Head to head
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga vs Kia Carens: what owners and experts say
Based on 203 statements from 16 owner and expert reviews
Owners and experts rate the Ertiga better for boot space and rear seat space, while the Carens comes out ahead on third row usability and air conditioning. On city mileage, ride comfort and fit & finish there is little to separate them. The Ertiga starts at ₹8.9 lakh and the Carens at ₹11.11 lakh ex-showroom, so the Ertiga is about ₹2.21 lakh cheaper to start with.
| Fact | Ertiga | Carens |
|---|---|---|
| Ex-showroom price | ₹8.9 lakh to ₹13.04 lakh | ₹11.11 lakh to ₹12.97 lakh |
| Fuel | Petrol, CNG | Petrol, CNG, Diesel |
| Gearbox | Manual, Automatic | Manual |
| Seating | 7 | 7 |
| Reviews we read | 10 | 6 |
Where the Ertiga does better
Boot space
Ertiga: Strongly positiveCarens: Mixed reviews
Ertiga: “even with the third row up you have a reasonable amount of space, you can fit three trolley bags even here quite comfortably, and there's this cool storage area underneath the boot... it has the split lid so it's convenient to access”
Rear seat space
Ertiga: Strongly positiveCarens: Generally positive
Ertiga: “plenty of thigh support here due to this extremely long seat, lots of legroom, loads of it actually — but this is adjustable so you can move the seat forward so that people in the third row can get space”
Carens: “Mid row seat is great; plenty of knee room and headroom, and it slides too (translated from Hindi)”
Where the Carens does better
Third row usability
Carens: Strongly positiveErtiga: Generally negative
Carens: “room on offer is not too bad as you can see space is quite decent... overall roominess is not too bad compared to the xl6 though it does feel a tad larger and with dedicated AC vents with two type c ports it is the better third row here”
Ertiga: “The third row is a bit difficult getting into compared to the other two cars because this seat doesn't really flip, it just slides forward and the seat back goes forward, so it's more constricted than the other two for access.”
Air conditioning
Carens: Strongly positiveErtiga: Generally positive
Carens: “AC quality is good; it reaches the third row and even the third-row passenger doesn't complain of heat; a 5'8"-5'9" passenger in the back to Haridwar asked to turn it down (translated from Hindi)”
Ertiga: “ab ye sabke liye ho gaya, jo jahan baitha hai wahin AC hai (now every row gets proper AC — no more suffocation for rear passengers like on a past 34,000 km trip)”
Area by area
Every area where reviewers said enough about at least one of the two cars. “Too few reviews” means we won’t guess.
| Area | Ertiga | Carens |
|---|---|---|
| Third row usability | Generally negative | Strongly positive |
| Boot space | Strongly positive | Mixed reviews |
| Rear seat space | Strongly positive | Generally positive |
| Air conditioning | Generally positive | Strongly positive |
| City mileage | Generally positive | Generally positive |
| Ride comfort | Generally positive | Mixed reviews |
| Fit & finish | Generally negative | Mixed reviews |
| Highway stability | Strongly positive | Strongly positive |
| Seat comfort | Strongly positive | Strongly positive |
| City drivability | Mixed reviews | Too few reviews |
| Engine refinement | Mixed reviews | Too few reviews |
| Ground clearance | Strongly positive | Too few reviews |
| Handling | Generally positive | Too few reviews |
| Headlight quality | Too few reviews | Strongly negative |
| Highway overtaking | Generally positive | Too few reviews |
| Routine service cost | Generally positive | Too few reviews |
| Tyre quality | Too few reviews | Mixed reviews |
So, Ertiga or Carens?
Go for the Ertiga if boot space and rear seat space matter most to you. Pick the Carens if you care more about third row usability and air conditioning.
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Ertiga vs Carens FAQs
Which is better, the Ertiga or the Carens?
Owners and experts rate the Ertiga better for boot space and rear seat space, while the Carens comes out ahead on third row usability and air conditioning. Go for the Ertiga if boot space and rear seat space matter most to you. Pick the Carens if you care more about third row usability and air conditioning.
Which is cheaper, the Ertiga or the Carens?
The Ertiga starts at ₹8.9 lakh and the Carens at ₹11.11 lakh ex-showroom, so the Ertiga is about ₹2.21 lakh cheaper to start with.
How did CarDhoondo compare the Ertiga and Carens?
We went through 16 owner and expert video reviews of the two cars, tagged every statement by topic, such as mileage or rear seat space, and scored how positive it was. Nobody paid for this comparison and it is not sponsored.
How this page is made: we collect what real owners and expert reviewers say in published video reviews, tag each statement by topic and score how positive or negative it is. A car only counts as doing better in an area when the gap between the two verdicts is clear. Nothing here is paid for by manufacturers or dealers. Prices come from CarDekho and can change, so confirm with a dealer.