Used Kia Carens 2013-present reliability
Category: MPV
Stress-free family motoring for seven is the Kia Carens’ forte and the car comes with plenty of kit to keep young people happy
What should I look for in a used Kia Carens MPV?
Being a family car, you will need to check the interior for scratched or even broken bits of plastic. The rear wheel arches in the boot area are covered by plastic that can be scuffed by anything that rolls around in the boot area. Make sure the rear parcel shelf is still present in the compartment under the boot floor. The previous owner might have taken it out if they leave the rear seats up all the time and have simply forgotten to put it back again.
Ensure that second-row seats slide along their runners easily, because you never know what the previous owner and their children might have dropped in there. The seat fabric is tough, but it’s still worth looking for any damage caused by child seats.
What are the most common problems with a used Kia Carens MPV?
The diesel engine is fitted with a diesel particulate filter (DPF). To ensure this can regenerate (burn off trapped soot), frequent motorway journeys are necessary, because this process is only triggered when the exhaust is hot enough. Check how the previous owner has used the car if you are unsure because lots of urban journeys will clog up the filter, potentially leading to an expensive repair bill.
Another potential problem with the DPF is if it has been shut off partway through regeneration. The result is contamination of the oil system with fuel, leading to the oil level rising gradually over time. This can cause damage to the engine, so it’s worth checking the oil level or have the car inspected if you're unsure.
Is a used Kia Carens MPV reliable?
The Kia Carens didn’t feature in our latest What Car? reliability survey, but out of 32 manufacturers in the survey Kia came in 4th place – an excellent result.
Fortunately, even the earliest Carens will still have some of Kia's class-leading seven-year warranty coverage left on it. However, you will have to check the small print and be careful of mileage because, while the first three years are unlimited, it’s capped at 100,000 miles for years four to seven, and certain items such as the battery and infotainment system aren’t covered for the whole warranty period.
If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? reliability survey pages for more information.
