Lots to brag about

VOTED the Minivan of the Year by Philippines motoring TV show Autofocus and the Best Value Car by Wheels Magazine Australia, the KIA Carens is not a vehicle to to be overlooked.
 
Taking it for a test drive was one smooth affair. It was easy to understand the controls and although I am a sedan driver, it felt like I had been driving a minivan for ages.

This spacious seven-seater is ideal for a mid-sized family and I would recommend it to mums who have endless school runs and countless trips to birthday parties and cinemas with their children and their friends.

The 145bhp four-cylinder engine provides snappy acceleration and making U-turns was not at all difficult despite the minivan’s impressive size.

The ‘tall-boy’ design is excellent for people who wear abayas and sarees and don’t want to have their outfits creased while they’re driving.

There is plenty of storage space in the front with an extra hook to hang a small handbag. The sun visors on both sides come with lights and mirrors as well as a separate sunglasses holder.

The driver has automatic controls for the windows, central locking and adjusting the side mirrors. An interesting addition is a button that automatically closes both your rear-view mirrors ... a very useful function, especially when trying to park at Bahrain City Centre on a weekend!

As for onboard entertainment, the Carens does not disappoint, there is an iPod and flash disk connector along with a music system that has an MP3 CD player, radio with AM and dual FM mode and four powerful speakers.

The front headlamps have adjustable beams and a rear windshield wiper is very useful on both dusty and rainy days. A removable ashtray is a clever addition that makes cleaning easy.
 
One of the more interesting features of this purpose-built people-carrier is that the hand break is located near the pedals. Although I found it a little unusual, I had no problem adjusting to this feature.

Extra air-conditioning vents and adjustable hand-rests along with plenty of leg space makes sitting in the middle row very comfortable. The middle seats can be folded down to allow more space for storage.

The third row of seats at the back is a hit with the little monsters who want their own space. However, extra storage space at the rear can be utilised by folding down the back seats too.

Mums can also rest easy knowing that all four doors are fitted with bottle holders.

The 2011 Carens has been designed with safety in mind and the model boasts a number of features. It comes fully-fitted with twin front airbags, all-round 3-point seatbelts and impact sensing auto door unlocking.

The model I drove is available on-the-road for BD6,800, which includes insurance, registration, rust proofing and five years /unlimited mileage warranty until December 31.

For more information, contact the Kia Motors showroom on 17408000.