Kia Carens Clavis Unveiled As A More Upscale MPV

KIA

Carens Clavis, the standard MPV, takes over Kia’s latest design approach. It’s getting interior refinement, mild cabin changes, and better safety courtesy of an ADAS suite. It will be available in seven variants with six powertrain options.HTE, HTE (O), HTK, HTK+, HTK + (O), HTX, and HTX+.

• Eight-way exterior colour options are available.

• Interior changes are mainly feature-oriented compared to the Carens standard.

• Has one more powertrain option than the standard version.

With its greater premium orientation highlighted, the Carens Clavis includes the latest form of Kia’s ‘digital tiger face’ design, also available on the class-leading EV9. It has sleek LED DRLs that integrate into triangular housings for LED headlamps. The front and rear bumpers are a sharper, more angular design with the contrast of silver bash plates. Though the overall silhouette is similar to the standard Carens, the Clavis addresses the customers with new dual-colour 17-inch alloy wheels. At the back, the styling is generally familiar, although in the centre, the LED drop bar is noticeably thicker mid.

The Carens Clavis still houses the same overall 6- and 7-seat layouts as its MPV counterpart, but with refreshed seat upholstery and door trims in a lighter finish. The highest update is at the front where the Clavis receives a 22.62-inch dual-screen setup, similar to that in the Seltos, has – 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Other changes include restyled AC vents, a new Auto AC controller, as well as the flat-bottomed steering wheel common with the Kia Syros.

The Carens Clavis has the FT-spec HTX+ fitment with 4-way powered driver’s seat, ventilated front seats, dual 10.25-inch displays, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 8-speaker Bose sound system, connected car technology with select remote functions, and a panoramic sunroof. This fully loaded trim also features a 360-degree camera and a multi-level ADAS suite, allowing the user three additional safety features beyond adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keeping assist.

Unlike the Carens in standard configuration, the Clavis has a powertrain alternative: a 6-speed manual transmission of a 1.5-litre, 160-horsepower, turbo-petrol engine. The engine and transmission combinations already exist, and they remain the same as 115 hp, 1.5-litre petrol with a 6-speed manual.the 160hp, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol with either a 6-speed iMT or 7-speed dual-clutch automatic; and the 116hp, 1.5-litre diesel with both 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic options.

Conclusion

Given that the Carens costs approximately Rs 10.60 – 19.70 lakh currently, the Carens Clavis will be a marginal premium. This implies that the Clavis stands no direct counterparts; 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) take one end while the Toyota Innova Cyrsta (Rs 19.99 lakh-26.82 lakh) and Hycross (Rs 19.09 lakh-31.34 lakh) occupy the end.

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