The Kia Carens Clavis has been unveiled and bookings will begin from tomorrow, May 9 at 12:01am on the brand’s website and at its dealerships. Essentially an updated version of the Carens MPV currently on sale, the Clavis suffix is meant to denote a more premium positioning. Compared to the MPV it is based on, the Carens Clavis sports Kia’s new design language, more features and tech on the inside, and mildly tweaked interior, and more safety kit in the form of an ADAS suite. The Clavis MPV will go on sale with 6 engine and gearbox options, and be available in 7 variants – HTE, HTE(O), HTK, HTK+, HTK+(O), HTX and HTX+.
- Kia Carens Clavis to be available in 8 exterior colours
- Interior gets mainly feature-based changes compared to the Carens
- Gets one additional powertrain option compared to the Carens
Kia Carens Clavis exterior design
Clavis borrows from more premium Kia cars
Underlining its position as a more upmarket MPV, the Carens Clavis gets the latest iteration of Kia’s ‘digital tiger face’ – seen on the likes of the flagship EV9 – along with thin LED DRLs that flow into a triangular-shaped housing for the LED headlights. The front and rear bumper design is more angular, and silver bash plates add some contrast. With the silhouette is unchanged from the Carens, the Clavis does get new-design dual-tone 17-inch alloy wheels. The rear is familiar, but the central LED light band is thicker in the middle.
Kia will offer 8 exterior colour options with the Carens Clavis: Ivory Silver Gloss, Pewter Olive, Imperial Blue, Glacier White Pearl, Gravity Gray, Sparkling Silver, Aurora Black Pearl, and Clear White.
Kia Carens Clavis interior
Updates to the cabin mainly feature-based
While the overall layout of the Carens Clavis is the same as the MPV it is based on – both are available in 6-seat and 7-seat configuration – there are updates to the seat upholstery and door trim – lighter coloured materials have been used. The biggest changes compared to the Carens are up front, as the Clavis features the 22.62-inch dual-screen set-up seen on the Seltos, which is made up of a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Carens Clavis also features new-design AC vents and controls for the Auto AC, and the MPV shares its flat-bottom steering with the Syros.
Kia Carens Clavis features and safety kit
ADAS, suite, panoramic sunroof among the biggest feature additions over the Carens
In range-topping Carens Clavis HTX+ form, the features list includes a 4-way powered driver’s seat, ventilated front seats, the aforementioned 10.25-inch screens, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, an 8-speaker Bose audio system, connected car tech with a few remote functions, and a panoramic sunroof. This top-spec trim also features a 360-dgree camera and an Level 2 ADAS suite that brings functions like adaptive cruise control, front collision assist, lane keep assist, and more.
Kia Carens Clavis engine and gearbox options
Clavis gets 160hp turbo-petrol with a manual gearbox as well
Unlike the Carens on which it is based, the Clavis gets one additional engine and gearbox option. While the 115hp, 1.5-litre petrol and 6-speed manual; 160hp, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol with 6-speed iMT and 7-speed dual-clutch auto; and 116hp, 1.5-litre diesel with 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic are shared, the Carens Clavis also gets a 6-speed manual option for the 160hp turbo-petrol unit.
Kia Carens Clavis price estimate and rivals
Will not have any direct rivals
Considering the Carens is currently priced between Rs 10.60 lakh and Rs 19.70 lakh, the Carens Clavis will cost a marginal premium. This means that while the Clavis has no direct rivals the Maruti Ertiga (Rs 8.97 lakh-13.26 lakh), XL6 (Rs 11.83 lakh-14.87 lakh) and Toyota Rumion (Rs 10.54 lakh-13.83 lakh) sit at one end, the Toyota Innova Cyrsta (Rs 19.99 lakh-26.82 lakh) and Hycross (Rs 19.09 lakh-31.34 lakh) are at the other.
Also see:
Kia EV9 review: German-class luxury?