Those asinine staff in the marketing departments of carmakers are solely responsible for the cesspool that are fluffed up definition of bodystyles for vehicles. Four-door coupes, sports activity vehicles soon devolved into “fluid” body styles that could be anything we wanted them to be. The new Kia Carens wasn’t spared either.

Much like how Kia labelled the new Carnival last year a “Grand Utility Vehicle,” they’re refraining from referring to the new Carens as a minivan. Instead, to appeal to all the snowflakes they claim it’ll be opening up a new class of recreational vehicles in its intended market of India.

It’s completely understandable to take a bold departure from a vehicle’s previous design language but a spade is still a spade; regardless of if it’s used to shovel shit or pan for gold.

Kia has gone down the faux SUV route for the new Carens with rugged features and a raised ride height. Of course they have. Granted, it’s a good look with the funky lights but let’s not kid ourselves; it’s still a minivan.

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In fact, with the roof rails and plastic exterior cladding you might mistake it for a Sportage save for the larger greenhouse because it’s still a minivan.

Thus far, it’s all sketches; one front, one rear and a dash. A massive panel stretches across the dash and incorporates the driver’s digital instrument cluster as well as the 10.25-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system.

Fortunately however, the climate control panel is separate and mounted below the vents; themselves mounted below the massive digital panel.

Now here’s the crowning glory of why it’s still a minivan, reports from India suggest it’ll be available as a six- or seven-seater. Power will be courtesy of the Seltos compact SUV, meaning 1.5-liter petrol or diesel engines.

The 1.5-litre petrol makes 115 PS and 144 Nm of torque while the 1.5-litre diesel delivers 115 PS but more torque at 250 Nm.

Naturally, Hyundai is rumoured to be coming out with its own version of the Carens and should be called the Stargazer.

The new Carens will be unveiled in India on 16 December 2021.