All-New Kia Carens Clavis
I recently checked out the all-new Kia Carens Clavis, and I have to say, it’s a seriously premium take on the already popular Carens MPV. Starting at ₹11.50 lakh and going up to ₹21.50 lakh (ex-showroom), the Clavis isn’t just a facelift — it brings a lot more to the table in terms of design, tech, and safety. Bookings officially opened a day after its May 8 unveiling for a token amount of ₹25,000.
What’s New with the Clavis?
Kia’s positioned the Clavis as a more upscale alternative to the standard Carens, and it shows. It’s built on the same K2 platform, but the styling tweaks give it a fresh, SUV-inspired look. It gets bold triple-pod LED headlamps, a new connected LED light bar at the front and rear, 17-inch alloys, and rugged-looking plastic cladding around the wheel arches and doors. The rear has a sportier bumper and a sleeker LED treatment that adds to its premium feel.
A Cabin That Feels Rich
Step inside, and you’ll notice the blue-and-beige dual-tone interior, which gives the cabin a more luxurious vibe. There’s a large 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system paired with a 12.3-inch digital driver display on the higher variants. However, a small quirk here: the bigger screen setup doesn’t support wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, but interestingly, the smaller 8-inch unit on lower trims does.
Other standout features Kia Carens Clavis?
A panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, an air purifier, wireless charging, Bose 8-speaker sound system, and something called Boss mode for the front passenger seat — basically, it lets you push the co-driver seat forward from the rear seat, just like in the Hyundai Alcazar. You also get multiple USB ports, AC vents for all rows, and a really handy one-touch-tumble function to access the third row.
Safety Gets a Serious Boost
This is where the Kia Carens Clavis really steps up. It comes equipped with a Level 2 ADAS suite, which means you get advanced features like lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. It also adds a 360-degree camera — a big plus for maneuvering in tight spaces.
On top of that, you get six airbags as standard, ABS, hill-start assist, TPMS, and all-wheel disc brakes. It’s easily one of the safest options in its segment now.
Powertrain Options No Surprises, But More Choices
Under the hood, the Kia Carens Clavis continues with the familiar 1.5-litre engine options — naturally aspirated petrol, turbo-petrol, and diesel — but now you get a wider choice of transmissions:
- The 1.5 NA petrol (115hp) comes with a 6-speed manual.
- The 1.5 turbo-petrol (160hp, 253Nm) offers 6MT, iMT, and a 7-speed DCT.
- The 1.5 diesel (116hp, 250Nm) is available with either a 6MT or 6-speed torque converter AT.
- No CNG option yet, which might be a miss for some, especially since rivals like the Maruti XL6 and Ertiga offer it.
Kia Carens Clavis Mileage Figures
- When it comes to fuel efficiency, here’s what I found
- Diesel manual is the most frugal with a claimed 19.54 km/l.
- The turbo-petrol DCT delivers around 16.66 km/l.
- The NA petrol manual is rated at 15.34 km/l.
- So if fuel economy is a priority, the diesel clearly stands out.
Final Thoughts Kia Carens Clavis
For anyone considering a premium MPV, the Kia Carens Clavis offers a compelling package. It’s got the looks, the tech, the comfort, and most importantly — the safety upgrades we’ve been waiting for. While it might not have a CNG option, the rest of the offering feels solid, especially with the addition of ADAS and automatic transmissions. If you’re looking for something that blends family practicality with modern luxury, the Clavis is worth a serious look.
