Category: Compact MPV 
Price Range: £11,495 to £16,995
Useful space with five or seven seats, good ride quality, strong diesel engine, improved quality.
Weak petrol engine, plastics could be better, lifeless steering.
Practical and sensible family transport; no more, no less.
Anti-lock brakes come as standard with electronic brakeforce distribution, which monitors wheel slip during braking and makes an appropriate adjustment to the amount of braking applied to each wheel.
Stability control is an option, to help you avoid accidents. If you're out of luck, then side impact protection beams in the front and rear doors should improve your chances, aided by the general stiffness of the body, although of course there are also crumple zones designed to absorb the brunt of any impact.
Six airbags are standard, and the front passenger bag can be switched off to allow more options for positioning young passengers. There are two ISOFIX mountings in the rear for child seats. Options include active head restraints for the front seats; they move forwards when the sensors tell them an accident has just happened, to reduce the distance your head moves. The new Carens has achieved a mediocre four stars for adult occupant safety in the Euro NCAP crash tests, with three for child protection and one (out of four) for pedestrian protection.
An immobiliser is standard and an alarm is available. The five-seat version has extra compartments under the boot floor, giving you the option of stowing nickable items away from prying eyes.
