Kia Carens Introduced CNG In India At Rs 11.77 Lakh - Full Details

Kia Carens CNG Launched at Rs 11.77 Lakh: What Buyers Need to Know

Kia introduced a CNG variant of the Carens MPV on October 26, priced at Rs 11.77 lakh (ex-showroom). The price breaks down to Rs 10.99 lakh for the base Premium (O) petrol variant plus Rs 77,900 for a dealer-fitted CNG kit supplied by Lovato. This is Kia’s first CNG offering, three years after Carens was launched 

Dealer Fitment Approach

Kia chose dealer-level CNG installation rather than factory integration, which affects several ownership aspects. The kit comes with a three-year/1 lakh kilometer warranty from Lovato, separate from Kia's standard vehicle warranty. This creates potential complications if engine issues arise that could be CNG-related. Factory-fitted systems from manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai avoid this warranty overlap by covering the complete CNG system under the main vehicle warranty.​

The dealer fitment also means Kia hasn't released official power and mileage figures. The 1.5-liter petrol engine produces 115 horsepower and 144 Newton-meters on petrol. Industry estimates suggest CNG mode delivers approximately 95-100 horsepower, though this remains unofficial. Buyers should test drive the vehicle fully loaded with passengers and luggage to assess real-world performance before committing.​

Running Cost Economics

The financial case depends entirely on usage patterns. CNG costs Rs 75-80 per kilogram in major cities versus Rs 100-105 per liter for petrol. Assuming conservative mileage of 14-15 kilometers per kilogram, running costs work out to approximately Rs 5-5.50 per kilometer compared to Rs 6-7 per kilometer on petrol.​

For buyers covering 5,000 kilometers monthly, the Rs 77,900 kit investment recovers within 12-15 months through fuel savings. Commercial operators using the vehicle for ride-hailing or business transport will benefit most. Family buyers averaging 1,000-1,500 kilometers monthly face a three-year payback period, by which time the kit warranty expires.​

Features and Configuration

The CNG option comes exclusively in Premium (O) trim with seven-seat configuration and five-speed manual transmission. Standard equipment includes an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 12.5-inch digital instrument cluster, reverse camera, six airbags, electronic stability control, and five Type-C charging ports. Wheels are 15-inch steel with covers rather than alloys.​

Boot space reduces from the standard 216 liters, though Kia hasn't disclosed exact figures. Typical CNG conversions sacrifice 80-100 liters, leaving approximately 115-135 liters for luggage. With all seven seats occupied, weekend luggage space becomes limited.​

Competition 

The Carens CNG competes with the Maruti Ertiga CNG (Rs 8.69-10.59 lakh) and Toyota Rumion CNG. While costlier, the Carens offers more features, larger dimensions, and perceived premium appeal. The Ertiga provides factory-fitted CNG with straightforward warranty coverage and proven efficiency figures. Buyers must decide whether the Carens' additional features justify the Rs 1.18-1.50 lakh premium over the Ertiga CNG.​

The manual-only transmission limits appeal. Hyundai offers AMT with its CNG models, recognizing urban buyers increasingly prefer automatics for heavy traffic. At Rs 11.77 lakh, many buyers expect automatic transmission as standard.​

Final Assessment

The Carens CNG serves high-mileage users needing seven-seat capacity with low running costs. Commercial operators and business users covering 4,000-5,000 kilometers monthly will benefit most from fuel savings. Family buyers with modest usage patterns should carefully calculate payback periods before choosing CNG over petrol variants that offer better performance, full boot space, and automatic transmission options.