Kia Carens

Generations: what actually changed if you skip an older Carens

The Kia Carens is a Compact Van with 4 catalogue entries that cover 3 numbered generations: 1 generation (1999-03-01–2002-04-30, 4 versions), 1 generation, restyling (2002-05-01–2006-04-30, 10 versions), 2 generation (2006-05-01–2012-08-31, 5 versions), and 3 generation (2012-09-01–2019-01-31, 7 versions). Restyling is not a fourth generation.

The Kia Carens is a Compact Van with 4 catalogue entries that cover 3 numbered generations: 1 generation (1999-03-01–2002-04-30, 4 versions), 1 generation, restyling (2002-05-01–2006-04-30, 10 versions), 2 generation (2006-05-01–2012-08-31, 5 versions), and 3 generation (2012-09-01–2019-01-31, 7 versions). Restyling is not a fourth generation.

1 generation → restyling. The pre-restyle 1.8 MT (109 hp) already does 11.3 s to 100 km/h at 1189 kg kerb — the lightest measured Carens. Restyling adds 1.6 MT (105 hp), a second 1.8 MT (126 hp), Diesel 2.0 MT at 113 hp and 140 hp, and Automatic twins. Ground clearance rises from 135 mm on all four 1 generation versions to 150 mm or 155 mm after restyling. Tank volume becomes 55 L (1 generation tank is not measured). Front brakes go from Disc to Ventilated disc. Payload on restyle Gasoline 2.0 MT (139 hp) is 1880 − 1462 = 418 kg, the smallest measured payload; several restyle versions sit at 490 kg (for example 1.6 MT 105 hp: 1830 − 1340).

Restyling → 2 generation. Peak Gasoline power moves from 139 hp (2.0 MT restyle) to 145 hp (2.0 MT 2 generation): +6 hp. Diesel torque moves from 245 Nm (2.0 MT 113 hp and 2.0 MT 140 hp restyle) to 305 Nm (2.0 MT 140 hp Diesel and 2.0 AT 140 hp Diesel): +60 Nm. Rear suspension English label on 2 generation is Independent, spring (several restyle versions use Semi-independent, springorts hélicoïdaux, sem). Clearance is 156 mm on four of five 2 generation versions; only 2.0 AT (140 hp, Diesel) is 150 mm. Tank stays 55 L. Eco class is not measured on 2 generation.

2 generation → 3 generation. Gasoline peak is 166 hp on 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT versus 145 hp on 2 generation 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT: +21 hp. Diesel peak torque is 347 Nm on 1.7 DCT (141 hp) versus 305 Nm on 2 generation Diesel 2.0 MT (140 hp): +42 Nm. Displacement of the Diesel line drops from 1991 cm³ to 1685 cm³. Manual Gasoline gears go from 5 to 6. Automatic Diesel gears go from 4 (2.0 AT 140 hp, 2 generation) to 6 (1.7 AT 136 hp) or 7 (1.7 DCT). Injection on Gasoline 3 generation is Direct injection (direct); 2 generation Gasoline is Distributed injection (multi-point). Tank is 58 L versus 55 L (+3 L). Clearance is 150 mm on every 3 generation version versus 156 mm on most 2 generation versions (−6 mm). Every 3 generation version is Euro 5; earlier eco class is not measured. CO2 is not measured on any Carens version.

Drive is FWD on every version in every generation. Cylinders are 4 Inline, 4 valves per cylinder, Front, transverse where that field is measured (1 generation engine location is not measured).

Engine specs (every version, exact names)

Power per litre (hp ÷ cm³ × 1000), rounded to 0.1: 3 generation 1.6 MT 84.9 hp/L; 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT 83.1; 1.7 DCT 83.7; 1.7 MT (136 hp) / 1.7 AT 80.7; 1.7 MT (115 hp) 68.2. The 115 hp Diesel is the least power-dense 3 generation engine; it exists for consumption, not specific output. 2 generation 1.6 MT is 79.2 hp/L versus 84.9 on the later 1.6 MT at the same 1591 cm³ (+9 hp). Restyle 1.6 MT is 65.9 hp/L (105 hp / 1594 cm³). 1 generation 2.0 MT (133 hp) is 66.6 hp/L versus 83.1 on 3 generation 2.0 MT.

Performance, mpg, and what the gearbox costs

Fastest 0–100: 3 generation 2.0 MT 9.7 s. Slowest measured: restyle 2.0 AT (113 hp, Diesel) 14.2 s — 4.5 s slower. Highest top speed: 3 generation 2.0 MT 203 km/h. Lowest measured top speed: restyle 2.0 AT (113 hp) 166 km/h.

Same engine, gearbox tax (3 generation Diesel 136 hp): 1.7 MT (136 hp) 10.0 s / 191 km/h / mixed 5.0 L/100 km versus 1.7 AT 11.6 s / 186 km/h / mixed 6.1. Automatic costs +1.6 s, −5 km/h, +1.1 L/100 km mixed, +9 kg kerb (1600 vs 1591). 1.7 DCT (141 hp, 347 Nm, Robotic 7) sits between them on time (11.3 s) with mixed 5.2 — 0.2 above the 136 hp Manual, 0.9 below the 136 hp Automatic.

Same 166 hp Gasoline, 3 generation: 2.0 MT 9.7 s / 203 km/h / mixed 7.2 versus 2.0 AT 10.8 s / 200 / 7.9. Automatic costs +1.1 s, −3 km/h, +0.7 mixed, +25 kg kerb (1544 vs 1519).

3 generation 1.7 MT (115 hp) is the slowest 3 generation clock (12.6 s, 181 km/h) but the cheapest on fuel: city 5.8 / highway 4.1 / mixed 4.7. Versus 1.6 MT Gasoline mixed 6.4, Diesel 115 hp saves 1.7 L/100 km mixed and still has 260 Nm versus 165 Nm. Versus 2.0 MT Gasoline mixed 7.2, it saves 2.5 L/100 km and gives up 9.7 s → 12.6 s (−2.9 s) and 203 → 181 km/h.

2 generation Gasoline 1.6 MT and 2.0 MT (145 hp) share the same fuel figures (11.1 / 6.9 / 8.4). The extra 1998 − 1591 = 407 cm³ and +19 hp buy 11.6 s → 11.1 s (0.5 s) and the same 190 km/h — a small sprint gain for no mixed-economy penalty in this table. 2 generation Diesel 2.0 MT (140 hp) mixed 6.0 versus Gasoline 2.0 MT mixed 8.4: −2.4 L/100 km, with 11.0 s versus 11.1 s. That Diesel Manual is the 2 generation buy if fuel is the test; 2.0 AT (140 hp Diesel) mixed 7.7 gives 1.7 L/100 km back to the 4-speed Automatic and 12.6 s instead of 11.0.

1 generation 1.8 MT mixed 8.6 at 11.3 s / 185 km/h. Restyle 1.8 MT (109 hp) is slower (13.1 s) and thirstier mixed (9.0) despite 1264 kg versus 1189 kg on the earlier 1.8 MT — restyling did not improve that 109 hp Manual on the measured sprint. Restyle 1.8 MT (126 hp) mixed 8.1 and 12.0 s is the better restyle 1.8 if both exist on the lot: +17 hp, −1.1 s, −0.9 mixed versus the 109 hp 1.8 MT. Restyle 1.8 AT (109 hp): 0–100, city, highway, mixed, and kerb are not measured; top speed 173 km/h. Restyle 2.0 MT (140 hp Diesel): 0–100 and all three consumption figures are not measured; top speed 190 km/h. 1 generation 1.8 AT, 2.0 AT, 2.0 MT: 0–100, top speed (except none listed as measured for those three on speed either — 1.8 AT, 2.0 AT, 2.0 MT top speed not measured), consumption, tank, kerb (except 1.8 MT), gross — not measured.

Engine oil capacity is not measured on any version.

Dimensions, weight, tank, wheels

Wheel sizes are not measured on any Kia Carens version. Length in mm, feet, inches, or meters is not measured. Comparisons to Seltos, Ertiga, Creta, XUV700, or Innova Crysta are not in this data.

Kerb span among measured cars: 1189 kg (1 generation 1.8 MT) to 1600 kg (3 generation 1.7 AT and 1.7 DCT). Difference: 411 kg. Gross span among measured: 1750 kg (restyle 1.8 MT 109 hp and 1.8 AT 109 hp) to 2275 kg (2 generation 2.0 AT 140 hp Diesel).

kg per hp, 3 generation: 2.0 MT 1519/166 = 9.15 kg/hp (best); 2.0 AT 9.30; 1.6 MT 10.99; 1.7 DCT 11.35; 1.7 MT 136 hp 11.70; 1.7 AT 11.76; 1.7 MT 115 hp 13.75 (worst in 3 generation). 1 generation 1.8 MT 1189/109 = 10.91 kg/hp — close to 3 generation 1.6 MT despite 26 fewer hp, because it is 294 kg lighter (1483 − 1189).

Payload (gross − kerb) peaks on 2 generation Diesel 2.0 MT (140 hp): 2255 − 1560 = 695 kg. 3 generation payloads cluster 656–670 kg. Restyle Gasoline 2.0 MT (139 hp) and 2.0 AT (139 hp) are 418 kg — if you buy restyle for space, those two 139 hp versions have the weakest measured payload.

Ground clearance: 135 mm (all 1 generation), 150 or 155 mm (restyle), 156 mm (most 2 generation) or 150 mm (2.0 AT 140 hp Diesel and all of 3 generation). Highest clearance in the line is 156 mm, not 3 generation.

Tank: not measured (1 generation) / 55 L (restyle and 2 generation) / 58 L (3 generation). Mixed range arithmetic on 3 generation: 1.7 MT 115 hp 58/4.7 ≈ 12.3 × 100 km; 2.0 AT 58/7.9 ≈ 7.3 × 100 km.

Which version to choose

If you want one Carens and will pick from 3 generation (2012-09-01–2019-01-31): take 2.0 MT for speed (9.7 s, 203 km/h, 9.15 kg/hp) or 1.7 MT (115 hp) for litres (mixed 4.7). Take 1.7 MT (136 hp) if you want 330 Nm and 10.0 s without Automatic: it is 21 hp and 70 Nm above the 115 hp 1.7 MT, 2.6 s quicker, mixed only +0.3 L/100 km (5.0 vs 4.7). Skip 1.7 AT unless you require Automatic: same 136 hp and 330 Nm as that Manual, worse on every measured speed and fuel line. 1.7 DCT is the Automatic-style alternative that keeps mixed at 5.2 and adds the catalogue’s peak 347 Nm and 141 hp; it is 0.3 s quicker than 1.7 AT and 1.3 s slower than 1.7 MT (136 hp). 1.6 MT (135 hp) is the lightest 3 generation car (1483 kg) and the most power-dense Gasoline (84.9 hp/L); mixed 6.4 undercuts 2.0 MT by 0.8 L/100 km and gives up 1.2 s and 18 km/h. 2.0 AT is the 166 hp Gasoline if you will not shift: it is 1.1 s and 0.7 mixed behind 2.0 MT.

If the choice is 2 generation versus 3 generation: 3 generation 2.0 MT (166 hp) versus 2 generation 2.0 MT (145 hp) is +21 hp, +13 Nm, 11.1 s → 9.7 s, 190 → 203 km/h, mixed 8.4 → 7.2, tank 55 → 58, gears 5 → 6, injection multi-point → direct, Euro class not measured → Euro 5. Kerb rises 1450 → 1519 (+69 kg); clearance 156 → 150. 3 generation Diesel 1.7 MT (136 hp) versus 2 generation Diesel 2.0 MT (140 hp): −4 hp, +25 Nm (330 vs 305), 11.0 s → 10.0 s, mixed 6.0 → 5.0, 1991 → 1685 cm³. The later smaller Diesel is quicker and leaner on these figures. 3 generation 1.6 MT versus 2 generation 1.6 MT: +9 hp, 11.6 → 10.9 s, mixed 8.4 → 6.4 (−2.0), gears 5 → 6, tank +3 L, kerb +33 kg (1450 → 1483).

If the choice is 1 generation / restyling: buy restyle 1.8 MT (126 hp) rather than restyle 1.8 MT (109 hp) on the measured sheet (+17 hp, 13.1 → 12.0 s, mixed 9.0 → 8.1, 95 fuel versus 80). Buy restyle 2.0 MT (139 hp) for the restyle’s quickest measured Gasoline sprint (10.6 s) knowing payload is 418 kg. Buy restyle 2.0 MT (113 hp Diesel) for mixed 7.0, not for speed (13.5 s). Do not treat restyle 1.8 AT (109 hp) or restyle 2.0 MT (140 hp Diesel) as known-economy cars: consumption is not measured. Pre-restyle 1.8 MT (109 hp) remains the light-kerb outlier (1189 kg, 11.3 s, mixed 8.6); 1.8 AT, 2.0 AT, and 2.0 MT of 1 generation are incomplete on speed, fuel, tank, and mass.

Reliability / problems: this dataset has no failure rates, oil volumes, or defect lists. What it does show: 3 generation is the only generation with Euro 5 on every version; Diesel Turbo appears from restyling onward; 1 generation front brakes are Disc rather than Ventilated disc; restyle 1.8 MT (109 hp) and 1.8 AT (109 hp) use Drum rear brakes, unlike Disc/Disc rears on the other restyle versions.

There is no Carens EV, Clavis, or 2026 row in this catalogue. Seat count is not measured. Specs above are the 1999-03-01–2019-01-31 Compact Van line only.