Kia Carens Clavis

The new Kia Carens Clavis is essentially a facelift model of the popular Carens. However, Kia has chosen to keep the older model on sale, in a single variant. This new version brings with it an updated design, and more features. It continues to rival MPVs such as the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and XL6, alongside 5-seater SUV options such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara. 

Has Kia struck the right balance between tech and practicality with the Carens Clavis?

• For the Carens Clavis, Kia has focussed on making the design more SUV-like, making it look more aggressive and upmarket in the process.

• The front end now looks more upright thanks to a flatter bonnet that now sits slightly higher.

• The Carens Clavis has almost an EV-like front end design, with a blanked off grille, and connected daytime running lamps (DRLs).

• The LED reflector headlamps have nice detailing and have bright white lighting, both for the low beam and high beam.

• Lower variants of the Carens Clavis get halogen projector headlamps.

• Kia has redesigned the front bumper as well, giving it a more rugged look with cladding and brushed silver elements. 

• We particularly like how Kia has integrated the front camera and the radar for the ADAS neatly in the front bumper. 

• From the side, not much appears different, save for the new 17-inch alloy wheels on the top-end models.

• Lower variants get either 15-inch alloy wheels, or 16-inch styled steel wheels depending on the model.

• A couple of Carens’ signature elements, such as the chrome door handles and the subtle chrome lining under the windows have been retained

• At the rear, the connected lighting set up has been tweaked. Top variants feature LED elements here, whereas lower variants get halogen bulbs.

• The new rear bumper design looks rugged too, and now houses the sole reverse lamp in the centre.

• Kia is offering the Carens Clavis in 8 monotone colour options which includes Ivory Silver Gloss, Pewter Olive, Imperial Blue, Glacier White Pearl, Gravity Gray Aurora, Black Pearl, and Clear White.

• There are no dual-tone colour options on offer with the Carens Clavis. That said, we expect Kia to launch a Carens Clavis X-line model, with a matte grey paint job soon. 

Design and Quality

• Kia claims that a lot of existing Carens customers were not satisfied with the design of the dashboard and the quality.

• To make amends, the Carens Clavis’ interior features a new dashboard design that features twin screens and a new steering wheel.

• The design itself makes the space feel more premium and fitting of the price, especially considering little touches such as the fabric applique on the dashboard with a metallic insert.

• The climate control/music can now be controlled via a single touch-based panel Kia calls a ‘swap switch’.

• Important functions such as temperature and fan speed, or music on/off and volume are still controlled via physical knobs which shows Kia hasn’t sacrificed functionality for aesthetics.

• Kia has stuck to a rather unusual blue-beige colour theme for the interior. We’d have preferred to see a more sophisticated black-beige colour theme here, which you only get in the base-mid variants.

• On the quality front, we couldn’t spot any major improvements. Plastic quality is acceptable for the price at best, but the finish could have been better.

• Kia’s own models such as the Syros, Sonet and Seltos offer a better feeling interior. To the Clavis’ credit, the fitment quality is good.

Driving Position

• Driver’s seat height adjustment and tilt-adjust for the steering is offered as standard on all models of the Carens Clavis. Telescopic steering adjustment is now available, but only in the top two variants.

• Finding a comfortable driving position is fairly easy. The seating itself is very beginner-friendly that gives the driver a clear view of the edges of the bonnet.

• A slim A-pillar and large glass area means all-round visibility is great.

• Kia provides a front armrest as standard on all models, making long drives more comfortable.

Passenger Comfort

Second Row

• Getting in and out of the second row of the Carens Clavis is very convenient. You can simply ‘walk’ into the cabin and even elders of the family will find it convenient.

• The Carens Clavis HTX+ model gets the option of captain seats. All other variants are offered with a bench seat i.e. in a seven-seater configuration only. 

• With the driver’s seat set for a six-footer, there’s ample amount of kneeroom, footroom and headroom for another six-foot tall occupant in the second row.

• There’s enough width to accommodate three occupants in the second row comfortably, too.

• In the captain seat version, space remains the same. However, taller occupants might feel a lack of support for the upper back considering the short seat back height.

• We wish Kia would have repositioned the air purifier system of the vehicle, which intrudes into the kneeroom in the second row on the driver’s side.

• On the co-driver’s side, a foldable tray is provided that has a cupholder and a tablet holder. 

Third Row

• Getting into the third row is very easy thanks to the one-touch tumble functionality in the second row. Simply pressing a button makes the second row move out of the way.

• The third row is surprisingly spacious, even for a six-foot tall person.

• You can adjust the space in the third row by moving the second row ahead or behind. Even at its furthermost position, a six-footer’s knees will dig into the second row, but not be uncomfortable.

• Headroom is a bit tight for adults and foot room isn’t adequate under the captain seats. It’s far more comfortable to keep one leg in the centre.

• Width isn’t an issue either: two adults can sit comfortably here.

• The Carens Clavis is among the rare few ‘true’ 6-/7-seaters in the market, capable of seating adults in all rows. 

Storage Options

• All four doors get spacious bottle holders and some additional space to store magazines or even wash clothes.

• The front armrest has a tiny tray that can be used to store the car’s keys, and the deep cubby hole underneath will happily accommodate your wallet and keys.

• There’s more storage space in the central area for your phone, and you get twin cupholders too. 

• Kia is offering a chilled glovebox, and the can storage area for the rear occupants is cooled as well.

• Even third row occupants get dedicated cup and phone holders.

Features

Here’s a quick look at the highlight features of the Kia Carens Clavis 2025:

• The Carens Clavis HTX and HTX+ variants get a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Operation is smooth and lag free. However, there is no wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay here. You have to use a type-A USB cable.

• An 8-inch touchscreen is offered in the one above base model [called HTE (O)], that gets wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

• A 12.3-inch digital driver’s display is offered in the top two variants. It features a crisp resolution and snappy graphics. Themes can be linked to the drive modes or the weather.

• An 8-speaker Bose branded audio system delivers a punchy audio experience.

• A 4-way power adjustable driver’s seat is offered in the top model. Height-adjustment is manual. A 6- or 8-way adjustment should have been offered.

• Kia offers a panoramic sunroof in the HTX and HTX+ variants, but only with the turbo-petrol engine.

• A single pane sunroof is offered in the Carens Clavis HTK+ variant, and the diesel HTX model.

• 5 Type-C USB chargers are offered as standard. A 12V charging port for the front occupants is provided.

• Other highlights in the top model include keyless entry, push-button start-stop, auto headlamps and wipers, auto-dimming IRVM, front seat ventilation, and a wireless charger.

• Standard safety features on the 2025 Kia Carens Clavis includes — 6 airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), hill assist control (HAC), vehicle stability management (VSC).

• A 360° camera is on offer in the HTX and HTX+ model. 2D and 3D views are available on the touchscreen. When you indicate, the side camera feed is shown on the instrument cluster which is very helpful while changing lanes on the highway.

• Another highlight is the inclusion of Level 2 ADAS. This is available only in the top-spec HTX+ variant, that too only with dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT).

• Kia is also providing a dual dash camera in the manual/iMT versions of the HTX+ model.

• The vehicle has not been crash tested by an independent authority like the Bharat NCAP yet. Hence, there is no Carens Clavis crash test rating. 

• With all rows in place, the Carens Clavis offers 216-litres of space. With the third row folded, 645-litres of space is available.

• The third row gets a 50:50 split functionality, whereas the second row can be folded in a 60:40 ratio, making it easy to carry more luggage if required. 

• Both the second and the third row fold flat, giving you access to a huge space if needed for transporting larger items such as furniture or appliances.

• The Carens Clavis carries forward the three engine options available on the standard Carens. This includes a 1.5-litre petrol, a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol, and a 1.5-litre diesel.

• A 6-speed manual gearbox is offered with all engines. The turbo-petrol versions get the option of an ‘iMT’ (clutch-pedal less manual) in select variants.

• A  7-speed DCT is available with the turbo-petrol engine, whereas the 1.5-litre diesel engine is offered with an optional 6-speed automatic in select variants.

1.5-litre Petrol

• This engine is known to be smooth and refined, with minimum noise and vibrations during start up and drive.

• The clutch is light and the gear throws are smooth, making city drives easy.

• There’s enough power to maintain triple digit speeds on the highway comfortably.

• Do not expect this engine to offer punchy performance. You will need to downshift to make quick overtakes, and stay in low gears on hilly roads.

• Kia should have offered a CVT automatic option in the 1.5-litre petrol version. This is sorely missed. 

1.5-litre Turbo Petrol 

• Pick this engine if you foresee a lot of highway trips with the full family.

• Refinement levels are acceptable. There’s no harsh noise or vibrations creeping into the cabin unless you are at high rpms.

• The highlight of the drive experience is the strong acceleration, which makes this engine suitable for long drives.

• For heavy city drives, the fuel efficiency might be a concern. This turbo-petrol engine is known to be quite inefficient in bumper-to-bumper driving conditions, even returning single digit mileage.

• The 7-speed DCT is smooth and quick. Gear changes are seamless, and you would barely notice them.

• In case you do not want to stretch the budget all the way for an automatic, the 6-speed iMT is a unique option.

• It offers some degree of convenience by eliminating the clutch pedal entirely. You simply shift gears as per speed. We’ve experienced this technology in a variety of Hyundai-Kia cars, and it does offer convenience. 

1.5-litre Diesel 

• This engine is an all-rounder in the lineup. It offers a great balance of performance and mileage.

• By diesel engine standards, the noise, vibration and harshness levels are very well controlled.

• Much like the turbo-petrol engine, you will appreciate the strong pick up of this engine.

• Inside the city, this ensures fewer gear changes making the drives a little easier.

• There’s more than enough performance available for highway drives. You can not only comfortably maintain triple digit speeds, but also make overtakes easily at these speeds.

• The 6-speed automatic transmission is smooth. It’s not the quickest gearbox, taking a split second longer than the DCT while shifting. However, this doesn’t hamper the driving experience.

• The Carens Clavis is very clearly set up to be comfortable for a large family.

• It might feel a little firm especially over broken roads and successive rumble strips. However, occupants are unlikely to feel uncomfortable here.

• Highway stability is excellent. It feels stable and confident at high speeds and you can change lanes without feeling nervous too.

• With a full-load, the ride might feel a little bouncy — especially for rear seat occupants. 

• From a handling standpoint, the Clavis does what it is supposed to. The focus is on ease of driving, and not a sporty nature.

• The steering is quick and predictable. Pushing it hard into a corner obviously leads to expected body roll.

Which variant of the Kia Carens Clavis is value for money?

The Kia Carens Clavis 2025 is offered in the following variants: HTE, HTE (O), HTK, HTK+, HTK+ (O), HTX and HTX+

Kia Carens Clavis HTE Variant

• This variant is offered only with manual transmission options. Notably, the turbo-petrol engine is not available in this model. 

• Safety isn’t skimped on at all: 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child seat mounts, electronic stability control, tyre pressure monitoring system are offered. 

• Looks are basic with body coloured bumpers and door handles and halogen lamps. The petrol version gets 15-inch alloy wheels, whereas the diesel gets 16-inch steel wheels.

• On the inside, the focus is on functional features such as seat-height adjustment, tilt-steering, one-touch tumble for the second row and air-conditioning for all three rows.  

Kia Carens Clavis HTE (O)  Variant

• The turbo-petrol engine is available in this variant, but only with a manual transmission. 

• The major additions to the feature list include an 8-inch touchscreen (with Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), a 6-speaker audio system, steering-mounted audio controls and a reverse parking camera. 

Kia Carens Clavis HTK Variant

• The looks are slightly improved with LED daytime running lights, and roof rails on the outside and black-beige dual-tone interiors. 

• There are minor feature additions such as automatic climate control, and front parking sensors. 

Kia Carens Clavis HTK+ Variant

• This is the base version for the automatic variants. 

• A lot of functional features get added here, including powered mirrors with auto fold, rear wiper and washer, keyless entry, push-button start-stop and cruise control. 

• Drive modes are also offered in the automatic models.

Kia Carens Clavis HTK+ (O) Variant

• Looks get an upgrade with 17-inch dual tone alloy wheels. 

• Major feature additions include a single pane sunroof (turbo-petrol and diesel only), wireless charger and electronic parking brake (DCT only).

Kia Carens Clavis HTX Variant

• This variant looks identical to the top model with full-LED headlights, and satin chrome finishes on the bumper. Interior too features a unique beige-navy theme. 

• Feature additions include: swappable panel for climate control, auto-dimming IRVM, tilt-telescopic steering adjust, cooled cup holders (first row) and cooled can holders (second row). An air purifier, 360° camera and a dual dash camera are also offered.

• The infotainment package is significantly better with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital driver’s display. 

• The turbo-petrol version gets a panoramic sunroof in this variant. 

Kia Carens Clavis HTX+ Variant 

• Captain seats are available only in this variant. 

• Feature additions include front seat ventilation, 4-way powered driver’s seat, rain-sensing wipers and an 8-speaker BOSE sound system. 

• Level 2 ADAS with features such as adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking and blind spot monitoring are available only in the petrol-DCT model. 

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• Those on a tight budget can consider the HTE (O) variant. It offers all the must haves that are expected at the price point. 

• For those wanting an automatic with all the necessary convenience features, the HTK+ variant can be considered. This variant feels like the most value for money overall. 

• The HTX variant is for those seeking a better infotainment experience and a few more feel-good features.

With the Carens Clavis, Kia has delivered exactly what it was supposed to. The strong suites of the Carens including space, practicality and comfort have been retained. Updates to the design and features now make the car feel more upmarket, desirable and in tune with the times. The Kia Carens Clavis is amongst the most easy to recommend vehicles that strikes a nice balance between family friendliness and feel-good factor.