Kia Carens Clavis Diesel HTX MT Review [Video]

The Korean auto giant has launched a more premium iteration of the already popular Carens to attract more buyers

In this post, let us glance at the specifics of the top diesel variant of the new Kia Carens Clavis. Note that the diesel Carens Clavis is available in the HTX top variant, while the petrol avatar gets an even more feature-loaded HTX Plus top variant. It is unclear why Kia is not offering that model with the diesel. Perhaps, it wants to keep the costs in check. Also, it is possible that it would like to monitor the demand first. If enough people want it, we might have it in the lineup in the coming weeks. Until then, let us review the existing top diesel version of the new Kia Carens Clavis.

Kia Carens Clavis Diesel HTX MT Review

We recently got the opportunity to experience the car as part of the media drive. In fact, we reviewed it in petrol, as well as diesel avatars. In this video, we take you through the walkaround tour and a drive review of the top HTX manual version with a diesel mill. Since it is the second-from-top variant, it misses out on the absolute top convenience amenities. These include things like a panoramic sunroof (it gets a regular single-pane sunroof), Level 2 ADAS, ventilated front seats, and Boss Mode to operate the front passenger seat from the second row. Apart from these functionalities, it boasts all the other features of the top petrol model.

Drive Impressions and Mileage

Thereafter, I took the new Kia Carens Clavis out for a road drive. The first thing to notice is the sheer refinement. Due to extremely low NVH levels, it is hard to believe that you are driving a diesel car. In addition, there is enough power and grunt to drive it enthusiastically. However, the power delivery is linear, which is great for the comfort of the passengers. The 6-speed manual transmission is smooth. In fact, the engine is tuned for a sedated and relaxed driving experience. The suspension takes care of all the undulations on the road. During our mixed usage on highway and city (along with start-stop conditions), we were able to squeeze out a decent mileage of 16 km/l. You can expect around the same fuel economy in everyday use.

In terms of the specifications, the new Kia Carens Clavis comes with three powertrain options – a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine which generates a familiar 115 PS and 144 Nm, a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol mill which churns out an impressive 160 PS and 253 Nm or a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine which produces a healthy 116 PS and 250 Nm of peak power and torque, respectively. These mills can be paired with manual, DCT or torque converter automatic transmissions, depending on the variant.

Also Read: 5 Features I Missed in the New Kia Carens Clavis