Weekend roadtest: Kia Carens 3 1700TD

Size matters in families and Kia has the measure of them in the Carens.

The size of the Kia Carens is a major selling point in the MPV sector. It falls between rival five or seven seat competitors without compromising in any way.

The seats and loading arrangements have been very well thought out and it will swallow a very long load when the front passenger seat is folded.

The second and third row of seats which make up the seven seat arrangement have a clever slide and tilt mechanism on the outer second row seats to ease rearmost access. Boot capacity can be steadily increased from a minimum just under 500 litres to over 1,650 litres.

Up front you can choose from a petrol or two diesel engines – and we tested the more powerful turbo-diesel version here – manual or automatic transmission and four specifications.

The 1.7 litre four-cylinder 134bhp turbo-diesel is the most popular in the series and it produces a strong 330Nm of pulling power which is ideal for heavy family holidays or towing without much trouble.

With Kia’s Intelligent Stop and Go the fuel consumption is minimised and we achieved almost 43mpg on test, remarkably close to the test-cell combined figure of just over 46mpg. Our figure shows what is achievable and realistic and it’s a credit to Kia engineering and honesty.

From rest and through the easy changing six manual gears it pulls well while the overdrive 5^th and 6^th ratios helped achieve the economy without having to think about it.

If you opt to stay in the lower ratios it covers ground well and overtakes quickly but you notice how hard its working with a lot more engine noise.

In higher ratios and cruising it is very composed and quiet and there is a general lack of mechanical and wind noise.

Major and minor controls are well located, work smoothly and I liked the tight turning circle and well balanced brakes underfoot. It rode over bad surfaces without complaint, did roll a bit on bends but it held onto the road nevertheless and it had a very neutral handling feel unless you went to extreme and then it could be quickly tucked in again by easing off the throttle.

Room inside is good, front seats adjust over a wide range and all are comfortably shaped and supporting.

Storage is abundant in the Carens with a pleasantly cooled glovebox, underfloor bins and even seatback tables as well as a multitude of cup and drinks holders throughout.

Heating and ventilation is good throughout and there are powered windows to hand.

I really liked the interior look and feel of Carens 3 we tested and it conveys a strong impression of quality and clean as well as practical thinking. Upper models have leather seats while high quality cloth is standard.

There is a very good sound and entertainment system with compatible connections for portable plug-ins so everyone should be happy on a long journey.

Kia Carens may not be on your radar as a family car, but it would be a mistake to overlook its virtues and abilities where family values are concerned, and it has the best warranty cover in the sector as well.