Kia seeks to launch a new 7-seater MPV for 2021

The Philippines has seen the rise of the small 7-seater MPV segment. It initially started with the likes of the Mitsubishi Xpander, Toyota Rush, and BRV but has since grown with the addition of the Suzuki XL7 and the Ertiga. It looks like Kia also wants to get in on the action as rumors have surfaced that the South Korean brand will be making a new small 7-seater Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) be launched in 2021. However, there is a catch as the all-new vehicle is said to be launching first for the Indian market. The South Korean brand has already invested heavily in the area with recent reports stating that it has put in $54 million into its local manufacturing plant in Anantapur. While that is a huge sum of money details about the new vehicle are still sparse, however, we do have a good guess as to what the new MPV could be.

Signs could point to the new MPV being a new generation of the Kia Carens. The MPV has been on sale since 2006, however, the brand has chosen to drop it from its lineup. This leaves Kia without a competitor for the hotly contested segment. This is where the new vehicle could come in and revive the small MPV segment for the South Korean automaker. While the name of the new vehicle is still unknown signs point to it utilizing the platform of the Kia Seltos as a base.

Through the utilization of the Kia Seltos Platform, the new vehicle will likely measure in below the 4-meter mark to keep it in line with its competitors in the segment. The new MPV will likely be positioned against the likes of Suzuki XL7, Mitsubishi Xpander, Honda BR-V, and the Toyota Rush. While there are no official power figures yet available signs could point to the new vehicle having the same engine displacement as its competitors. This could mean that a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine is in the works or that a 1.5-liter turbo diesel motor could be at the heart of the new possible vehicle. Transmissions are still up in the air, however, a CVT or 4-Speed automatic will likely be the two choices for an automatic transmission. For those who would like to shift themselves a 5-speed manual transmission could be available. While the new vehicle will likely hit the market in India first it may take some time to reach the Philippine market.