Kia Carens and other MPVs?

[lm723]

Sorry, generic ung other MPVs. (Pwedeng.. Avanza, etc)
Saw this yesterday sa may bacoor on our way home.

I wonder. How much kaya eto?

[mazdamazda]

The base model CRDi version is 875K while the EX is at P1.05M (airbag + some other cosmetic stuff).

IMO - this is the best MPV to set food in the Philippines with its 2.0L CRDI VGT engine pumping out 140hp & 314Nm torque. For comparison, it almost has almost the output as Isuzu's 3.0L I-TEQ engine in the Alterra.

[niky]

The base gas version is about 800k or so. The only real competitor it has, locally, in terms of refinement and features is the Chevrolet/Opel Zafira. But the Zafira is older, smaller, and doesn't come with a diesel.

It's not as heavy duty or as large as an AUV, but it rides more like a car than any AUV, even the Innova.

It feels more upscale than the Innova inside, and the diesel engine is much more sophisticated. Seating flexibility is much better, as both the second and third row can fold completely flat.

It's still not very big, though... but if you're looking for a seven seater with a bit of class, nothing comes close to the Carens at this price... at least not until other manufacturers bring in their European sized MPVs.

[minero]

I saw one displayed last week at SM north by Kia Novaliches. Only gas model. Is the CRDi already available? If it is, I think 1.05 M is a great buy!

[iiinaslao]

I saw one displayed last week at SM north by Kia Novaliches. Only gas model. Is the CRDi already available? If it is, I think 1.05 M is a great buy!

diesel crdi now available the middle model is at 975k,

[ajoe11_03]

The base gas version is about 800k or so. The only real competitor it has, locally, in terms of refinement and features is the Chevrolet/Opel Zafira. But the Zafira is older, smaller, and doesn't come with a diesel.

It's not as heavy duty or as large as an AUV, but it rides more like a car than any AUV, even the Innova.

It feels more upscale than the Innova inside, and the diesel engine is much more sophisticated. Seating flexibility is much better, as both the second and third row can fold completely flat.

It's still not very big, though... but if you're looking for a seven seater with a bit of class, nothing comes close to the Carens at this price... at least not until other manufacturers bring in their European sized MPVs.

yeah, i agree there's no comparison for other mpv yet. the looks is superb, however phillipine market is a li'l hesistant to give it a try knowing it's a korean car.

[Blackraven]

The base model CRDi version is 875K while the EX is at P1.05M (airbag + some other cosmetic stuff).

IMO - this is the best MPV to set food in the Philippines with its 2.0L CRDI VGT engine pumping out 140hp & 314Nm torque. For comparison, it almost has almost the output as Isuzu's 3.0L I-TEQ engine in the Alterra.

Wow.

So kaparehas pala siya ng N22A1 diesel engine ng Honda (*140hp).

This is definitely way better than the cheap Innova PERIOD.

[eggman]

This MPV is so good kaya so far ok ang sales ng LX variant nito which is the best buy of the bunch..Better than the Innova and Crosswind?HECK YES!!!

[ripples]

the only problem keeping me from being too excited about the new carens is its too low ground clearance, i peeped through the floor, i can see the engine oil sump and measures barely 6 inches., -unloaded without passengers. We're 7 in the family, 4 kids and a nanny, and i dont think this MPV is for us.

[number001]

the only problem keeping me from being too excited about the new carens is its too low ground clearance, i peeped through the floor, i can see the engine oil sump and measures barely 6 inches., -unloaded without passengers. We're 7 in the family, 4 kids and a nanny, and i dont think this MPV is for us.

We share the same concern regarding the ground clearance. Even with all the Innova's shortcomings, I really think the Innova is better suited to this country's potholed and sometimes flood-ridden roads.


***********

Even with extensive promos (free LTO, insurance, etc...) this month of May, I have only seen one Carens on the road and that was in front of Unimart in Greenhills.

[rayban7g]

We share the same concern regarding the ground clearance. Even with all the Innova's shortcomings, I really think the Innova is better suited to this country's potholed and sometimes flood-ridden roads.

+1.. I agree, much better if they made it just a little bit higher lang siguro. Lubog na yan pag 5 adults...ano pa yung 2 sa likod!?! One of the things I rant about is it's lacking of standard safety features (Dammit...where's the ABS/EBD's, Dual-Airbags???) However, somehow it's a nice compact MPV.

=======================

Prices as per Motioncars.com:

EX CRDi
-P1,050,000 (A/T Only)

LX CRDi
-P875,000 (MT 6-speed)
-P925,000 (4AT)

EX Gasoline
-P995,000 (4AT)

LX Gasoline
-P818,000 (MT 5-speed)
-P868,000 (4AT)

For more info: www.motioncars.com

[oldblue]

We share the same concern regarding the ground clearance. Even with all the Innova's shortcomings, I really think the Innova is better suited to this country's potholed and sometimes flood-ridden roads.


***********

Even with extensive promos (free LTO, insurance, etc...) this month of May, I have only seen one Carens on the road and that was in front of Unimart in Greenhills.

yup. yan ang negative side nyan carens, mababa ground clearance. dapat malapit lang presyo nya sa Hyundai matrix. pero to compete with the pricing of Innova, mag-innova na lang ako

[redorange]

The Carens/Rondo ground clearance is 6.1 inches, the Sedona has 6.6 inches, the Rio has 6.1 inches, Spectra 6.3 Inches. Is there alot of Sedona, Rio, Spectra, and not too mention all the lowered cars running around the metro scraping the ground with the oil sump and ripping them off? I don't believe that 6.1 inches is too low even when you load it, as Niky said most of the weight won't be right above the engine anyways but in the back, unless you make people sit on the hood as ornaments.

[saipeme]

one solution is enlarge the tire to 215/70 series 34mm bigger in diameter the car lift at least 17mm...

[jeanpierre]

the only problem keeping me from being too excited about the new carens is its too low ground clearance, i peeped through the floor, i can see the engine oil sump and measures barely 6 inches., -unloaded without passengers. We're 7 in the family, 4 kids and a nanny, and i dont think this MPV is for us.

Madali lang naman i confirm yan, check out the dealer with the test unit. Bring the kids plus the SA di 7 na kayo. Then test drive nyo make sure medyo i daan mo sa lubak o humps to check kung may mag scrape sa ibaba o yong height e bumaba pa. I think anticipated at tested na ng KIA yan...hope so.

[ripples]

there are tradeoffs too if u enlarge'n the tire, u get to highten it a bit but clearance to the wheel wells too will be compromised..

test drive wont tell u anything about real life driving, for such a short time, i think the springs are still that tough and have not settled yet, and will not exhibit any excessive sagging.

Their commercials sports a 225/17 though..still i dont think its intended for Philippine roads.

front will sag too allright, considering proportional leverages.

[niky]

The front end won't sag as much as the rear end, as the front springs are much stiffer to accomodate the engine's weight. There's usually half an inch or less drop, even with a full load, as most of the extra weight from passengers three to seven will rest over the rear wheels.

6 inches isn't enough? I've been driving my sedan over the worst of Philippine potholes (six or seven bent mags can attest to this), and nowhere will you find a place to crack the oil pan on a regular sedan... and mine is a bit lower than the 1.6.

I've even taken it on that detour under the bridge going to Manaoag church in Pangasinan... a path that has some pretty big rocks piled up beside the road... no problems. I've gone dirt tracking at our farm (deep ruts) and I've driven on the SLEX after Millenyo (some pretty deep potholes... four inches or more deep...), no problems.

Unless you're going to some godforsaken place at 3am and expect to hit some eight inch high rock on a dirt path going at 100+ kmh (and you shouldn't be driving that fast in an unfamiliar place at such an hour), you're not going to have problems with six inches of oil sump clearance.

[redorange]

the only problem keeping me from being too excited about the new carens is its too low ground clearance, i peeped through the floor, i can see the engine oil sump and measures barely 6 inches., -unloaded without passengers. We're 7 in the family, 4 kids and a nanny, and i dont think this MPV is for us.

Is this a mid engined MPV? Because unless it is, having passengers in the rear and middle area when fully loaded won't bring that oil sump much lower. The Carens is front engine and having it loaded in the back will only drop the back not the front. Just look at pick ups and any sedan for that matter when they are fully loaded in the back and with passengers, only the back sags not the front because all the weight is not in the front.

[eggman]

I think matibay ang ilalim ng Kia Carens at saka alam ng Kia na magiging overloaded pag maraming passengers to kaya mas sturdy for sure ang ilalim nyan...

Malabong i-presyo to sa Matrix(HARI recently killed the Matrix sa lineup nila) dahil seven seater ang Carens at mas malaki tong sa Kia...

[niky]

The Matrix and Carens are based off of two different platforms, and are of two different size classes. It's hard to imagine them offering the Carens for close to Matrix pricing, as the Matrix is based off a sub-compact, while the Carens is based off of a compact-midsize car platform... ibang klase ang laki when you put them side by side... especially seeing the Matrix's subcompact sized running gear (small wheels and brakes, small engine bay) up against the Carens' larger wheels and brakes and full-sized engine bay. In the US, the Carens is a V6 riding on 17" mags.