Kia has officially announced the return of the Carens nameplate in a brand new minivan that will be unveiled on December 16. The teaser video published by the Korean automaker gives us a glimpse of the Carens which is rumored to share its underpinnings with the Seltos SUV.
For those who are not familiar with the
Carens / Rondo name, it was used by Kia for three generations of minivans from
1999 until 2018. The most recent version of the compact MPV debuted in 2012 and
received a facelift in 2016 before being dropped from the automaker’s global
range in 2018 due to slow sales. Initially, it was believed that Kia wouldn’t
unveil a successor but the new teaser proved us wrong.
Naturally, the fourth-generation Carens
appears to adopt a more SUV-like appearance instead of the outdated one-box MPV
silhouette of its predecessors. It also inherits Kia’s latest design language
with thin LED headlights and full-width taillights similar to the ones on the
new Sportage.
In terms of size, the Carens will likely
be longer and taller than the Seltos in order to provide more interior space
and practicality. The tall roofline will also allow for a third row of seats
making it a seven-seater like its predecessor. From the teaser video, it is
clear that Kia focuses on the family-friendly nature of their new model. After
its world premiere on December 16, the new Carens will roll out in India, with
other markets to follow at a later date.
