of providing this 'Hi-Safety Package', Kia should have invested more time and money into building a SAFER shell and platform. This is what comes to the rescue during a severe collision or accident. As it is, most of the features Kia is highlighting in the 'Hi-Safety Package' are already offered by most other cars in the same price band"
Kia Carens - Good Engine, Latest Features But Several Customer Issues
As we said earlier, the right pricing and modern features make Carens one of the best-selling MPVs. It gets all the latest tech that customer needs and hey, it is the only MPV in its segment to provide an electric sunroof. Moreover, customers get to choose from 3 engine options - 1.5L non-turbo petrol, 1.4L turbo petrol and 1.5L diesel.
However, the drawbacks of Carens cannot be hidden by glorifying its top-notch features. Customers who have put their hard-earned money into buying Carens are facing issues. And mind you, the MPV is not a year old but only a few months old in age.
Condensation Issues
Several buyers complained of the condensation issues they are facing in Kia Carens. At first, the issue was reported from the third row (right-hand side) of the AC vents. Imagine travelling with family/friends and getting drenched in water? What impression would that make?
However, lately, several customers also complained that within minutes of switching the AC ON, the dashboard of the Carens starts dripping water too. This is a serious issue because the dashboard is equipped with an infotainment system and an instrument cluster. If water droplets enter inside, then it can lead to a short-circuit and thus a fire on the move. What would the Hi-Safety Package of Kia Carens do now if the basics are not sorted?
Also Read: 2022 Mahindra Scorpio N Automatic And 4X4 Prices Out; Cheapest 4X4 7-Seat SUV In India
Clutch Issues
Buying a new car is a dream for everyone but what if that dream is towed in a truck within 1 month of purchase? Yes, this too happened with one of the customers when the MPV had to be towed in the night because of a clutch issue. The owner also said that this does not look good in the mind of a customer.
Be an informed buyer and not just rely on Hi-Safety Package
All in all, at 91Wheels we want our buyers to be informed of their purchase and deliver the right information because it is your hard-earned money that gets invested. So be an informed buyer and not just rely on the Hi-Safety Package.
