Kia Carens Clavis Vs Kia Seltos: A Head-to-head Spec Comparison!

The Carens Clavis is Kia’s upcoming premium MPV, set to be launched on May 23. For those who are unfamiliar, the Clavis is a refreshed and more premium version of the Carens. On the other hand, we have the Kia Seltos, which is a well-equipped compact SUV, offered in the same price range as the Clavis’ expected pricing. 

In this report, we compare both the Kias’ in detail, taking you through their pricing, dimensions, features and powertrain. So keep reading if you are in the market looking for a well-equipped and premium Kia: 

Carens Clavis Vs Seltos: Price

Kia has not disclosed the Clavis’ price range yet, but we do expect it to be priced from around Rs 11 lakh (ex-showroom), similar to what the Seltos’ base price is. Top-spec variants of the Clavis are also expected to overlap with the top-spec Seltos trims in terms of pricing. So with their pricing expected to be similar, here’s what you get for your money: 

Carens Clavis Vs Seltos: Dimensions

Parameter	Kia Carens Clavis	Kia Seltos
Length	4550 mm (+185 mm)	4365 mm
Width	1800 mm	1800 mm
Height	1708 mm, with roof rails (+63 mm)	1645 mm
Wheelbase	2780 mm (+170 mm)	2610 mm

As seen in the table above, the Clavis is much longer than the Seltos, while also being taller. Moreover, the Clavis’ wheelbase is also greater than that of the Seltos, thereby offering more space inside the cabin. Overall, the Clavis is clearly the larger car with greater dimensions. 

Carens Clavis Vs Seltos: Features

Equipment	Kia Carens Clavis	Kia Seltos
Lighting setup	LED headlights with DRLs and LED taillights	LED headlights with DRLs and LED taillights
Alloy wheels	17-inch alloy wheels	18-inch alloy wheels
Infotainment System	12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto/ Apple CarPlay	10.25-inch touchscreen with wired Android Auto/ Apple CarPlay
Digital Driver’s Display	Yes, 12.3-inch	Yes, 10.25-inch
Sound System	8-speaker Bose sound system	8-speaker Bose sound system
Cruise Control	Yes	Yes
Sunroof	Yes, panoramic	Yes, panoramic
Seat Ventilation	Front ventilated seats	Front ventilated seats
Powered Seats	Yes, driver only (4-way adjustable)	Yes, driver only (8-way adjustable)
Climate Control	Yes, automatic	Yes, automatic (dual-zone)
Wireless Phone Charging	Yes	Yes
Ambient Lighting	Yes	Yes
Connected Car Tech	Yes	Yes
Airbags	6 (standard)	6 (standard)
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System	Yes	Yes
ADAS	Yes, level-2	Yes, level-2
Parking Sensors	Front and rear parking sensors	Front and rear parking sensors
360-degree Camera	Yes	Yes
Electronic Parking Brake	Yes	Yes

The Clavis gets larger displays, and its infotainment also comes with wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which is not available with the Seltos. However, the Seltos gets dual-zone climate control and more ways of electrically adjusting the driver seat. Premium features like ventilated front seats, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera and level-2 ADAS are common between the two. 

Powertrain 

Here’s a detailed look at their powertrain specifications: 

As seen in the table above, both Clavis and Seltos share the same three engines, including two petrol units and a diesel engine. However, gearbox options are slightly different. The Seltos comes with a CVT option with the NA petrol, and the Clavis additionally gets a 6-speed MT with the turbo-petrol. 

Verdict 

On the basis of on-paper specifications, both Clavis and Seltos compete fiercely in terms of the equipment on offer. Even their powertrain options are similar to a large extent, featuring the same engine options. So, if you look at the specs, there is hardly anything significant separating the two. However, both Clavis and Seltos are very different in their dimensions and styling. 

While the Clavis is a people mover, and essentially an MPV, the Seltos is a more aggressively styled compact SUV suitable for a family of up to 5 members. So it all comes down to one question - do you need the extra row of seats? 

Which one would you pick? Let us know in the comments section below.