Kia Carens vs Hyundai Alcazar vs Maruti XL6 : Know About Looks, Interiors, Prices

Know how Kia Carrens, a recreational vehicle will match with the Alcazar and the XL6.

Kia Carrens will be launched early next year

Demand for three-row cars is at an all-time high and that means many carmakers are wanting to enter this segment. We have seen Maruti being successful with its XL6 as it filled a gap for an affordable MPV with good ground clearance. However, Hyundai also had its premium 3-row SUV, the Alcazar which is a powerful luxury SUV aimed at driving or also ferrying your family or being chauffeur driven. Kia will enter this segment with its Carens next year and is an RV- a recreational vehicle aimed at being both an SUV and an MPV. Here is how it will match with the Alcazar and the XL6.

Looks

The Carens looks more like a cross between an SUV and an MPV but is long along with having a premium look. Kia has not revealed the dimensions yet but we expect it to be longer than the XL6 and about the same length as the Alcazar. However, based on seeing it at the unveiling, the Carens has smaller 16inch wheels which makes it more of a crossover when compared to the Alcazar, which is more of an SUV with its bigger 18-inch wheels. The Carens looks different and has a completely new look with its new face which looks futuristic. The same can be said of the XL6 which does not look like an Ertiga but due to the smaller 15inch wheels, the XL6 is more of an MPV in its design.

Interior

Here the XL6 despite its black leather seats and interior misses out on some features when compared to the other two. The XL6 however now gets an option of connected technology and has cruise control, a touchscreen, and more. But it misses out on the extra features which the Carens and the Alcazar give for the second-row seats. The Carens and the Alcazar come with either 6 or 7 seater forms while the XL6 comes standard as a 6-seater with the Ertiga getting a bench seat. The Carens and Alcazar get integrated cupholders and a retractable table for the rear along with a sunshade. The Carens and Alcazar also get 6 airbags.

Engine

The XL6 comes standard with a 1.5l petrol with 105bhp while the Carens will come with either a 1.5l petrol with 115bhp or a 142bhp 1.4l turbo petrol. The Alcazar comes with a 2.0l petrol with 160 bhp. The XL6 has either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic while the Carens will come with a manual for the 1.5l and a DCT automatic for the 1.4l turbo with paddle shifters. The Alcazar comes with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic with the petrol and paddle shifters too. The Carens and the Alcazar have the 1.5l diesel with 115bhp/250Nm while the XL6 does not get any diesel engine.

Prices

The XL6 is the most affordable here with prices starting at Rs 10 lakh and going till Rs 11.9 lakh. The Alcazar is a lot more premium with prices starting at Rs 16.30 lakh and going till Rs 20.4 lakh. We expect the Carens to be slotted between the XL6 and the Alcazar in terms of prices which means it will plug the gap between the two.