Kia launches CNG versions of Carens and Carens Clavis, priced from Rs 12.11 lakh

Kia has introduced a new option for buyers looking for family cars. The company has officially launched company-fitted CNG versions of both the Carens and Carens Clavis in India. These cars have a starting ex-showroom price of Rs 12.11 lakh, marking the first time Kia is offering a direct CNG option in the Carens lineup.

Until now, CNG kits were fitted only by dealers. But with company-fitted CNG, these cars now get official crash-test safety and full warranty coverage. The CNG cars have arrived after the launch of the Kia Sorento earlier this month. Both CNG models use Kia's 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine.

In CNG mode, the engine produces 94.6 hp and 123 Nm of torque, which is 19 hp and 21 Nm less than the regular petrol version. These cars are available only with a 6-speed manual gearbox; the CNG option is not offered on the turbo-petrol, diesel or automatic variants. Official mileage figures have not been announced yet, but the CNG cars are expected to deliver 22 to 25 kilometres per kg of CNG.

A 60-litre CNG tank has been fitted under the boot floor, which has slightly reduced boot space. However, despite the CNG tank, the space-saver wheel underneath has been retained as is, which is unusual for such cars. Because of the tank's additional weight, Kia has retuned the suspension and fitted larger front disc brakes. Changes have also been made to the seat-back frame so that third-row passengers can sit comfortably, allowing the third row to recline easily.

The Kia Carens CNG is available only in the Premium (O) trim, priced at Rs 12.11 lakh. The Carens Clavis CNG comes in two trims, with the HTE variant priced at Rs 12.38 lakh and the HTE (O) variant at Rs 13.34 lakh. There is a difference of about Rs 96,000 between these two trims, which share the same mechanical package.

By comparison, the CNG variants are priced around Rs 1 lakh higher than the petrol-manual variants of the same cars. It could take buyers a few years to recover this extra cost of Rs 1 lakh through fuel savings on daily commutes. However, for buyers of three-row family MPVs looking for lower running costs, Kia's CNG option could prove to be a good choice.