Introduction
KIA has just updated the Carens and it has been christened the Carens Clavis. Why so? Well because KIA will continue to sell the regular Carens alongside. The lower variants lineup will be of the regular Carens while the mid and top ones will consist of the Carens Clavis. This has been done to give the Carens a competitive edge when it comes to the starting price point. There are quite a few updates in the Clavis, so let’s deep dive and checkout what has changed!
Exterior
The exterior profile is the same with a few notable changes. Both ends get new bumpers and the front bonnet has been slightly raised to give the car a more SUV like stance. You get new Ice-cube headlamps, the fog lamps have been removed and Level-2 ADAS has been introduced whose radar sensors can be seen on the front bumpers. While most dimensions remain the same, the overall length has increased by 10 mm owning to the revised bumpers.
The side profile is the same but you get larger 17-inch alloy wheels along with meatier 215 section tyres which offer better grip levels than before. The regular Carens gets 205 section tyres with 16 inch alloy wheels. The rear profile is highlighted by the newly designed tail lamps and the Carens Clavis badging on the lower left side. The more appreciated change is the presence of a panoramic sunroof, which is highly demanded by customers these days. KIA has also introduced puddle lamps with KIA logo projection.
Interior
Step inside and you’ll notice a good mix of form and function. The second row continues to offer sliding, reclining, and one-touch electric tumble function, making ingress and egress effortless for third-row passengers. The front seatbelts are now height adjustable, enhancing safety and comfort for front occupants. The front passenger seat also gets a boss mode lever to liberate more space for second row passengers.
The tray table for the second row has been retained, though it’s only offered on the left-hand side with the right-hand side holding the air-purifier unit. You now get a 4-way power-adjustable driver seat with manual height adjust, and taking centre stage on the dashboard is the new 26.63-inch display, which is inspired from the Seltos. It supports a single panel design combining infotainment and instrumentation.
In terms of features, there’s a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, front ventilated seats, and an inbuilt air purifier, all of which significantly uplift cabin comfort. The music experience is handled by an 8-speaker Bose system, which delivers a rich audio experience. The new dual-channel dashcam gets night vision and Wi-Fi pairing capability, adding convenience and security.
There’s also a wireless charger placed up front, and HVAC and infotainment functions are controlled via a shared touch panel—similar to what’s seen in the Hyundai Verna. An auto-dimming IRVM, 64-color ambient lighting, and all-window up/down function via the remote (similar to VW) round out the premium touches. Connectivity is taken care of with two Type-C chargers in the front. The steering wheel is shared with the Kia Syros and now also includes paddle shifters.
Performance
The Carens Clavis continues to offer a wide range of engine and gearbox options. The engine lineup includes a 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol, a 1.5L turbo-petrol, and a 1.5L diesel. Transmission options are plentiful: the 1.5 NA gets a 6MT, the 1.5 turbo gets 6MT, 6iMT, and 7DCT, while the diesel can be had with either a 6MT or 6AT. Interestingly, 58% of Carens buyers so far have opted for the petrol variants, while 42% went for diesel. Also, 32% of customers have chosen either automatic or iMT variants. The engines provide ample grunt however as it goes for all cars out there, a diesel is a diesel, is a diesel.
We first drove the 1.5-litre diesel paired with the 6-speed manual gearbox, which produces 116 PS of power and 250 NM of torque. This engine impressed us with its solid low-end torque and a strong mid-range, making it well-suited for both city driving and highway cruising. The power delivery is smooth and linear, and there’s enough punch available before the top-end, which feels flat but rarely necessary to explore. It returns a respectable fuel economy of 14-15 km/l in city conditions and can deliver up to 20 km/l on the highway, offering a well-balanced mix of both worlds.
Next up, we drove the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol mated to the 7-speed DCT, churning out 160 PS of power and 253 NM of torque. This engine offers strong performance and a grunty character, with quick throttle response and refined power delivery. While fuel efficiency is naturally lower for a turbocharged petrol, don’t expect a lot with figures around 9-10 km/l in real-world conditions. It can give around 15 km/l on the highway. The turbo-petrol DCT combination feels energetic and is more than capable of handling daily driving as well as spirited highway runs.
Driving Dynamics
KIA has worked on the suspension and tuned it for improved ride quality. Overall the ride feels improved when moving along bad and broken roads with barely anything being felt in the cabin. Ride quality is quite good even for second row passengers, however in the last row the suspension tends to jump a bit , if you happen to go slightly fast over a speed breaker. The 17-inch wheels do their bit in enhancing the driving dynamics, however the steering feels quite vague with little feedback.
The steering doesn’t weigh up as well as we would have liked once the speeds pick up. However, inspite of that, the Clavis offers good highway manners with great stability at high speeds. There is a fair bit of body roll, which comes into play when you try to change direction in a hurry. KIA has also worked on improving the brakes and they are predictable with the pedal offering good bite. The wider tyres also offer better grip levels as before.Overall, the Kia Carens Clavis offers a balanced driving experience that caters well to family-oriented buyers.
Safety
Safety features have also seen a considerable upgrade. The Clavis now offers Level-2 ADAS with 20 functions, a 360-degree camera for improved visibility, and six airbags as standard along with ABS and ESC. Additional aids include hill start assist and downhill brake assist, all-wheel disc brakes, and speed-sensing door locks. All passengers now get 3-point seatbelt with reminders, and there’s a highline TPMS to monitor tyre pressure. The blind view monitor and an electronic parking brake with auto hold further enhance convenience and safety.
Verdict
There isn’t much to complain about with the Carens, it has been the best 6-7 seater MPV in the segment and with this upgrade, they have managed to improve a product which was honestly doing quite well. KIA is offering so many engine and transmission options and have even tried to woo the enthusiast with the 6-MT on the T-GDI. ADAS and Panoramic Sunroof is a welcome addition to the lineup. Prices will increase in the range of 1-2 Lakhs and the Clavis will appeal to those who are looking for a fully loaded family car.
