Kia Carens EV Spotted Testing Again - Latest Pictures
Kia is known to be working on its first mass market electric vehicle (EV) based on the Carens MPV. A new set of spy shots of the Carens EV have now surfaced, which show one plugged at a charging station. Though it had previously been spotted on test in India, these images seem to be from Korea. They reveal key details of the all-electric Carens.
Kia Carens EV: What To Expect
The new set of images let us deduce the possible design cues of the upcoming EV. It is likely to share a lot with the outgoing Carens in terms of design. The silhouette, in particular, will remain all the more identical. We can also see parts of the front fender and wheel arches in these, which also seem familiar.
The front fascia will likely have notable reworks. It will get a new blanked-off grille and revised headlamps and DRLs. The pictures also reveal that the charging port would sit above the front bumper, near the grille. Another major reveal is the aerodynamic wheel design which will be shod with low resistance tyres. The rear will have refreshed tail lamp design and a connecting light bar. The rear design, at large, will be different from the outgoing model
The Carens Electric will get more features and technology than the outgoing Internal Combustion Engined (ICE) model. Even the petrol/diesel Carens is set to get an update soon, which will add more features and notable restyling to the vehicle. Kia India will launch the facelifted Carens and the EV together. These will be sold alongside the outgoing model.
Expected Features And tech
The Carens EV is expected to get features like a 360-degree camera, Level 2 ADAS suite, and an upgraded 'connected' screen cluster (infotainment system and instrument cluster) which will get a new interface. The electric MPV will also come with a new dashboard layout and tweaked centre console.
Expected Powertrain Specifications
Details of the powertrain and underpinnings are yet to surface. We expect the Carens EV to come with the same battery pack choices and electric motor setup as the recently launched Hyundai Creta Electric. If this is the case, the all-electric Carens will likely deliver a range of approximately 400-450 km on a full charge.
The Creta Electric offers two battery pack options- 42 kWh and a larger 51.4 kWh. These could be carried over to the Carens EV as well. On the Creta EV, the 42 kWh is claimed to deliver a range of 390 km per charge. The larger battery, on the other hand, promises a range of 473 km. The electric powertrain, with the 42 kWh unit, is capable of producing 135 PS, while with the second option, it generates 171 bhp.
May Not Be As Sporty As The Creta Electric
The Creta EV can do the 0-100 kph sprint in just 7.9 seconds- quite fast for an electric SUV. However, it remains to be seen if such levels of performance will make a presence on an MPV like the Carens. Considering the laid-back, comfort-focussed nature of the MPV, it could be slightly uncommon to expect it to be sporty.
Charging Time
On the Creta Electric, both battery packs can charge from 10 to 80 percent in just 58 minutes, over a DC fast charger. With an 11kW AC power outlet, the same will take around 4 hours.
Safety Features
The safety features offered on the Carens EV could be similar to what we see on the Creta Electric. Details of this are yet to be known. Hyundai's newest electric SUV comes with 6 airbags, all four disc brakes, hill-start assist, hill descent control, electronic stability control with vehicle stability management, ISOFIX child seat mounts, and a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS).
Launch Timeline And Price
Kia will launch both the facelifted Carens and the Carens EV in India, next month (April 2025). The electric MPV will likely have an ex-showroom price tag of Rs 25 lakh.