Tag - Cash Test

The Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP) has recently evaluated the Kia Carens, a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). The 2024 model of the Carens has been awarded a 3-star safety rating for adult occupancy and an impressive 5-star rating for child safety. Previous Tests The Carens was tested twice under the new safety norms implemented by Global NCAP since 2022. The first round of testing resulted in a zero-star rating for adult occupancy protection. This was primarily due to the poor protection offered to the driver’s neck and marginal protection for the driver’s chest, and driver’s and passenger’s knees. This rating applied to Carens models manufactured between May 2, 2023, and December 11, 2023. Improvements and Retesting Following the initial test results, Kia took immediate action to improve the neck performance by enhancing the restraint systems. The Carens models manufactured after December 11, 2023, showed a marked improvement in adult occupancy protection (AOP), resulting in a three-star rating and a score of 22.07 out of a maximum of 34. However, Global NCAP noted that this was not the performance expected considering the Carens offers six airbags as standard. In terms of child occupancy protection (COP), the Carens also showed improvement between the first and second rounds of crash tests. In the first round, the MPV was given a 4-star rating, with a score of 40.92 out of 493. However, the improved restraint system in the second round saw protection for the three-year-old dummy improve, earning the Carens a 5-star COP rating with a score of 41 out of 49. Kia Carens Additional Safety Features All variants of the Carens come with six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), rear parking sensors, hill-start assist, rear disc brakes, three-point seat belts for all seats, and ISOFIX anchors as standard. Despite these features, the body shell integrity in the frontal impacts was considered unstable and not capable of withstanding further loadings. Also Read: Kia Sonet ownership cost INR 75 paise / km