The new Kia Carens has been unveiled in full production trim at the Paris Motor Show, introducing a new contender to the family MPV class that is trying hard not to be dull and boring. The goal here was to maintain the old Carens’ brilliant practicality, but make the new one look better and feel nicer to drive.

On the styling front, they seem to have done a good job. Kia designers admit it is quite hard to make a car in the Carens class look interesting, but by applying Kia’s new signature grille and headlights on it, and also a couple of flowing lines that play randomly on the body, they have arrived at a nice looking family bus.

Kia has used some clever details in their quest to set an example with the new Carens design, such as the chrome strip that runs from the base of the windscreen, along the lower level of windows and curls up to meet the C-pillar. The car also has short front and rear overhangs, which is good for both looks and maneuverability.

Other notable features of the car include integrated roof rails, the sleek rear spoiler, the three-way split second-row seats.

Both Schreyer and Gregory Guillaume, Kia’s Chief Designer Europe, are candid when discussing the design of the Kia Carens. “A vehicle like the Carens is probably one of the hardest of all to get right because we are very tightly constrained by the car’s functionality,” says Guillaume. “That packaging versatility cannot in any way be compromised by the design of the car because to do so would eradicate the car’s raison d’être.”