Kia Carens (Rondo) Export from Korea: Prices, Specs & MPV Guide (2026)

A used Kia Carens export from Korea costs between $6,500 and $13,500 FOB, depending on year, engine and mileage — making it one of the cheapest left-hand-drive Korean 7-seaters an international buyer can source. Sold in Korea as the RP-generation "New Carens" from 2013 to 2019, it is a compact MPV built on the same platform as the Kia Cerato. Korean-market units ship with one of three front-wheel-drive powertrains: a 1.7-liter CRDi turbo-diesel (around 141 PS), a 2.0-liter CVVL gasoline engine (around 166 PS), or a 2.0-liter LPI LPG unit. There is no AWD and no hybrid on Korean Carens stock. SH GLOBAL Co., Ltd. sources available Carens units directly from Korean auctions for family-transport buyers across Africa, Central Asia and the budget Middle East.

The Carens fills a specific gap in the export market: a genuine 7-seat family MPV at small-sedan money. This complete guide to the kia carens export from korea covers what the RP generation offers, one critical trap involving the newer Indian "Carens," the truth about the Korea-spec engines, the trim and seating layout, FOB price tables by year, how the Carens stacks up against the Chevrolet Orlando and Kia Carnival, and the step-by-step Korea-to-port process. Browse our live Kia inventory to see currently available units, or request a free Carens quotation by year and engine.

Why the Kia Carens Is Korea's Value 7-Seater

Most family buyers in export markets face the same trade-off: a compact SUV like the Hyundai Tucson gives you image and ground clearance but only five real seats, while a full-size minivan like the Kia Carnival seats everyone but costs far more to buy and run. The Kia Carens export from Korea threads that needle — it is a compact, car-based MPV that seats seven for the price of a mid-size sedan.

Designed under Kia's celebrated design chief Peter Schreyer, the RP Carens shares its underpinnings, 1.7 CRDi diesel and much of its parts catalogue with the Kia Cerato export guide models. That shared DNA is the Carens' single biggest export advantage: mechanics from Lagos to Almaty already know the engine, and consumables are cheap and everywhere. According to the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA), Kia remains Korea's second-largest passenger-vehicle exporter, and its C-segment cars underpin the used-export trade tracked by KITA.

Korean domestic supply of the Carens is moderate: it sold steadily as a family and rental car, and a good share of units are 2.0 LPG models used as Korean rental or disabled-registration vehicles. That means you can usually find one — but if you want a specific engine such as the 1.7 CRDi diesel, it pays to say so up front. For where the Carens sits against every other export model, see our ranking of the best Korean used cars for export.

Kia Carens RP Generation & the India-Only Trap

The Carens sold in Korea and exported from Korea is the third-generation RP, launched in 2013 and marketed first as the "New Carens" and, after a 2017 refresh, as "The New Carens." Korean production of this generation wound down around 2019, so a Korea-sourced Carens is a 2013–2019 car. The split that matters for buyers is simply pre-facelift (2013–2016) versus facelift (2017–2019).

• 2013–2016 (pre-facelift): Original RP styling, 1.7 CRDi diesel, 2.0 gasoline and 2.0 LPG. These are the most affordable Carens units today and the volume of Korean used supply.
• 2017–2019 ("The New Carens" facelift): Updated front fascia, revised infotainment with smartphone mirroring, and expanded safety equipment. This is the export sweet-spot window — modern features at a still-low price.

Because the Korean Carens is a single generation with one facelift, buying decisions are refreshingly simple compared with multi-generation models. As with most value MPVs, the biggest price lever is model year versus mileage rather than trim archaeology.

Engine Reality: 1.7 CRDi Diesel, 2.0 Gasoline & 2.0 LPG

The Korean RP Carens gives export buyers a genuine three-engine choice — unusual in this budget class — and picking the right one for your market is the most important decision you will make. All three are front-wheel drive with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic:

• 1.7 CRDi VGT diesel (~141 PS, 340 Nm): The U-II common-rail turbo-diesel, shared with the Cerato and Hyundai i30. Returns around 13–14 km/L combined with strong low-end torque for a loaded 7-seater. The export default for long distances and fuel economy.
• 2.0 CVVL gasoline (~166 PS): The Nu naturally-aspirated petrol — the simplest and cheapest to service, with no turbo or DPF. Best where diesel is scarce or where buyers prefer petrol simplicity.
• 2.0 LPI LPG (~150 PS): A liquefied-petroleum-gas engine with a donut tank, very common on Korean rental and disabled-registration Carens units. Attractive only where LPG (autogas) refuelling exists — parts of Central Asia, Turkey and Korea itself.
• No AWD, no hybrid on Korean Carens stock — every Korea-spec unit is front-wheel drive.

For most export buyers the 1.7 CRDi diesel is the smart default: it is the most economical, has the deepest shared-parts pool, and suits the highway distances common in Africa and Central Asia. Choose the 2.0 gasoline where diesel quality is poor or petrol is preferred, and the 2.0 LPG only where autogas is genuinely available.

Trim, Seating & Practicality

The RP Carens is a 7-seat MPV in a 2+3+2 layout, with a foldable third row that drops flat to create a near-van cargo bay. A 5-seat version was also sold. The third row is best suited to children or short adult trips; for regular adult use in the back, step up to the larger Orlando or Carnival. Korean trims broadly break down as:

Deluxe / Luxury (entry)

Cloth seats, basic alloy or steel wheels, manual or single-zone air-conditioning, a compact display and core safety. The lowest-priced way into a Carens, typically 2013–2015 units at $6,500–$8,500 FOB.

Prestige (volume)

The configuration SH GLOBAL recommends for most families. Adds alloy wheels, automatic climate control, upgraded infotainment with a rear-view camera, and a smart key. Best balance of equipment and price — usually 2015–2017 units at $8,500–$11,000 FOB.

Noblesse (loaded)

Higher-spec cars with additional driver-assistance features, leather-style upholstery, panoramic-style glass and premium audio. Popular with private family buyers who want the Carens fully equipped. Late 2017–2019 facelift units command $11,000–$13,500 FOB where available.

With the third row folded, the Carens offers luggage space rivalling a small van — one reason it is popular with guesthouses, church groups and small businesses across export markets, not just families.

Kia Carens FOB Prices from Korea (2026)

The following ranges reflect SH GLOBAL's July 2026 sourcing benchmarks from Encar, KAA and Lotte auction data. Pricing assumes 60,000–140,000 km mileage, accident-free history and auction grade 4 or better. LPG units typically sit at the lower end of each band; well-kept 1.7 CRDi diesels at the upper end.

The export sweet spot is the 2015–2017 Carens 1.7 CRDi at $8,500–$11,000 FOB — a modern 7-seat cabin, the economical diesel and simple, cheap running costs. For a full breakdown of FOB-to-landed cost (CIF, customs duty, VAT, port handling, registration), see our korean used car import cost guide.

Carens vs Chevrolet Orlando vs Kia Carnival

The Carens sits in the compact-MPV class, so the two natural cross-shops are the Chevrolet Orlando (its direct Korean-built rival) and the Kia Carnival (the full-size step up when you need real adult third-row space).

Choose the Carens when you want the lowest-cost Korean 7-seater with the cheapest running costs and the widest parts availability — it undercuts everything in its class. Choose the Orlando when your buyers need a genuinely usable third row and a little more cabin space; see our GM Korea 7-seat MPV guide. Step up to the Carnival when adults ride in the third row daily, or when you are running a shuttle or hotel fleet — the full analysis is in our Kia Carnival export guide and the head-to-head Korean MPV comparison.

Best Carens Configurations by Export Region

Region-specific recommendations based on how the Carens performs against local conditions, fuel prices and tax rules:

For Africa-specific export logistics including PVoC inspection (SONCAP for Nigeria, KEBS for Kenya), shipping routes and age limits, see our Africa export guide. For landlocked Central Asian delivery via the Vladivostok rail route and Trans-Caspian corridor — where the LPG Carens is especially popular — see our Central Asia market guide.

View SH GLOBAL's live Kia inventory — Carens, Carnival, Cerato, Sportage and more →

How to Buy a Kia Carens from Korea

Sourcing a Carens is straightforward because domestic supply is moderate — the main task is nailing the right fuel type (avoiding an unwanted LPG car) rather than hunting for a rare unit. Total elapsed time from a matched unit to FOB-on-vessel is typically 12–16 days.

1. Select year & engine: Tell SH GLOBAL the year range, engine (1.7 CRDi, 2.0 gasoline or 2.0 LPG), trim and budget. We confirm generation (RP only — never the India KY) and fuel type before sourcing.
2. Sourcing: We lock your target unit at auction — Encar direct purchase, KAA wholesale bidding, or Lotte for fleet ex-rental units.
3. Inspection: SH GLOBAL conducts a 150-point pre-shipment inspection including engine and fuel-type verification, paint-thickness scan, accident-history cross-check via KIDI, and 성능상태점검기록부 (performance inspection report) review.
4. Payment: 30% deposit via SWIFT upon unit confirmation, 70% balance before B/L release. For full details see our import cost guide.
5. De-registration: SH GLOBAL handles 수출말소 (export de-registration) at the local 차량등록사업소 within 3 business days.
6. Port loading & B/L: Container or Ro-Ro loading at Pyeongtaek, Masan or Busan, followed by Bill of Lading issuance and telex release upon final payment.

For the complete buying workflow including documentation and customs, see our step-by-step buying process.

Shipping & Total Landed Cost Estimates

Indicative all-in landed cost (excluding destination customs duty, VAT and registration) for a 2017 Carens 1.7 CRDi (FOB $10,500) by destination:

Customs duty, VAT and registration are destination-specific and not included above. Use SH GLOBAL's import cost calculator for a full landed-cost build-up for your country.