Kia Carens: Base variant customised to look like top-end

The Kia Carens is one of the popular three-row MPVs in its segment. Just like other Kia products, the Carens has also gained customer attention in a very short span of time. As you already know, the Carens is actually based on the same platform as the Kia Seltos, but both these vehicles cater to different audiences. The car comes with a decent number of features, but like any car, the base variant of the Carens also misses out on many features. People often opt for aftermarket accessories to enhance the overall look or experience. Here, we have a video where the base variant of the Kia Carens has been upgraded with genuine parts to look like the top-end variant.

The video has been uploaded by Vig Auto Accessories. The vlogger starts with the side profile of the Carens. He mentions that the side profile of the Carens now gets dual-tone side cladding, which is usually seen in the higher trims. The turn indicator installed on the fender has been removed, and chrome garnish has been installed here. The car also gets auto-folding ORVMs as the base variant doesn’t have this feature. The owner also opted for lower window chrome and genuine door visors that come in a set of six. Another attraction on the side profile is the wheels.

The Kia Carens base variant comes with steel rims. These have been replaced with 16-inch X-line alloy wheels from the Kia Sonet. The car also gets an aftermarket footboard that fits neatly with the overall body line. Moving to the front, the vlogger shows the LED DRLs, projector headlamps, and aftermarket fog lamps that he installed on the SUV. The base variant misses out on LED DRLs. The front look of the SUV is completed with chrome garnish on the lower front grille.

The roof and the ORVMs have been blacked out using black PPF. The car also gets a shark fin antenna installed. Other changes include chrome garnish on the rear bumper and the rear spoiler. The overall look of the MPV from the outside appears premium and does not resemble a base variant model.

The video then shows the interior or cabin of the Carens. The door pads have all been redone or custom-made. The seat covers are all custom-made, and the fit and finish on these look good. The stock steering wheel on the base variant Carens has also been replaced with a higher variant unit. The newly installed multi-function steering wheel now comes with cruise control function too. The stock dashboard on the Carens base variant was replaced with the gloss black unit seen in the top-end variant. The cup holders and coin drawer are all in the same place as the higher model. The buttons to control the ORVMs are placed on the door. The original touchscreen infotainment system has been replaced with an aftermarket unit from the Blaupunkt brand. The owner has also opted for ambient lights that are neatly placed in different parts of the cabin. The overall fit and finish of the parts installed on this MPV look good, and the finished product does not appear cheap in any manner.