Kia Carens petrol automatic real world fuel economy tested, explained

Like the Seltos and Sonet, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga-rivalling Carens MPV is a strong-seller for Kia India. It is offered with a choice of three engines – a 115hp, 1.5-litre petrol available with a 6-speed manual transmission; a 140hp, 1.4-litre turbo-petrol with 6-speed manual or 7-speed dual-clutch automatic; or a 115hp, 1.5-litre diesel with either a 6-speed manual or automatic option. We put the turbo-petrol automatic to the test to find out how it performs in our instrumented fuel efficiency runs.

1. Kia Carens is 75kg heavier than Seltos, yet more efficient
2. 7th gear enhances highway efficiency
3. Turbo-petrol is sensitive to driving conditions

Weighing 1,396kg, the Carens with the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine and 7-speed dual-clutch transmission is 75kg heavier than the Kia Seltos with which it shares its powertrain and feature list. In our tests, the Carens returned 8.90kpl and 15.76kpl in city and highway cycles, respectively, which makes it more efficient than the Seltos which returned 8.5kpl and 14.1kpl in similar conditions.

What is the real-world efficiency of the Kia Carens petrol automatic?

What makes the Carens more efficient than the Seltos despite being heavier is its more relaxed and smoother power delivery. The Seltos, on the other hand, feels eager and sportier in the way it is tuned. Like the Seltos, even the Carens gets an Eco mode, which dulls the drive ever-so-slightly in the interest of fuel efficiency.

Like other turbo-petrols, even this engine is very sensitive to ambient conditions as well as driving styles, and you’ll notice the fuel needle drop quicker in dense, stop-go traffic conditions as well as while idling for long durations. Its highway efficiency, however, is quite respectable. Having a 7th gear aids efficiency on the open road, and this engine will spin at a lazy 2,000 rpm in top-gear while cruising at 100kph.

Autocar India’s fuel efficiency testing

Before our real-world fuel efficiency test, we fill the tanks of our test cars to the brim and maintain tyre pressures based on the manufacturer’s recommendation. These cars are driven in fixed city and highway loops, and we maintain certain average speeds. Throughout our test, there is only one person in each car, running the air con and other electricals like the audio system, indicators and wipers when required, just like how regular users would. Periodic driver swaps further neutralise variations in driver patterns. At the end of each cycle, we calculate efficiency by filling them up to the brim again.

Also read:

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