Kia just dropped the curtain on the Carens Clavis EV, and honestly, it’s about time! The Korean brand’s first proper electric vehicle for Indian families promises a solid 490 kilometers on a single charge.
This isn’t just another EV launch – it’s Kia throwing its hat into the ring for families who’ve been waiting for an electric vehicle that actually makes sense for Indian roads and households. Come July 15, we’ll see if this three-row electric MPV can walk the talk. What’s got everyone excited is that it’s the first locally-made electric Kia and, more importantly, the first three-row electric SUV that won’t break the bank.
Design and Exterior
Look, the Clavis EV isn’t going to win any beauty contests for radical design changes, but that’s probably a good thing. Kia’s played it smart by keeping what works from the regular Carens while adding just enough electric-specific touches to make it feel special.
The biggest giveaway? That sealed-off front grille where the charging port lives. It’s cleaner, more purposeful – like the car’s finally grown up. Those signature triangular headlamps with the L-shaped DRLs are still there, connected by that LED strip that’s become Kia’s calling card.
The new dual-tone alloy wheels look pretty sharp, and the tweaked front bumper with repositioned fog lamps gives it a slightly more aggressive stance. Nothing revolutionary, but enough to make your neighbor ask, “Hey, is that the electric one?”
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Interior and Features
Step inside and you’re greeted by what feels like a tech upgrade rather than a complete overhaul. The star of the show is that massive 26.62-inch dual panoramic display – it’s basically like having two large tablets stuck together. Sounds gimmicky on paper, but in practice, it works surprisingly well.
The real winner here is the redesigned center console. Without that gear lever taking up space, there’s actually room for your stuff – water bottles, phones, the usual family clutter that somehow multiplies in Indian cars.
Feature-wise, Kia hasn’t held back:
- Dual-zone climate control (because arguing over AC temperature is a universal family experience)
- Panoramic sunroof for those Instagram-worthy shots
- Wireless charging pad (finally!)
- Front ventilated seats with power adjustment for the driver
- 8-speaker BOSE system that’ll make your morning commute playlist sound way better
- Ambient lighting for those evening drives
- 360-degree camera because parking in Indian cities is basically an extreme sport
Safety gets the full treatment too, with Level 2 ADAS expected on higher variants. Adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist – the works. It’s like having a co-pilot who never gets tired or distracted.
Battery and Performance
Here’s where things get interesting, and by interesting, I mean actually practical for once. Two battery options are on the cards: a 42kWh pack good for around 390km, and the headline-grabbing 51.4kWh unit that delivers 490km of range.
What’s impressive isn’t just the numbers – it’s that despite being bigger than the Hyundai Creta Electric, the Clavis EV still manages to squeeze out 17 extra kilometers. That’s the kind of efficiency that makes real-world sense.
Power figures should mirror the Creta Electric: 133bhp for the smaller battery, 169bhp for the larger one. Not exactly sports car territory, but then again, this is meant to ferry families around, not win drag races.
The V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) feature is a nice touch – you can literally power your camping gear or keep the lights on during those inevitable power cuts. It’s the kind of feature that sounds gimmicky until you actually need it.
Price and Competition
While Kia’s keeping the exact pricing under wraps until July 15, word on the street suggests the top-spec model will sneak in under Rs 25 lakh. That’s competitive territory against the Creta Electric (Rs 17.99-24.38 lakh) while offering that crucial third row.
The competition’s heating up with the MG Windsor EV, Tata Curvv EV, Mahindra BE6, and Maruti’s upcoming e-Vitara all vying for attention. But here’s the thing – most of these are five-seaters. The Clavis EV’s three-row setup could be its ace in the hole.