New Kia Carens Clavis EV Detailed Review – Everything To Know!

The Carens Clavis EV is the first made-in-India electric vehicle for the Korean car marque

The new Kia Carens Clavis EV has been launched in India, as we bring to you our detailed review of the electric car. The Carens Clavis in the ICE guise was launched a couple of months ago. Based on the Kia’s “Opposites United” global design philosophy, the Carens Clavis ensures that it strikes a balance between an MPV and SUV appearance. In essence, it is a bold MPV with an imposing front section. Apart from that, it boasts loads of new-age tech, connectivity, convenience and safety amenities to pamper the users. For now, let us see what it feels like.

Kia Carens Clavis EV Detailed Review

The front fascia might look similar to the ICE iteration, but there are a few key changes. These include things like a connected LED light bar connecting the LED DRLs, a charging port on the front grille, distinct fog lamps on the bumper, along with active air dams for better aerodynamics. Similarly, the side profile contains new aero alloy wheels and a redesigned area in front of the wheels for better aero. Furthermore, a special Ivory Matte colour has been introduced with the Clavis EV too. At the rear, the angle of the spoiler has also been tweaked a little to improve the aerodynamic efficiency. Combining all these facets takes the drag coefficient for the EV down to 0.29 from 0.32 for the ICE avatar. All this contributes to more range. Hence, the other design components are identical to the regular Carens Clavis.

Interior and Features

Again, the overall layout of the electric Carens Clavis is almost similar to its ICE counterpart. Nevertheless, since the gear level has been moved to the steering column, the centre console bears some distinctions. Also, there is a dedicated EV menu in the infotainment display to showcase EV-related parameters like range. The third row access is quite smooth with one-touch tumble for the second row. I felt that two adults with average build could travel for a few hours in the third row. With all three rows up, the EV offers a decent 216-litre boot space. Some of the main attractions include:

• Dual 26.62-inch Screen for Infotainment and Instrument Cluster
• Shift-by-Wire
• Steering Column Mounted Gear Lever
• Paddle Shifters
• 4-Level Regenerative Brake
• Single-Pedal Driving
• Active Air Flaps for Higher Efficiency and Better Aerodynamics
• 25-litre Frunk
• Electric Parking Brake with Auto Hold
• 360-degree Camera with Blind Spot Monitoring
• Bose 8-speaker Audio System
• 64-colour Ambient Lighting
• 1-touch Electric Tumble for Second Row
• Boss Mode
• V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) [Internal and External]
• V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle)
• Smart Infotainment-Temperature Control Swap Switch
• 18 Advanced Safety Features as Standard
• Virtual Engine Sound System
• Ventilated Front Seats
• Powered Driver’s Seat
• Wireless Charging
• Illuminated Footwell Lamps
• Air Purifier with AQI Display
• Dual-Pane Panoramic Sunroof
• My Kia App
• OTA Maps and System Updates
• 5 USB Type-C Ports
• Two-Tone Interiors with Beige and Navy Leatherette Seats
• 90 Connected Car Features
• 6 Airbags
• ESC
• Hill Start Assist Control
• Downhill Brake Control
• ISOFIX Child Seat Anchorages
• All Wheel Disc Brakes
• Rear Occupant Alert

Specs and Price

The new Kia Carens Clavis EV is available with two IP67-certified battery pack options – 51.4 kWh and 42 kWh. Kia says that the ARAI-certified range is 490 km and 404 km on a single charge, respectively. However, the main aspect is the 171 PS and 135 PS of peak power, respectively, while the torque is an identical 255 Nm with both battery packs. Based on the familiar E-GMP architecture, the EV can be charged using a 100 kW DC fast charger. With this configuration, the battery goes from 10% to 80% in just 39 minutes. If you want to get your hands on this EV, the prices start at Rs 17.99 lakh and go up to Rs 24.49 lakh, ex-showroom. Notice that these are not too exorbitant in comparison to the ICE versions.

Driving Impressions

Finally, I drove the EV around in different road conditions. There are 3 drive modes, which ensure that the driver feels comfortable in any driving condition. In Sports Mode, the throttle response gets sharp, and one feels the willingness to accelerate. As expected, the Eco Mode focuses on maximizing range by limiting performance. To compensate for the added weight of the battery in comparison to the ICE model, the suspension has been tuned accordingly. Therefore, I felt the ride to be quite comfortable. I particularly like the way it accelerates and brakes. These manoeuvres inspire confidence. The NVH levels are great, and the cabin feels well insulated. Also, the steering gives decent feedback. Despite being a large SUV, there is limited body roll. All in all, I loved the new Kia Carens Clavis EV for the most part.

Also Read: Kia Carens Clavis EV vs BYD eMax7 Electric MPV Comparison