Kia Carens prices

The new Kia Carens range will be available from £17,895 when it goes on sale on 1 May. This means that despite having a higher price than the outgoing model, the Carens still undercuts rivals like the Renault Grand Scenic and Ford Grand C-MAX.

The new Carens is actually smaller than the model it replaces - both in height and width - but a longer wheelbase and lower seats mean there is more space inside. The styling has also been given a thorough revamp by Kia President and design boss Peter Schreyer.

Buyers will be able to choose from three direct-injection engines - one petrol and two diesel - and three separare trim levels. All versions of the Carens get air-conditioning, LED running lights, cruise control, Bluetooth, a cooled glovebox and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls.

Opting for the mid-spec '2' model adds 16-inch alloys, privacy glass, roof rails, auto lights and wipers and dual-zone climate control, while the top-spec '3' version gets luxury kit like electrically adjustable seats, bigger wheels, heated seats and a full colour reversing camera.

The entry-level petrol model uses a 1.6-litre engine that produces 133bhp and 165Nm of torque. It comes with a six-speed manual gearbox and uses stop-start technology to keep C02 emissions pegged at 149g/km and official economy at 44.1mpg.

The diesel models both uses the same 1.7-litre engine and start at £19,295 for the lower-powered model, which produces 114bhp and 260Nm of torque and is the most efficient engine in the range. It emits 124g/km of CO2 and returns a claimed economy of more than 50mpg. The higher-powered diesel gets an extra 20bhp and 70Nm and is also available with a six-speed automatic gearbox.

As well as Kia's class-leading seven-year warranty, the Carens is also available with a Care-3 servicing pack, which covers the first three years of ownership for just £329.