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Kia Carens Clavis Review: More Premium Game, Tongue Twister Of A Name
It was the final month of 2021 as the world was slowly getting past the ravages of the pandemic. On the 16th of December, 2021, Kia revealed the Clarens, an MPV based on a stretched-out Seltos platform.
Nearly four years and quite a few happy customers later, Kia decided it was time to update the Clarens. However, instead of going down the usual route of replacing one vehicle with its tweaked replacement, Kia has decided to keep the OG MPV and has brought in the facelifted Carens Clavis.
So is the Kia Carens Clavis nothing more than a Carens with a new face and a tongue-twister of a name or are the changes more than just skin deep? We drove the Kia Carens Clavisin Bangalore to find out...
Kia Carens Clavis Review - What's Changed?
The Kia Carens Clavis is being positioned as a more premium offering compared to its predecessor and the changes made to the MPV reflect that more upmarket feel. In terms of its design, the Kia Carens Clavis takes inspiration from Kia's more premium offerings like the flagship EV9 and the latest iteration of the firm's "Opposites Attract" design language.
This can be seen at the front with the triangular housings for the three-pod headlights and the L-shaped DRLs connected to each other by a lightbar running above the blanked-out upper grille. The front and the rear bumpers look more angular now and feature silver faux bash plates.
Also new is the design of the 17-inch diamond-cut, dual-tone alloy wheels along with the roof rails and the slightly thicker lightbar connecting the LED taillights. Colour options for the Carens Clavis include Pewter Olive, Gravity Gray, Sparkling Silver, Aurora Black Pearl, Clear White, Glacier White Pearl, Imperial Blue, and Ivory Silver Gloss.
Step inside the Carens Clavis and the changes are more evident. The dash is dominated by a large 22.62-inch pane of glass behind which sit the 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen display that supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and the 10.25-inch digital driver's display. The air vents for the AC setup are also new as is the flat-bottomed steering wheel.
Other highlights include the ventilated front seats, 4-way powered driver's seat, 8-speaker Bose audio system, and a large panoramic sunroof. The top-spec Carens Clavis also features a 360-degree camera and Kia's connected car tech suite.
The Clavis also gets a Level 2 ADAS setup with features like adaptive cruise control, front collision assist, lane keep assist and more along with safety features like all-wheel disc brakes, six airbags, ESC, Hill Assist, Stability Management, Downhill Brake Control, ABS with Brake Assist.
Kia Carens Clavis Review - The Mechanical Bits
The Carens Clavis carries over all the engine and gearbox options from the Carens but offers a 6-speed manual as the only option to the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine that kicks out 113.4bhp and 143.8Nm of torque.
The 1.5 turbo petrol engine pushes out 158bhp and 253Nm of peak torque and is offered with 6-speed manual and iMT gearboxes as well as a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. The 1.5-litre diesel engine pushes out 114.4bhp and 250Nm of peak torque. The diesel engine is offered with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox options.
Other than the 6-speed manual gearbox, the other big mechanical changes to the Carens Clavis come in the form of bigger wheels and tyres and a softer suspension setup.
Kia Carens Clavis Review - Driving Impressions - A Plusher Carens
On the road, the Carens Clavis is quite a comfortable place to be. We drove the one with the turbo petrol engine and the DCT gearbox and the combinations worked rather well to pull this rather large MPV in and around Bangalore.
The engine offers a strong mid and top end and is fun to push up the rev counter if you feel, the need for speed or find yourself overtaking someone slower on the highway. The DCT gearbox is a smooth shifter but we do feel that the gear changes could have been snappier. There are also three driving modes - Eco, Normal and Sport - which change the steering weight and the throttle response.
Kia has made changes to the suspension setup of the Clavis and it offers a much softer setup compared to Carens. The ride is rather plush and the Carens Clavis rides over bumps and ruts with ease. The plush ride is helped along by the rather brilliant seats with the front two rows offering quite a bit of space to stretch out and get comfortable. The third row of seats offers a surprising amount of space but is best used for short rides if you're on the taller side of the population.
The softer suspension setup also means that you'd rather not chuck the Carens Clavis into a corner as the roll is quite evident, especially in the rear section of the MPV.
Kia Carens Clavis Review - Verdict & Final Thoughts - Carens Goes Upmarket
The Kia Carens Clavis takes the best features of its predecessors and turns the volume level up to 11 while also adding a few tweaks and a boatload of extra features that truly make it an upmarket upgrade to the Carens. So, if you had your heart set on a Carens before, don't hesitate to pull the trigger on the new Carens Clavis (God, that's a tongue-twister, isn't it?).
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