Left-hand-drive Kia Carens debuting in Vietnam with turbo engines -- is the Philippines next?

The recently launched Hyundai Stargazer is taking on the small multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) market with its spaceship-like styling and generous standard equipment.

But its sister, the Kia Carens, looks equally striking and will soon launch in left-hand-drive (LHD) form in Vietnam, according to our friends at the local AutoFun bureau.

The all-new Carens made its global debut in India on December 2021, followed by another debut in Indonesia on August 2022. These are both right-hand-drive markets.

The upcoming launch of the LHD Carens is significant because it could mean the Philippines is next. 

But what makes the Carens different from the Stargazer and the rest of the small MPV opposition?

More angular styling for the Kia Carens

While the Stargazer looks like a miniature spacecraft, the Carens is all about angles.

The Kia's looks stand out just as much as the Hyundai's, but the former gets boomerang-style LED running lights and large headlights underneath. Kia refers to the Carens as an SUV instead of an MPV.

Meanwhile, the lower grill gets silver accents that give it a bit of a scowl.

The side profile is noticeably different from the Stargazer, particularly the longer hood and the character lines that extend from the headlights and taillights. The rear quarter windows and the tailgate use more formal lines, too.

Finally, the back end looks truly distinct with boomerang-style taillights connected by a red strip. Creases in the tailgate and black cladding throughout the bottom half of the MPV provide a sportier look than the Stargazer.

More elegant cabin

If there's one thing Kia is going for, it's the premium vibe.

Already one can see the stark difference in interior treatment between the Kia Carens and its platform twin, the Hyundai Stargazer. 

The Carens has an almost wraparound dash with a nicely integrated central touchscreen (available in either 8 or 10.25-inch sizes) and a 4.2-inch TFT screen within the digital gauge cluster. The seat design is certainly of the more plush leatherette finish compared to the Stargazer.

Some variants also come with cool-looking ambient lighting on the dash, center console and the door cards. 

Among the notable features found in the Kia Carens are USB-C ports in the first and second rows, wireless charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, seat ventilation, and a BOSE sound system setup. In addition, the Carens is available with second-row captain chairs for more comfort.

In addition, the Carens is available with second-row captain chairs for more comfort.

The Kia Carens has class-leading turbo power

Under the hood, the Carens comes with the same 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine from the Stargazer.

This means 115 PS and 144 Nm of torque coursed through either a 6-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission.

However, the Kia also has two more powerplants that the Hyundai doesn't have and are substantially more powerful than the upcoming Honda BR-V.

One is a turbocharged 1.4-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine pumping out 140 PS and 242 Nm of torque. This is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The other is a turbocharged 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 diesel engine that pumps out 115 PS and 250 Nm of torque.  A 6-speed automatic transmission handles the transfer of power to the wheels. 

According to our AutoFun Vietnam colleagues, the all-new Carens will debut there with three naturally aspirated gasoline variants, two turbo-petrol variants, and two turbodiesel variants.

Do you think a turbocharged Carens would be a big hit in the Philippines?