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KiaCarens (2013-2019)

MPV
Petrol/Diesel/Mild hybrid
Used only

£5,543Typical price

Test score

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This seven-seat MPV marked the final stage in Kia's overall transformation from a no-frills budget carmaker into a serious contender in Europe. The 2013 Kia Carens is as striking-looking as the Soul, Optima, latest Picanto and so on, and even has quite a sporty character. Is it now up with the best people carriers? Read on for our full review.

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What's included?

What is it?
What's it great at?
What's it like to drive?
How reliable are Kia's cars?
How reliable is it?
How comfortable is it?
How economical is it to run?
How safe is it?
Is there anything I should look out for?
Should I buy it?

KEY TEST RESULTS
Comfort and practicality
Brand reliability 0-4 years

Jan 2023Last checked by Which?
May 2013First reviewed by Which?
May 2013Released

The overall Which? test score is made up of the following star ratings, all determined by our rigorous lab tests.

How we test cars

6 Jun 2025

Ease of driving

Overall
Visibility
Smoothness of power delivery
Driving stability
Cabin layout

How we test ease of driving

To find out how easy a car is to drive, we assess cars across a number of areas from visibility and handling to the layout of the cabin and how smoothly the engine delivers its power.

Performance

Overall
In-gear acceleration
Brakes

How we test performance

We test braking distances and whether the effectivess of the brakes fade with repeat use. Performanc is based on in-gear acceleration.

Comfort and practicality

Overall
Entry and exit
Seat comfort
Ride quality
Quietness
Seat space
Boot space (large cars, SUVs and MPVs)

How we test comfort and practicality

Comfort and practicality includes how easy it is, or not, to get in and out of the car and the maximum height of occupants. We also measure road, wind and engine noise and assess how well the car deals with bumps from large potholes to jittery surfaces like cobble stones.

Euro NCAP

How we test euro ncap

Any car that receives a rating of two stars or less from Euro NCAP is made a Don't Buy. Any car that receives three stars can't be a Best Buy. If a car has been available for more than four years and has not been tested by Euro NCAP, it cannot be a Best Buy.

Safety kit

How we test safety kit

We factor in the safety equipment that’s factory-fitted or optional, along with how well the car protects its occupants and pedestrians in the event of an accident. We also test how easy it is to fit a variety of child car seats.

Brand reliability 0-4 years

Overall
Electric car reliability
Full hybrid reliability
Plug-in hybrid reliability
Petrol reliability
Diesel reliability

How we test brand reliability 0-4 years

Our reliability ratings are based on the feedback from tens of thousands of UK motorists, as collected in our annual Which? car survey. We divide all reliability feedback into three age groups: cars aged up to four years, five to nine years, and 10 to 15 years.

Brand reliability 5-9 years

Overall
Diesel reliability

Brand reliability 10-15 years

Overall
Petrol reliability
Diesel reliability

General
Class	MPV
Luxury	No
Convertible	No
Availability	Used only
Used price	£5,543 - £10,283
Fuel type	Petrol/Diesel/Mild hybrid
Tested fuel efficiency	39.8 to 52.3mpg
Length	4,525mm
Width (excluding wing mirrors)	1,805mm
Width (including wing mirrors)	2,085 to 2,105mm
Height	1,605mm
Driver max height
Second-row passenger max height
Third row passenger max height
Boot space with seats up
Boot space with seats down
Number of seats	7
Folding rear seats	Yes
Isofix attachments	Yes
Turning circle	11.8 m
On sale date	01 May 2013
Lowest pence-per-mile cost	£12.21

Latest tested engine
Engine and trim name	1.7 CRDi Spirit
Fuel type	Diesel
Capacity and power	1.7-litre (141hp)
Transmission	6-speed manual
Driven wheels	Front-wheel-drive (FWD)
Fuel tank capacity	58 litres
Tested fuel economy: City / Out of town / Motorway (mpg)
Tested fuel economy: Combined (mpg)
Cost per mile	12.42p per mile
Cost of filling tank	£81
Monthly fuel cost
Annual fuel cost
NOx level	Medium
CO level	Low
CO2 at tailpipe/tank-to-wheel (TTW) (g/km)	146
Official Euro emission level	Euro 6b
Braked tow load (KG)	1500kg
Unbraked tow load (KG)	750kg
Engine test date	01 December 2015
Test programme	2012-2016

Engine two
Engine and trim name	1.6 GDI Dream Team Edition
Fuel	Petrol
Capacity and power	1.6-litre (135hp)
Transmission	6-speed manual
Driven wheels	Front-wheel-drive (FWD)
Fuel tank capacity	58 litres
Tested fuel economy: City / Out of town / Motorway
Tested fuel economy: combined mpg
Cost per mile	15.31p per mile
Cost of filling tank	£78
Monthly fuel cost
Annual fuel cost
NOx level	Extremely Low (trace)
CO level	Extremely High
CO2 at tailpipe/tank-to-wheel (TTW) (g/km)	161
Official Euro emission level	Euro 5
Braked tow load (KG)	1300kg
Unbraked tow load (KG)	710kg
Engine test date	18 December 2014
Car test programme	2012-2016

Engine three
Engine and trim name	1.7 CRDi Vision
Fuel type	Diesel
Capacity and power	1.7-litre (136hp)
Transmission	6-speed manual
Driven wheels	Front-wheel-drive (FWD)
Fuel tank capacity	58 litres
Tested fuel economy: City / Out of town / Motorway
Tested fuel economy: combined mpg
Cost per mile	12.21p per mile
Cost of filling tank	£81
Monthly fuel cost
Annual fuel cost
NOx level	Medium
CO level	Very low
CO2 at tailpipe/tank-to-wheel (TTW) (g/km)	143
Official Euro emission level	Euro 5
Braked tow load (KG)	1500kg
Unbraked tow load (KG)	750kg
Engine test date	18 December 2013
Car test programme	2012-2016

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KiaCarens (2013-2019)

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