Kia to Launch Toyota Innova Crysta Challenger MPV In India Soon
Kia has been testing the facelifted version of the Carens in the market for quite some time. According to reports that have surfaced online, we now know that Kia plans to sell the facelifted version alongside the existing Carens in the market. A new report suggests that Kia is planning to expand its lineup in India, and the upcoming MPV will be offered in the market with a new suffix added to the Carens name.
Innova Crysta Rival
As of now, there is no clarity on what the suffix will actually be. Kia is planning to position the facelifted version above the regular Carens, as this is aimed at a premium segment and is expected to offer more features than the standard model. With additional features, the price of the Carens is likely to increase, and the facelifted Carens will rival the Toyota Innova Crysta MPV.
The Innova Crysta has been the leader in its segment for decades. It has never had proper competition from any brand in this particular segment. Toyota currently sells both the Innova Crysta and the Hycross in the Indian market, and both models have a significant waiting period.
A Kia Carens for Every Kind of Customer
Kia is also trying a similar strategy to expand its portfolio and cater to a wider audience. Based on available information, the upcoming Carens facelift will be equipped with premium features such as Level 2 ADAS, a panoramic sunroof, and more. The styling of the facelifted Carens will also be different.
It will get a much sharper and more SUV-like exterior design, resembling several expensive Kia SUVs from their international lineup. Since this is being positioned as a premium product, we also expect Kia to make minor changes to the cabin.
For those who do not want premium features and bold styling, the regular Carens will still be available. This way, Kia can differentiate both models and offer more options to customers. Thre current version of Carens is also extremely popular among customers. Kia has managed to sell 2 lakh units of Carens in just 36 months after its launch.
The current version of the Kia Carens starts at ₹10.60 lakh (ex-showroom) and goes up to ₹19.70 lakh. The Innova Crysta starts at ₹19.99 lakh (ex-showroom) and goes up to ₹26.82 lakh (ex-showroom). There is a possibility that Kia might price the Carens facelift below the Innova Crysta.
Engine Options
Kia is likely to offer the Carens facelift with two engine options only. The naturally aspirated petrol engine available with the pre-facelift Carens may not be offered in the facelifted version. The Carens facelift will likely come with a 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol engine and a 1.5-liter turbocharged diesel engine. The turbo-petrol engine will be available with manual and DCT gearbox options, while the diesel engine will be offered with both manual and automatic transmission options.
Kia is expected to launch the Carens facelift in the coming months. Additionally, an electric version of the facelifted Carens is also set to be introduced in the market later this year. The Carens electric is likely to be powered by a 42 kWh and 51.4 kWh battery pack option. This is the same battery pack Hyundai uses in their Creta electric. The electric MPV’s higher variants are likely to offer a claimed range of 473 km or less.
Via: ACI