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By Brian Afuang
SLEEK nor sexy it ain’t. But seven-seat
functional and frugal with valuable fuel it is. Which all comes as
no big surprise—the Kia Carens in LX CRDi guise is, after all, a
big station wagon (or small minivan, depending at the way one looks
at it) and runs on less precious diesel power. What’s surprising
is that it’s relatively quick, too, endowing it a trait no budget
grocery-and-kids conveyance has any right to have; which is to
provide an expedient rush.
Banish all thoughts of canyon carving, though.
Or of hunting for tuned Honda Jazz hot hatchbacks with Spoon decals.
When we say the Carens is quick, we mean the vehicle hurtles along
courtesy of a fat, broad torque curve, all 314 robust Newton-meters
at only the 2,500rpm mark. Throw in a six-speed manual gearbox (a
four-speed automatic transmission is also available) and all those
twist are guaranteed to be put in good use, like in overtaking
maneuvers or silly green-light Grands Prix. Hauling stuff and noisy,
bickering kids should also come as a cinch, thanks to all that
torque.
For the sake of the uninformed or the Google-challenged,
torque is the measurement of how forceful an amount of power is
(which in vehicles is usually expressed in horsepower). The Carens
CRDi, by the way, makes 140 horsepower at 4,000rpm.
The manner by which this torque arrives is
notable, too, as the engine propels the Carens smoothly but
persistently, in stark contrast with the loud diesel clatter that
accompany this delivery. And while the Kia brochure lists the
Caren’s 2.0-liter 16-valve diesel engine to make max torque at
2,500rpm, it seems to come stronger in the 3,500rpm to 4,000rpm
range, allowing one to gratifyingly rev the engine up before
shifting up to the next gear. With six of them, each one notched
into place by a slick shifter that click-clicks with every gear
change, the exercise turns delightful.
One gripe, though, is the Carens’s long gear
ratio gap between first and second. First gear, I think, is too low,
which is probably designed that way to ensure torque in the low
range. But second gear is too tall, letting the engine revs drop
significantly before picking up again.
But enough of the power talk. One doesn’t buy
a minivan for its torque figures or slick gear shifter—or at least
doesn’t tell the spouse so. What a minivan offers is function and
space, and the Carens differs in this regard by offering functional
space.
The Carens, you see, is not big in the usual
minivan sense. But with deft space planning, Kia designers managed
to create an architecture where three rows of seats that accommodate
two, three and two passengers in each row is possible, commendable
for a vehicle that has four conventional hinged doors.
Yes, the third row is best reserved for small
people, but they’re no token seats, too. Each rear passenger gets
a huge armrest and cup holders, and the Carens’s beige interior
color scheme helps create the illusion it’s not as cramped as it
is back there.
Room in the middle and front rows isn’t any
problem at all, along with ventilation, as the middle-row passengers
get their own air-conditioning vents. With regards to luggage
hauling, the third-row seatbacks fold onto the seat itself to create
a flat expanse of space that’s perfect for bulky cargo, while the
middle-row seats can be moved forward, its seatbacks foldable too,
albeit not flat onto the seat.
What comes as a bonus with the Carens’s size
is that it endows the vehicle a sedan-like drive. The Carens’s
wheel-base is long enough to pack three rows of seats but short
enough to be agile and maneuverable in traffic and other tight jams,
fast food drive-thrus, for instance. Parking it is not a problem,
too, the vehicle’s size making it handy.
Now add a list of convenience features consumers
have learned to expect from modern cars—CD/MP3 player with iPod
connectivity; power-operated windows and locks; multiple
air-conditioning vents; seating arrangement that can be reconfigured
for passenger or cargo hauling—and the Carens becomes quite an
attractive deal. The fact that its styling is quite handsome, with a
mix of subtle details and distinctive design cues (the taillight
overhang, for instance) all the more make for a compelling argument.
More so if one considers that the Korea-made
Carens is truly comparable in refinement levels with the Japanese
brands. The gap in quality between models from the two countries has
really narrowed considerably through the years. However, as a
consequence, the gap in price tags had, too.
But at P1.050 million, the Carens LX CRDi MT is
an infinitely more stylish and comfortable alternative to any of the
Japanese AUVs in this price range. And that’s real value.
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