Kia Carens Clavis: Check Out The Things We Like And Don't Like About The Premium MPV

The Carens Clavis serves as a second MPV offering in Kia’s India portfolio. With its modern styling and feature-packed interior, it positions itself as a more upmarket alternative to the Carens. However, along with its strengths, there are also a few shortcomings you should be aware of. Here’s a full breakdown of the pros and cons of the Carens Clavis that you need to check out.

Kia Carens Clavis: Overview

The Kia Carens Clavis is sold alongside the Carens MPV, offering a more premium alternative. It features a more muscular design and an upscale interior. It also gets a well-equipped feature list, including ADAS. The Clavis is offered with similar powertrain options, including two petrol engines and a single diesel engine. To learn more about the Kia Carens Clavis, check out our first reveal report.

Kia Carens Clavis: Design 

Pros: The upside is that the Kia Clavis gets a fresh design with a squared-off front end, refined rear profile, and EV5-like LED DRLs for a modern look. 17-inch alloy wheels (from HTK+ variant onwards) enhance its sporty stance. It’s available in 8 colours, including two shades each of silver and white, along with black, olive green, blue, and grey.

Cons: The only downside here is that lower variants get 16-inch steel wheels rather than alloys found in higher trims. Despite its SUV-inspired styling, the Carens Clavis still leans more towards an MPV look, which some buyers might not prefer.

Kia Carens Clavis: Interior And Comfort  

Pros: The good thing is that the interior is a step-up from that of the outgoing model. The Carens Clavis gets a functional dashboard design, with key controls like AC and media easily accessible while driving. Depending on the variant, the cabin is offered in either black and beige or a more premium blue and black theme. Overall fit and finish feel solid, and the interior is smartly laid out.

The Kia Carens Clavis offers a highly practical cabin, with occupants around 5.7-5.8-feet can fit into all three rows with ease, while even those over 6 feet will find ample headroom. Access is made convenient with tumble-forward second-row seats.

Cons: The bad or the not so good aspect of the interior is that for its price, the cabin could’ve been more upscale, particularly in higher trims. Broad-shouldered passengers might find the seats a bit snug compared to the Maruti Suzuki XL6.

Kia Carens Clavis: Features

Pros- Features here are in plenty. The Carens Clavis comes loaded with features. Even the base variants get roof-mounted AC vents for the 2nd and 3rd rows, keyless entry, all four power windows, driver seat-height adjustment, and rear sunshades as standard. Higher variants include a 12.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a fully digital instrument cluster of the same size. Mid-spec models offer an electric sunroof, while the top-end trims get a panoramic sunroof.

Standard safety features include 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, ISOFIX mounts, hill-start assist, a tyre pressure monitor, and all-wheel disc brakes. Top-specced variants also get ADAS, with features like forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control.

Cons- Larger touchscreen in higher-end variants is responsive, supporting Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, but only via wired connection. Kia doesn’t include a dashcam in the ADAS-equipped top-end model.

Kia Carens Clavis: Powertrain 

Pros- The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol unit feels smooth, refined, and ideal for city driving or relaxed highway cruising. Whereas, the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine delivers punchy performance with the convenience of multiple gearbox choices. Diesel engine option is Great for high-mileage users and frequent highway trips.

Cons- The naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine is available only with a manual gearbox, making it well-suited for city driving. The turbo-petrol engine is not fuel-efficient, offering 8-9 kmpl in heavy traffic.

Kia Carens Clavis: Ride 

Strength - The ride quality is plush, effortlessly soaking up potholes and rough roads. Despite being a 6/7-seater, the Clavis remains easy to drive and manoeuvre, even through tight city streets.

Weakness - The ride can get slightly bouncy at high speeds on a full load.

Is the Kia Carens Clavis the Right Choice for You?

The Kia Carens Clavis is an ideal choice for those wanting a practical and spacious family car that’s easy to handle in city traffic. It strikes a unique balance by offering generous cabin space, a well-equipped feature list, and strong safety credentials. While it may not have the rugged SUV feel some prefer, the Carens Clavis stands out as a versatile all-rounder that suits everyday needs without compromise.

Engine Options

Kia will offer three engine options with the Carens Clavis. Detailed powertrain specifications of each engine choice are provided below.

iMT- clutchless manual transmission

DCT- dual-clutch automatic transmission

Rivals

Upon launch, the Kia Carens Clavis will lock horns with the Maruti Ertiga, Toyota Rumion, Toyota Innova Crysta, and even the regular Kia Carens.

With the Kia Carens Clavis offering a practical, spacious, and well-equipped package, would you choose its family-friendly charm or prefer its alternative? Share your thoughts in the comments below.