Used Maruti Ertiga vs Kia Carens: Which 7-Seater Should You Buy Second-Hand?

If you want a used seven-seater in Delhi NCR, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and Kia Carens are two of the most sensible places to start. The short answer: buy a used Ertiga if low running costs, a factory CNG option and simple ownership matter most. Choose a used Carens if you want more space, more power, a diesel or six airbags as standard on every version.

The model year matters as much as the badge. Early Ertigas have only two airbags, while one batch of 2023 Carens was rated zero stars for adult protection in a Global NCAP retest. Here is how to pick the right one.

Ertiga vs Carens: the quick verdict

• Best for low running costs: Ertiga, especially the factory CNG versions from the 2022 facelift.
• Best for space and highway power: Carens, which is longer, has a longer wheelbase and offers turbo-petrol and diesel engines.
• Best for safety kit on older cars: Carens, with six airbags and ESC standard since launch. The Ertiga got six airbags as standard only in July 2025.
• Best for an automatic: both offer one. The Ertiga's 6-speed torque converter (2022 onwards) is the simpler choice; the Carens offers a dual-clutch with the turbo-petrol and a torque converter with the diesel.
• Watch out for: 2023-built Carens in the zero-star VIN range, and pending recall work on both cars.

Model years at a glance

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga (second generation)

• November 2018: the second-generation Ertiga launched with a 1.5-litre petrol and dual airbags as standard, according to Maruti Suzuki's launch release. Rushlane's launch report lists a 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic for the petrol, plus a 1.3-litre diesel.
• April 2019: a 1.5-litre diesel arrived with 70 kW, 225 Nm and a 6-speed manual, per Maruti Suzuki.
• April 2020: Maruti stopped selling diesel cars with the move to BS6, as its chairman had announced in 2019. Used diesel Ertigas are therefore 2018 to early-2020 cars.
• April 2022 facelift: a new 1.5-litre petrol (75.8 kW, 136.8 Nm), a 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters, and factory S-CNG on VXi and ZXi trims, per Maruti Suzuki's facelift release. Dual airbags stayed standard, with four on the ZXi+.
• July 2025: six airbags, ESC and ISOFIX mounts became standard on all variants, Rushlane reported.

Kia Carens

• February 2022: the Carens launched with a 1.5-litre petrol (115 hp), a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol (140 hp) and a 1.5-litre diesel (115 hp), in six- and seven-seat layouts, with six airbags standard, as Mobility Outlook reported. The turbo came with a 7-speed dual-clutch option and the diesel with a 6-speed automatic.
• March 2023: a new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol replaced the 1.4, and the diesel manual was replaced by an iMT (clutchless manual), per CarWale.
• May 2025: Kia launched the updated Carens Clavis and kept the regular Carens on sale alongside it, according to Autocar India. Today the standard Carens is sold in a single Premium (O) trim.
• September 2026: factory-fitted CNG arrived on the Carens Premium (O); before that, CNG was available only as a dealer-fitted kit, Autocar India reported.

Engines, gearboxes and running costs

The Ertiga has one petrol engine in the used market (plus diesel on 2018–2020 cars). Maruti's claimed figures were 19.34 km/l (manual) and 18.69 km/l (automatic) for the 2018 petrol, and 20.51 km/l for petrol and 26.11 km/kg for CNG after the 2022 facelift. These are test-cycle figures; real-world mileage will be lower in Delhi traffic.

The Carens offers more performance, especially from the turbo-petrol and the 250 Nm diesel, which help with seven people and luggage on the Delhi–Jaipur or Yamuna Expressway. The trade-off is fuel. In Autocar India's long-term test, a 1.4 turbo DCT Carens returned 8.5–10.2 km/l in city use, and the testers noted some shift shock at very low speeds.

A few practical points for Delhi NCR buyers:

• CNG: the factory Ertiga S-CNG is the default choice for high daily running. Almost all used Carens are petrol or diesel; a used Carens with CNG from before September 2026 will have a dealer-fitted or aftermarket kit, which should be recorded on the RC. Our used CNG car checks apply to both.
• Diesel age limits: diesel cars older than 10 years can't be driven in Delhi, so a 2019 diesel Ertiga or a 2022 diesel Carens has a shorter usable life in the city than a petrol. See Delhi's age rules for used cars.
• Automatics: the Ertiga uses a conventional torque-converter automatic that suits stop-go traffic. The Carens DCT is quicker but deserves a careful low-speed test drive.

Space and practicality

The Carens is the bigger car. At launch it measured 4,540 mm long with a 2,780 mm wheelbase, while Maruti's Ertiga page gives 4,395 mm and 2,740 mm, with 209 litres of boot space behind the third row (803 litres with it folded) and about 185 mm of ground clearance.

In practice, the Carens' longer wheelbase gives more room in the second and third rows, and the six-seat version with captain chairs suits families with elderly parents. The shorter Ertiga is easier to park in tight colony lanes. Take the whole family on the test drive and sit everyone in the third row before you decide.

Safety: check the model year and the VIN

Ertiga

• Global NCAP rated the India-spec Ertiga three stars for adults and children in October 2019, with two frontal airbags and a structure it called "borderline unstable".
• In 2024, an India-made Ertiga tested for Africa with two airbags scored one star under Global NCAP's newer African protocols. That car's specification differs from Indian models, but it is a reminder that the older two-airbag cars are basic on safety.
• Airbags: two on 2018–2022 cars, four on the 2022–2025 ZXi+, and six on every variant from July 2025.

Carens

• In June 2022, Global NCAP rated the Carens three stars for adults and children, with six airbags and ESC standard but an "unstable" structure.
• In its April 2024 retest, Global NCAP gave three stars for adults and five for children, but said cars in a 2023 production batch, from VIN MZBGD813LPN099741 (production 02/05/2023) to MZBGD813LPN144399, were rated zero stars for adult protection. Cars from VIN MZBGD813LPN144400 onwards carry the three-star adult rating.

What to do: the VIN (chassis number) is printed on the RC and the car. If you are looking at a 2023 Carens, compare it with Global NCAP's range before you agree on a price.

Recalls to ask about

• Ertiga: Maruti recalled 1,81,754 petrol Ciaz, Ertiga, Brezza, S-Cross and XL6 cars built between 4 May 2018 and 27 October 2020 to inspect or replace the motor generator unit, Rushlane reported in September 2021. An earlier recall covered 63,493 Smart Hybrid petrol cars. You can enter the VIN on Maruti Suzuki's recall check page.
• Carens: Kia recalled 44,174 Carens in October 2022 for a possible airbag control unit software error, and 30,297 units built between September 2022 and early 2023 for an instrument cluster software update.

Ask an authorised workshop to confirm the recall work is done, and check the service record. Our used car inspection checklist covers the rest.

Warranty: a Carens may still have some left

Maruti's standard warranty was 2 years or 40,000 km for cars retailed before 9 July 2024, so most used Ertigas are out of factory cover unless the first owner bought an extended warranty. Kia gives 3 years with unlimited kilometres, transferable to the next owner, so a Carens bought new in late 2023 or later may still have some cover. Our guide to used car warranty transfer explains how to check.

Which one should you buy?

• Daily city running on a tight budget: a 2022-or-later Ertiga CNG.
• Family of six or seven who drive out of town often: a Carens diesel or turbo-petrol.
• Elderly parents in the second row: a six-seat Carens with captain chairs.
• Easy automatic for traffic: an Ertiga AT from 2022 onwards.
• Top priority on safety kit within budget: a Carens, avoiding the zero-star 2023 VIN range, or a 2025-onwards Ertiga with six airbags.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Buying a 2019 diesel Ertiga for Delhi without counting how many years it can still be driven.
• Skipping the VIN check on a 2023 Carens.
• Assuming a used Carens with CNG has a factory kit, or that the kit is on the RC.
• Not confirming recall work at an authorised workshop.
• Test-driving with only the driver on board. Load the car the way you will use it.

FAQs

Is a used Ertiga or Carens better for a family of seven?

The Carens is longer, with a longer wheelbase and more room in the rear rows. The Ertiga also seats seven, so try its third row with your own family before deciding.

Which is cheaper to run, the Ertiga or the Carens?

Usually the Ertiga, especially the factory CNG version, which Maruti rates at 26.11 km/kg. The Carens' more powerful engines use more fuel.

Is the Kia Carens safe?

It has six airbags and ESC as standard and a three-star adult Global NCAP rating, except for a 2023 production batch rated zero stars for adult protection. Check the VIN.

Should I buy a used diesel Ertiga?

Only if the years it can still be driven under Delhi's 10-year diesel rule suit you. Diesel Ertigas were sold only until early 2020.

How many airbags does a used Ertiga have?

Two on 2018–2022 cars, four on the ZXi+ from 2022, and six on all variants from July 2025.

The bottom line

Choose the Ertiga for low running costs and easy ownership, and the Carens for space, power and safety kit, and then pick the right year within each. Check the VIN, recall status, service history and age-rule limits on whichever car you shortlist. You can browse used Maruti Ertiga cars and used Kia Carens cars on Hooter, and compare other options in our guide to the best used family cars in Delhi NCR.