The Kia Carens recently underwent crash testing by Global NCAP, and the results are in: 3 stars for adult occupant protection and a much better 5 stars for child occupant protection.
Adult Safety: Room for Improvement
This 3-star adult safety rating might seem similar to the Carens’ 2022 score, but there’s a crucial difference. The 2023 test followed stricter protocols that mandate Electronic Stability Control (ESC), side airbags, and more safety features as standard. The 2022 test allowed the car to be tested in its basic safety specification.
Kia initially failed the 2023 test, with the Carens offering poor neck protection to the driver, resulting in a 0-star rating. Kia promptly improved the restraint system and retested the car in December 2023. This time, the Carens achieved a 3-star rating, but there are still areas for improvement.
While the body shell held up, protection for the driver’s chest was just adequate, and knee protection was marginal due to potential impact with parts of the dashboard. The standard curtain airbags don’t extend to the third row, and the second-row head restraints were inadequate. These shortcomings prevented a side pole impact test.
Child Protection Shines
Despite the adult safety concerns, the Kia Carens excels in child occupant protection. It scored a perfect 5-star rating in this category. Both child seats, a rearward-facing 18-month-old seat and a 3-year-old seat, offered excellent protection using i-Size anchorages and a support leg. Kia also discourages disabling the passenger airbag for rearward-facing child seats with clear warning labels.
Global NCAP Disappointed
Global NCAP Secretary General Alejandro Furas expressed disappointment with the Carens’ adult safety rating. He pointed out that Kia typically achieves 5-star ratings in other markets and urged the company to do better in India.
Standard Safety Features
Despite the adult safety concerns, the Kia Carens comes standard with 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, rear parking sensors, and rear disc brakes.
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