Kia Carens 2.0 CRDi LE Review

Overall Rating

None

Uncomfartable, cheap interior, difficult to maintain, expensive parts from Kia. No proper dealership in UK, untrained, expensive Kia delaers. Kia free customer services number why exist? God knows no help whatsoever unless you are naive enough to buy one of their cars.

This is to all buyers out there thinking of buying "thinking peoples car" Kia Carens. Do not do not touch them.
I bought mine from a private seller 2 months ago thinking good value 03 registration 38K miles on the clock, automatic for £5000 with small scratches and no obvious problem.
First I need to have spare key; contact to Kia dealer Hummingbird in Collindale £90.00 incl VAT for a spare key no choice accepted it. Paid £41.00 for initial key and rest to paid when the key is logged in by "trained technician" I also ordered fan belt and paid for it on the phone and said I will collected when you call me in.
1 week later contact by Hummingbird to bring the car in the morning and collect it in the afternoon. Arrived in the morning probably first customer from their door no good morning no greetings (is this cheap car?, poor service, expensive parts and no service or is it me start thinking as Kia advertise themselves) but this not all my order was some unexplained reason was cancelled and the person who took the order was off sick! So I have to order it again been told would arrive next day. Can you please post it my address reply was that would be plus postage. I refused to pay postage since it was their admin mistake why should I have to pay postage or come back here to collect it had to speak to parts manager to accept their liability. I had to push it hard

They said we will call you when it is ready. By 15.00 nobody called so I called and I have been told car is not ready they couldn't start the car!! I said I am coming there I need my car by 17.00 latest to collect my relative from the airport. Arrived 15.30 I had to ask for assistance; since no greetings to customers are available at this establishment. The service reception couldn't answer why the car was not starting nor did put any afford to apologise but in a very calm manner (taking his time) went to workshop and back still no explanation. I had to explained my situation I need my car or any courtesy car to pick up my cousin since she doesn't speak any English and never been to this country before I was rather stressed.
I have been told by the service advisor they didn't have any I asked to speak to manager and magically a car was available but not straight away after 30 minutes waiting I asked service receptionist where the car is told coming from short distance should be here in 5 minutes. I said could you call him he said he has no mobile on him; after 15 minutes ask for the manager again to find out where the car is he said he has spoken the driver he is on the way!! (Driver has no mobile suddenly have a mobile magic or a not well planned lie you decide .) Had pay my own insurance cost another £36.00 for the courtesy car. Left the dealer by 17.20 thank god I made it; on the way to airport someone calls from parts department asking if I want my fan belt to be fitted today (this is first fan belt supposed to be cancelled order did not existed!!?? Obviously different staff from the same department has no idea about fan belt story couldn't bear to explained to him just said do not touch my car just give back to me as it was yesterday.
I live in Central London I have no residence car park permit for this courtesy car and have to pay congestion charge.
Next morning arrived to same miserable place feeling very negative (naturally).
Car was fixed (was there any explanation about the technical problem? NO) and the invoice was front of me with no apologies again no remorse or saying simple sorry what happened yesterday. I refused to pay a penny since cost me extras, paid for the key itself and lost of 1-day earnings and the stress. Again supervisor went inside the managers office and came back there was no invoice and for the inconvenience caused they refunded the insurance charge but I had pay VAT of the insurance. Manager couldn't face me! Cost me £50.00 in total £41.00 Key+ £9.00 VAT of the insurance. Waiting for my credit card bill I wouldn't be surprised if they charged me for the stupid fan belt twice.
One positive comment to the engineer who found over £100.00 cash in the glove box and made a note of it on the job sheet saying -not touched. Thank you.

Not finished yet there was no owners manual when I bought the car since it is the thinking peoples family car, reasonable priced I thought I could get from Kia for a reasonable price since some manufacturers give it away free . They were very sorry couldn't help me. I got to get it from a Kia dealer ooooo nooooo not again interacting with these people. Brave face put on called £35.00+VAT for a book wouldn't cost more than £1.99 to produce and this company is a company trying to get in to UK market GOOD LUCK TO THEM.

Can I get Haynes maintenance book instead? NO why? Here is the reason from Haynes publishing
We have no plans to publish manuals for this vehicle at this time. This may be because the model range has not sold in sufficient numbers and we can't consider doing a manual until there is enough of a particular model on the road for us to be sure of covering our costs.

Book No: NMP021

ISBN: 0000025674

List price: £0.00
Web price: No price available.


Not finished yet simple oil, oil filter and air filter change Expensive Kia parts on the dealers (as much I would like to use proper Kia Service but?) original Kia parts but only basics you can get on the net for half price. I couldn't change it my self so I went to a few local garages for estimates guess what nobody seems to keen to do the work for quick cash. Why because Oil filter located under the engine inner cover and most importantly under the break fluid container he had to take out the container empty it and refill it again!. Impossible to reach from under the engine. It took 75 minutes get to the oil filter and change it costing £40.00 labour. (Normally pay £20.00 max. for labour.)
The noise in the car from the engine sounds like a tractor no proper installation to reduce engine noise, when it was cold just -2 to -7 my feet was freezing despite the air-condition was on full heat upper body was sweating but my feet was freezing 10 or 15 years old cars usually used to have that not 2003 model cars. Any practical advise would be welcomed since found it difficult to sell this car. Good luck to all Kia owners.