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Kia Carens Clavis EV First Drive Review: Electrified Excellence For The Family
It was late in May this year that Korean carmaker Kia launched the Carens Clavis, the updated version of its 7-seater family MPV for India. At that launch, Kia hinted that there was little something extra about Carens Clavis that it still had to reveal to us.
Less than a week ago, that little something extra was revealed to be the Kia Carens Clavis EV, a full ICE to eelctric vehicle conversion that is now the most afforable 7-seater EV on sale in India with prices ranging betwenn ₹18 lakh and ₹24.5 lakh (ex-showroom), depending on the variant. We got to drive the Kia Clavis EV and here’s are our thoughts about how it performs on the road...
Kia Carens Clavis EV Review – Exterior Highlights - Similar Yet Different
The Kia Carens Clavis EV keeps much of the design from its internal combustion sibling. The Carens Clavis EV features connected daytime running lights and full LED headlights along with active flaps at the front that help with the aerodynamic efficency of the MPV. Also seen at the front are ice-cube fog lamps, a 25-litre frunk and the charging port.
The side profile remains similar to the ICE version though the Carens Clavis EV rides on diamond-cut aero design alloy wheels with a tyre profile of 215/55 R17. The rear section of the Carens Clavis EV sports connected LED tail lights and an EV badge to let the world know just which version of the MPV you're driving. Buyers can choose from six colour options, including a new Ivory Silver Matte finish.
Kia Carens Clavis EV Review – Interior Highlights - Similar With A Few Tweaks
Inside, the Clavis EV boasts a spacious cabin with a panoramic sunroof and a smart air purifier. The interior design is also similar to that of the EV though there are new trims for the dash and doors and a floating centre console setup that frees up more storage space.
Equipment includes two 12.3-inch screens, one for the driver's display and the other for the infotainment. The latter is a touchscreen unit that is quite easy to operate, offers seamless connectivity options including Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and comes connected to a premium Bose surround sound system.
The double D-cut steering heel features controls for the infotainment system and drive modes behind which sit paddle shifters that change the regen mode and the column shifter for Drive, Neutral, Reverse and Park.
The front seats are ventilated with the driver's seat also offering four-way power adjustment. The second row of seats offer one-touch tumble function to allow you access to the third row. There is ample space for passengers with even the third row offering decent room, though it should be best used by either the kids or shorter members of the family if you're going for a longer drive.
Other highlights of the cabin include a wireless charging pad, multiple USB ports for to keep your devices juiced up, ambient lighting wth a footwell lamp and an air purifier system.
Safety features on the Carens Clavis EV include six airbags, ABS with Brake Assist, ESC, Hill Assist, Stability Management, Downhill Brake Control, all-wheel disc brakes, a 360-degree camera and Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) with over 20 features.
Kia Carens Clavis EV Review – Battery Pack, Charging Times & Performance
The Clavis EV comes with two battery options that are connected to a single electric motor. The standard 42 kWh pack delivers an ARAI range of 404km and sees the motor push out 132bhp, while the extended 51.4 kWh pack offers a range of 490km on a single range with the power output of the motor upped to 168bhp. Both options offer 255 Nm of torque.
The vehicle features three drive modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport, and an I-Pedal mode for single-pedal driving. Kia claims that the Carens Clavis EV (51.4kWh) will sprint from 0-100km/h in 8.4 seconds with both versions offering a 10-80% top up of the batteries in just 39 minutes when connected to a 100kW DC fast charger.
Kia Clavis EV Review – Driving Impressions – Smooth Operator
On the go, the Carens Clavis EV accelerates smoothly with the three driving modes offering a noticeable change in performance. Normal mode is the one for those looking for balance, while Sport mode feels a bit more expressive whereas Eco mode is perfect for those looking to get the most of the Carens Clavis EV's range. The I-Pedal mode is quite useful in city driving and works quite nicely.
The suspension setup on Cares Clavis EV is a bit stiffer than that of its ICE counterpart but is still quite nice to live with the electric MPV able to deal with most bumps and ruts with ease. The slightly stiffer ride means that body roll is less noticeable when you take a turn but then the Carens Clavis wasn't made to be a cornering specialist.
Kia Carens Clavis EV Review – Verdict & Final Thoughts – Electrified Excellence For The Family
The Kia Carens Clavis EV is a versatile electric vehicle that combines the spaciousness and comfort of its ICE comfort with the performance and more than useable range of an EV. This combination when properly specced-up means that Kia Carens Clavis EV is one that you definitely should shortlist if you're going down the electric vehicle route for your next family car.
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