2000-2002 Kia Carens (RS) - Trims: -SX -GSX Options: -Metallic paint -3rd row seats (six seats in a 2+2+2 layout) Body types: -5dr estate/MPV Engines: (Petrol) -1.8 DOHC, 1793cc 109PS I4 Transmissions: -5 speed manual Drivetrains: -Front engine, FWD Dates sold: July 2000 - 2002 Prices Used (2023 UK): £850 to £1250
Song featured: The Architex - Altitude - Click the car, use your arrow keys or use the space bar to take a brief tour of Kia's forgettable and disposable people carrier from the turn of the millennium. - It was 1997 when Kia declared bankruptcy after their venture with Ford/Mazda. They sold plenty of cars, but the Asian financial crisis put a stop to their success. However, they managed to find themselves a new partner in the form of Hyundai, who bought 51% of the company. One of Kia's last efforts before the takeover was the Shuma, a small family car. It was about this time when small people carriers, or 'mini-MPV's', like the Renault Scénic, Citroën Xsara Picasso and Vauxhall Zafira were at their peak. Kia thought it'd be wise to compete with these cars, and quite rightfully they did. Unfortunately they had no money or really any market share in many countries, and what resulted was a somewhat strange people carrier, which looked very similar to the Toyota Picnic, and was based on the previously mentioned Shuma. Launching in July 2000 in the UK, the Carens came with five seats (or for £300 more, six seats in a 2+2+2 layout), two trim levels, and one engine/transmission combo, a 1793cc petrol with a 5-speed manual gearbox - which, for how the car was priced, was reasonable when it came to performance. The few options lead to a very appealing price tag of under £10,000, whereas its main competition was anywhere from £13,000 to £16,000. However, this was likely due to the fact it was built like cheap IKEA furniture and already looked dated when it came out. As briefly mentioned previously, these were 'throwaway' cars (as most MPV's tend to be), used by families, abused, and then sent to scrap or to rot in vast fields and farms. Not many of these are around today, especially in the UK where (at the time of writing) only around 27 are taxed and on the road. The 'RS' Carens was Kia's first attempt at a mini-MPV and it certainly wasn't a great one, but any car from Kia at this time was merely the company experimenting in different markets, and considering how big they are today? It paid off. - Ah, the Kia Carens. A car I have grown to know too much about. In 2009, my Dad's 1995 Ford Galaxy broke down. I do not know what was wrong with it, or in fact what was wrong with my father when, to replace it, he bought a 2001 Kia Carens GSX. Soon after the purchase, was a holiday we had booked. This car wouldn't fit any luggage in it. So with a cheap Gumtree trailer and a Halford's roofbox, we sailed off into the sunset (well, Wales, to be honest). Miraculously, the car made it there. And back. With a continuous narration of my brothers complaining there was no space for their legs in the third row. And then lo and behold a few months later, the timing belt snaps when my Dad was on his way to work. The car was replaced with a far more favourable 2003 Ford Galaxy. Lesson learned, there. Some of my earliest memories were in this car. Notably sneezing out Ribena over the back of the front seats and later sitting in the driver's seat as it sat outside our house waiting for collection for scrap. However none of that makes me LIKE this car. I hate it, to be honest. I think it is a horrible car, and there was far better used options at the time, but it did its job on a budget, so what more could you ask for? Apart from a couple of hundred pounds extra for a used people carrier from a brand with any presence and identity. - I try to get all the information and colours of my drawings as accurate as possible, but that was just really difficult here because there is so little information about these - I've tried to get the project as accurate as possible, but there are likely a few discrepancies, so do not take everything in this project as fact. Especially the colours. The colours are what this on hold for so long. I've got the names.. but the shades?? and the availability?? I'm really not sure... To finish off I will mention the new thumbnail style, I got a bit bored of the 'information board' so I'm going to trial thumbnails inspired by the respective car's brochure cover. As well as this, I know I haven't been very active over the past few months, but there has been lots going on and I've started college, so I have less time to finish and start new drawings. I do not know when my next drawing will be, but let's hope it's soon!
