7 Seater Cars 2012 
Seven-Seaters from Kia Motors (UK)
Kia, which is South Korea’s oldest automaker, has come a long way since it was born in 1944. Offering its first cars in 1974, Kia’s automotive output was for many years known only for cheap but otherwise rather uninspiring automobiles.
 *** Kia Motors - 7 Seaters *** |
This has changed dramatically in recent years, however. Kia has steadily improved both the designs and the build quality of its cars to the point where in many cases, the only thing stopping some buyers from choosing a Kia instead of a Toyota, a Nissan or in some cases, an Audi or a Volkswagen, is the bonnet badge and the name on the boot lid.
Kia Carens - 7 Seats
The smallest of these seven-seaters is the Kia Carens. With prices starting at £14,305 on the road (OTR) for what is a well-built and reliable vehicle with a range of engine and transmission options, the Carens is a strong offering in the mid-sized MPV sector. One little wrinkle in this formula is the fact that the cheapest Carens is only available with five seats. If you want seven seats in your Carens, you’ll have to stump up a few thousand pounds more and go for the 1.6 CRDi Carens ‘2’ or ‘3’.
So, what do you get for your £16,000 and change? Well, you get a tidy, capable and relatively compact MPV that will carry seven people in fair comfort. Granted, the looks will have few people lusting after your new car but it’s not a bad-looking car. Though neither the looks nor the dynamics of the Carens will set a motorist’s heart on fire, this is actually a pretty good car and at this price, buyers are highly unlikely to find anything comparable. The diesel engine is the best choice as it provides similar overall performance to the petrol engine, better torque and superior fuel economy. The low insurance costs, reasonably frugal thirst for fuel and good reliability should make the Carens a cheap daily driver. Kia also supplies a seven-year warranty, which should hopefully shore up what might otherwise be poor residuals.
One of the other potential problem areas in the Carens is the lack of boot space. Once you get seven people into the car, the remaining available storage space is a little on the tight side. On a brighter note all Kia Carens come with a roof rack for adding a roof storage box.
***Kia Carens - Compact MPV*** |
***Kia Sedona - Large MPV 7-Seater |
Kia Sedona - 7 Seats
For drivers seeking a bigger option for moving seven people, Kia offers the Sedona. The purchase cost is substantially higher than that of the Carens but of course, you get much more car. As with the smaller Carens, motorists looking for verve, flair and passion will definitely want to look elsewhere. Unless your wallet precludes you from doing so, of course, in which case Kia has what you need at a price that is more palatable than the sexier alternatives.
The Sedona will happily seat seven people with plenty of comfort and space. As with the Carens, the Sedona’s exterior styling is nothing to write home. On the other hand, it’s far from offensive and pretty well tells you what to expect: a solid and practical MPV that does what most people need without any real personality. When it comes to purchase and running costs, the Sedona continues the theme introduced with the Carens. For starters, the cheapest Sedona clocks in at less than £21,000. That’s not exactly pocket change but you are getting a reliable and roomy MPV that can carry seven people in comfort.
At that price, you and your six friends won’t be getting anywhere in a hurry, however. The 2.2-litre engine, especially mated to the automatic transmission, will struggle to make haste. Opt for the (slightly quicker) manual gearbox and you’ll also save about £1,500. The Kia Sedona is far from the best in its market sector but it does offer safe, sensible, seven-seat motoring at a bargain price. Fuel economy is good, insurance costs are low and the seven-year warranty is nothing to sneeze at.
Kia Sorento – 7 Seats
The Kia Sorento is a 4x4 seven seated vehicle that has much the same bootspace as the Carens. It costs between £20,000 and £30,000 and is supposed to be the most upmarket of the 7-seater options. The stereo is a better model and the interior specifications are more superior than the Sedona and Carens. Car insurance falls between brackets 12 and 15 with running costs being about 36MPG and quite a high Car Tax bracket.
**Kia Sorento - MPV** |
Kia - 7 Year Guarantee
As well as the more affordable 7-Seater option, the Kia comes with a fantastic 7 year long warrantee that will help most families feel secure that they will have relatively hassle free motoring for a significant length of time.
