The Indian Car of The Year (ICOTY) Awards are in and the Kia Carens has been crowned with this prestigious title! This is a special award because the Carens is officially the first-ever MPV to win this title. And it won this award against some tough competition like the Hyundai Tucson and Skoda Slavia! Why is the Kia Carens this special? Let’s see what makes this MVP worthy of this title!

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Variety

The Kia Carens comes with a big list of variants, engine options, and transmission options. Moreover, it gets the option of a 6-seater and a 7-seater configuration as well. This also means that the price bracket that this MPV sits in is quite big. It starts at Rs. 10.20 Lakhs and tops out at Rs. 17.95 Lakhs (ex-showroom). The variety of variants, engines, cabin options, and powertrains make the Kia Carens appeal to a substantial range of customers. Moreover, the Carens is much cheaper than its twin, the Hyundai Alcazar. Kia Carens rear view

Engines

The Carens has an engine for everyone. Want good efficiency, go for the 1.5L diesel that makes 115HP and 250nm. This engine is paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Don’t want a diesel but still want a relatively efficient engine? Go for the 1.5L petrol that makes 115HP and 144nm. This engine is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. Looking for good performance? Pick up the 1.4L turbo petrol engine that makes 140HP and 242nm. This engine is paired with a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT. Kia Carens

Features

As for every Kia car, the Carens is also loaded with features. It gets front-ventilated seats, parking sensors, a rear parking camera, wireless charging, and a big 10.25-inch infotainment unit. The Kia Carens also gets connected car tech, a sunroof, leather upholstery, and an all-LED lights setup. Depending on the variant you choose, be assured that you will have more features than the competition. Kia Carens interiors seating

Kia Carens

What makes the Kia Carens better than the competition?

The Kia Carens primarily competes with the Maruti Ertiga, XL6, and Hyundai Alcazar. When compared to the Ertiga and the XL6, the Carens offers a much better, more premium, and feature-loaded cabin. It looks sportier, and it also performs better. Yes, it costs more than the Ertiga, but it offers more value. When compared to the Alcazar, the Kia Carens offers straight-up value for money. It is essentially the same car but at a slightly cheaper price. Moreover, the Kia Carens gets 6 airbags as standard, which no other car in this segment gets. 

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These are some of the reasons why the Kia Carens was voted the Indian Car of The Year in 2023! What would you like to read next? Let us know in the comments below!