The Kia Carens has undergone Global NCAP’s crash tests under the new protocols, where it received a 3-star rating by the organisation. While it may seem like the Carens has the same result as the last time it was tested by Global NCAP, Kia has volunteered the Carens to be tested under the new protocols that have been put into place since 2022. The road safety organisation also announced that Kia’s MPV was tested twice under the new safety norms, as the Carens was given zero stars for adult occupancy protection at first.
- Carens made between May 2023 and December 2023 received zero stars
- Kia improves restraint systems, which sees Carens get 3-star rating
- Carens receives 5-star rating for child occupancy protection
Kia Carens adult occupancy protection rating
When the Carens was tested under the new protocols, it was noted that protection offered to the driver’s neck was poor, while protection for the driver’s chest, and driver’s and passenger’s knees was marginal. This resulted in the zero-star rating for the MPV for adult occupancy protection (AOP) for Carens made between May 2, 2023 and December 11, 2023.
Global NCAP’s release notes that this “triggered an immediate reaction from Kia to improve the neck performance, improving the restraint systems”. The road safety organisation noted that Carens made after December 11, 2023 showed a marked improvement in AOP, which resulted in the three-star rating and a score of 22.07 (out of a max of 34). However, Global NCAP also mentioned that it was “not the performance that Global NCAP expected as the Carens offers six airbags as standard.”
In both tests, the bodyshell integrity in the frontal impacts was considered unstable and not capable of withstanding further loadings. In addition, the road safety organisation said that no side pole impact test was conducted due to the 3-star rating, and that seatbelt reminders for the first and second row are standard, but “only fulfils the requirements for the front row”.
Kia Carens child occupancy protection rating
The Carens’ child occupancy protection (COP) score also improved between the first and second round of crash tests. In the first round, the MPV was given a 4-star rating, with a score of 40.92 out of 49, but then its performance in the second round – with the improved restraint system – saw protection for the three-year old dummy improve. The Carens scored a total of 41/49, earning it a 5-star COP rating.
As standard, all variants of the Carens come with six airbags, ESC, rear parking senors, hill-start assist, rear disc brakes, three-point seat belts for all seats and ISOFIX anchors.
We have reached out to Kia for a statement on the matter of the vehicles built between May 2023 and December 2023 (VIN: MZBGD813LPN099741 to VIN: MZBGD813LPN144399) and will update the story soon.
Global NCAP has also released results for the Honda Amaze and the Mahindra Bolero Neo.
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