Is Kia bringing back the Carens as a crossover?

Kia Carens to make a comeback this December 16 in India

Remember the Kia Carens? When the small MPV market first started to grow in the country, the Carens was one of those vehicles that made its name in the Philippines. We first received the Carens in its second-generation model during the mid-to-late 2000s, followed by the third-generation model launched during the early 2010s.

Despite its popularity, the MPV was overshadowed by crossovers and SUVs. Then in 2018, Kia quietly discontinued the MPV in favor of more crossovers, vans, and hybrids. But it seems that isn't the end for the model.

Fast forward to the present, and Kia has announced that they will be bringing back the Carens. It's set to debut in India on December 16, 2021, however, Kia has yet to release official details about the all-new model. They did say, however, that it will be smarter than ever and offer more generous space.

Official pictures of the all-new Carens have not yet been released. Instead, Kia only showed a shadowy silhouette of the Carens. Based on the image, it will feature Kia's new design language. Also seen on the upcoming vehicle are the eye-catching LED headlights and taillights.

There are no details about the powertrain yet. According to rumors though, the new Carens will be based on the Hyundai Alcazar. Should this be true, it could come with either a 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine or a 1.5-liter turbo-diesel inline-four. The former makes 159 PS with 191 Nm of torque, while the latter puts out 115 PS with 250 Nm of torque.

Considering the Hyundai Alcazar is a 7-seater crossover, does this mean the all-new Kia Carens will be returning as a three-row crossover? It's possible since the Alcazar is based on an extended platform derived from the Creta.

With two weeks to go before its official launch, we'll be keeping our eyes peeled for more info about the all-new Carens. Fingers crossed Kia releases additional pictures or details before its public debut.