Kia has launched the new Carens Clavis in India at a starting price of ₹11.49 lakh (ex-showroom). The Clavis is not a direct replacement but rather a new, more feature-loaded version of the Carens, which will continue to be sold alongside this updated offering.
The Carens Clavis is offered with three engine options. The base powertrain is a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that produces 115 PS and 144 Nm of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. The second is a new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 160 PS and 253 Nm, available with a 6-speed manual, a 6-speed iMT, or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. Diesel buyers get a 1.5-litre CRDi engine that develops 116 PS and 250 Nm, offered with both a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
The exterior of the Clavis carries over the familiar MPV proportions but gets a cleaner, more upright design. It features Kia’s new ‘Digital Tiger Face’ grille, LED headlamps, and connected ‘Starmap’ tail-lamps at the rear. 17-inch alloy wheels and satin chrome highlights help distinguish it from the standard Carens. Inside, there’s a sharper cabin layout with a new dual-screen setup that combines infotainment and the driver’s display into a single panel. Features like a panoramic sunroof, 64-colour ambient lighting, ventilated seats, and a BOSE 8-speaker audio system are included in the higher variants.
In terms of safety, Kia has introduced Level 2 ADAS on select variants, including adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and front collision avoidance. Standard safety features across variants include six airbags, electronic stability control, rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring, and hill-start assist.
The Carens Clavis is available in seven variants – HTE, HTE (O), HTK, HTK+, HTK+ (O), HTX, and HTX+ – with both 6- and 7-seater layouts depending on the trim. Prices range from ₹11.49 lakh for the base petrol manual to ₹21.49 lakh for the top-end turbo-petrol DCT in HTX+ guise.
It competes with models like the Maruti XL6, Toyota Innova Crysta and Hyundai Alcazar. Kia aims to market the Clavis to customers looking for more tech, more features, and a more upmarket design, while the standard Carens continues to serve those prioritising value and function.