The first incarnation of the Kia Carens compact van entered the world stage in 1999, celebrating its official debut on the catwalks of the Frankfurt Motor Show.
In 2002, the car was thoroughly updated - the exterior and interior were radically "redrawn", the range of power plants was expanded and new items were added to the functionality.
The "first" Kia Carens is a five-door compact MPV with a five- or seven-seat organization of the interior space. The total length of the "Korean" is 4493 mm, of which 2560 mm is reserved for the distance between the axles, and its width and height do not exceed 1748 mm and 1609 mm, respectively. The vehicle's ground clearance is 150 mm, and its "travel" weight ranges from 1265 to 1475 kg, depending on the modification.
The commercial production of the car of the original embodiment was completed in 2006, after which its successor stood on the conveyor.
A wide range of power plants was available for the first generation Karens.
- The compact MPV was equipped with 1.6-2.0 liter four-cylinder gasoline engines with a vertical layout and distributed injection and developing 105-139 horsepower and 141-162 Nm of torque.
- It was equipped with a five-door and a 2.0-liter turbo diesel "four" with in-line orientation, producing 113 "stallions" and 245 Nm of ultimate thrust.
The engines were combined with a 5-speed "manual" box or a 4-speed "automatic" and an exclusively front-wheel drive transmission.
The first "release" Kia Carens uses a front-wheel-drive architecture with a transversely oriented power unit at the front. The front axle of the vehicle rests on an independent MacPherson strut arrangement, while the rear is attached to the body via a semi-independent torsion beam arrangement.
The compact van uses a rack-and-pinion steering complex with a hydraulic booster. By default, the "Korean" is equipped with ventilated brake "pancakes" in the front and drum mechanisms at the rear, and the most powerful versions are equipped with disc brakes "in a circle".
"Karens" of the original generation is a family car with a pleasant appearance, roomy interior, reliable design, moderately powerful engines, low operating costs and decent equipment.
Complaints in the five-door are caused by insufficiently high ground clearance, poor sound insulation, high fuel consumption and poor quality of finishing materials.
