Kia India has expanded the Carens MPV lineup with a new CNG-powered variant, giving buyers a more fuel-efficient alternative in the family mover segment. The Carens CNG is priced at ₹11.77 lakh (ex-showroom), which makes it ₹77,900 costlier than the equivalent Premium (O) Petrol MT variant retailing at ₹10.99 lakh. The CNG kit, developed by Lovato, is government-certified and comes with a third-party warranty covering three years or up to 1 lakh kilometres.
Kia’s most recent launch prior to the Carens CNG was the Carens Clavis EV which debuted a few a months ago.
Kia Carens CNG – Exterior Design
The exterior of Kia Carens CNG remains unchanged and continues with the same design as its Petrol and Diesel counterparts. The front fascia follows a split headlight design, the grille remains sealed off and gets a piano black finish with a chrome strip running through its length.
The rear also remains unchanged, the Carens gets connected taillamps , high mounted stop lamp and even a shark fin antenna. Buyers can choose from six exterior colour options – Clear White, Sparkling Silver, Gravity Grey, Aurora Black Pearl, Imperial Blue, and Pewter Olive. However there are no badges or clear distinctions on the exterior to tell this apart from the standard petrol and diesel variants.
Kia Carens – Interior Design and Features
Feature-wise, the Premium (O) trim doesn’t skimp on equipment. It comes loaded with an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, semi-leatherette upholstery, a reverse parking camera, and a 12.5-inch instrument display. Safety and convenience features include six airbags, ESC, ABS, rear parking sensors, TPMS, rear AC vents, one-touch electric tumble for the second-row seats, keyless entry with a burglar alarm, and five USB Type-C charging ports.
Kia Carens – Powertrain
Powering the Kia Carens CNG is the familiar 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, producing 115 hp and 144 Nm of torque, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. The MPV continues to offer a seven-seat layout, just like the standard petrol model. While Kia hasn’t shared specific performance or efficiency figures for the CNG version, it’s expected to prioritise economy over outright performance. Kia is offering the CNG configuration as a dealer-level fitment, ensuring that customers can opt for it without affecting the vehicle’s factory warranty or mechanical integrity.
Kia Carens – Market Positioning and Rivals
Kia’s move to introduce a CNG version of the Carens positions it squarely between the value-driven Ertiga CNG which is priced at ₹10.76 lakhs and the slightly pricier Toyota Rumion CNG. Priced at ₹11.77 lakh (ex-showroom). It’s aimed at buyers who want the fuel savings of CNG without giving up on space or features. With its dealer-fitted Lovato kit and full warranty support, Kia is pitching the Carens CNG as a more refined, feature-rich take on the practical family MPV formula.