Kia currently has only one fully-electric model on offer in India in the form of EV6. The second electric vehicle (EV) in its range will be the EV9 which is slated to make its debut on October 3 this year. Like the EV6, the upcoming EV9 will also be available to Indian buyers as a fully-imported model via the completely built unit (CBU) route.
Earlier in April this year, the Korean carmaker announced that it will introduce a battery-powered version of the Carens. While the carmaker didn’t reveal an exact timeline for the launch of the Carens EV, it is expected to hit the Indian market by the end of next year or early 2026.
Kia Carens EV: Similarities & Differences expected
Now, a test mule of the fully-electric Carens has been caught on cameras for the first time. Unlike EV6 and EV9 which are based on a born electric skateboard architecture, the Carens EV will share its underpinnings with the existing petrol and diesel-powered Carens. Even components like the body shell, panels, and interior bits will be carried forward from its fossil-fueled sibling.
However, there will be a few dissimilarities to distinguish the battery-powered and the ICE Carens. For starters, front and rear bumpers of the Carens EV will be redesigned while alloy wheels will resemble the ones seen on Kia’s EV range. On a close glance, we notice that the test mule spotted has a completely different rear suspension setup and the exhaust pipe assembly is missing altogether.
Kia Carens EV: Expected powertrain
Kia is tight-lipped about the exact specifications of this EV but we believe it could borrow its powertrain from the upcoming Hyundai Creta EV which has already been spotted testing on Indian roads. The fully-electric Creta is slated to make its debut in the next few months, around the first quarter of 2025. According to previous reports, it is expected to carry a 45kWh battery which should be good enough for a 300-350 km range.
Like the Creta EV, the Carens EV will also be powered by a single, front axle-mounted electric motor. More details regarding the Carens EV are expected to be divulged as it nears its launch in India.
Image Source: Autocar India
