Kia India has officially unveiled the 2025 Carens Clavis, a thoroughly updated, more upscale version of its popular Carens MPV. Unveiled on 8 May 2025 and slated to launch on 23 May, the Clavis is positioned above the standard Carens and is marketed as a premium offering to bridge the gap between traditional MPVs and SUVs. Bookings opened on 9 May (with a refundable ₹25,000 token amount). Official pricing is not yet announced – Kia has indicated prices will follow later (likely in June). In company briefings, Kia emphasized that the Clavis brings "everything...which we had in Seltos but were missing in Carens," with a bolder design and upgraded technology.

Bold New Exterior Design

The Carens Clavis sports a striking new look. It maintains the same K2 platform and overall dimensions as the outgoing Carens but adds sharper, SUV‑inspired styling. The front end features Kia's signature "Digital Tiger Face" grille with a faux-metal skid-plate trim and ice-cube style multi-reflector LED headlamps. A slim daytime-running light bar stretches across the upper nose, while the large lower air dam and reprofiled bumpers give a monolithic, upright stance. At the rear, a new full-width Star Map LED lightbar and vertically-stacked tail‑lamp elements (inspired by models like the Carnival and Seltos) wrap around to the sides. Robust skid plates in satin chrome reinforce the adventurous look. Top‑spec Clavis models ride on new 17-inch dual‑tone alloy wheels (43.66 cm diameter), while lower trims use 16‑inch wheels. Overall, reviewers note the Clavis now carries a bolder, more SUV‑like presence compared to the boxier Carens (with some calling it a "boxier twin" of the Hyundai Stargazer).

• Front: Digital Tiger Face grille; new triangular LED headlamps and DRLs
• Wheels: 17″ dual‑tone alloy wheels (top trims); 16″ steel rims on base models
• Rear: Full-width LED lightbar with integrated "Star Map" tail lamps
• Body: Satin-chrome front/rear skid plates; updated bumpers with faux-metal trim

Premium Interior and Features

Inside, the Clavis emphasizes comfort and tech. It remains a 7‑seater MPV with roomy three‑row seating. Kia has fitted the dashboard with a massive 26.62-inch dual panoramic display spanning nearly the full width (combining a digital instrument cluster and central touchscreen). A novel haptic panel lets occupants swap between climate and audio controls without moving hands off the wheel. The cabin is upholstered in a two‑tone Triton Navy & Beige scheme with contrast stitching. Top features include:

• Dual 26.62″ Panoramic Display: Large continuous screen for instruments and infotainment.
• Panoramic Sunroof: Dual-pane glass roof (sky‑light) on higher variants.
• Audio: BOSE premium sound system with 8 speakers for immersive audio.
• Seats: 4‑way powered driver's seat and front ventilated seats (for extra comfort). Second-row captain seats (6‑seater option) are available in top trims.
• Climate Control: Automatic A/C with second and third-row vents; "swap" switch panel for toggling between infotainment and AC controls.
• Others: Qi wireless charging (on higher trims), smart air-purifier with AQI display, ambient lighting, leatherette upholstery, auto headlamps/wipers, and a rear blower among other comfort niceties.

Autocar India and Overdrive reviews highlight the spacious feel and practical layout. They praised the generous legroom in all three rows and the cabin storage, noting the dual-screen display is a standout upgrade. One reviewer quipped that the Clavis's practical space is "difficult to find in this footprint and price range".

Engines, Transmissions and Efficiency

Powertrain options carry over from the regular Carens. The Clavis offers three 1.5‑litre engines: a 115 hp naturally-aspirated petrol (144 Nm), a 160 hp turbocharged petrol (253 Nm), and a 116 hp diesel (250 Nm). These are paired with multiple transmissions. A 6‑speed manual is available on all three engines, while the diesel also offers a 6‑speed torque-converter AT. The turbo petrol can be had with Kia's 6‑speed iMT (clutchless manual) or a 7‑speed dual‑clutch auto (DCT). (Notably, the Clavis adds a 6‑speed manual for the turbo petrol — a combination not offered on the old Carens.) The Clavis retains its 7-seater MPV platform (Kia's K2 architecture).

Kia has released official ARAI fuel‑efficiency figures for the Clavis range. The diesel-manual variant tops the list at 19.54 kmpl (6MT), followed by diesel-AT at 17.50 kmpl. The 1.5 turbo petrol delivers 16.66 kmpl (with 7‑speed DCT) and 15.95 kmpl (with either 6MT or iMT). The base petrol (115 hp) returns 15.34 kmpl. These figures show the Clavis's efficiency is modest compared to lighter hatchbacks, but competitive in the 7‑seat MPV class. (For reference, rivals like the Maruti XL6/Astra and Toyota Rumion offer 20–26 kmpl in CNG/efficiency‑tuned form.)

Safety and ADAS

Kia has loaded the Clavis with safety tech. It comes standard with 6 airbags, ABS with EBD and brake-assist, electronic stability control (ESC), hill-start and downhill assist, rear occupant alert, and other features – a total of 18 conventional safety features as standard. Crucially, the Clavis adds a Level-2 ADAS suite (on the top HTX+ trim) with ~20 functions (such as autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot warning, etc.). A 360° surround‑view camera is also available (reviewers noted it greatly aids city driving). Kia Connect 2.0 (with remote-control smartphone app and eCall) is supported, and the vehicle has received ARAI certification for its full safety feature list.

Trim Levels and Pricing

For India, Kia will offer seven trim levels: HTE, HTE(O), HTK, HTK+, HTK+(O), HTX and HTX+. (Not all trims are shown before launch, but the range covers base to fully‑loaded.) According to Kia, the Clavis is aimed at the premium end of the MPV market – in effect, Carens will continue on sale as a lower‑trim model, while Clavis will occupy the new top end.

Official pricing has yet to be announced. Kia India has only said that final prices will be released closer to launch. (Industry reports expect it to be positioned roughly in the ₹12–20 lakh range, but these are not official.) Bookings are open from 9 May with a small deposit. Any confirmed ex-showroom prices will be published after the 23 May launch.

First-Drive Impressions

In media drives, the Carens Clavis drew largely positive feedback. Reviewers found the ride comfortable for a family MPV. The Clavis's tall seating position and large windows give excellent visibility; Kia has also added a 360° camera which was praised for easy manoeuvring. Test drivers noted that Kia engineers improved the cabin NVH: wind and tyre noise are well controlled at speed, making for a quieter cabin than the outgoing Carens.

Under the hood, the turbo‑petrol's 160 hp felt smooth and linear. It builds speed steadily (with peak torque from ~1,500 rpm) but does not have an aggressively sporty punch – gear shifts are crisp but there's no "Sport" mode on the DCT, so low-speed response is measured. The diesel's 116 hp engine surprised testers with strong low-end pull: it accelerates from idle confidently and cruises effortlessly at highway speed, though it's slower to rev-up for quick overtakes. Overall, reviewers agreed the Clavis drives like a well-sorted family SUV rather than a sluggish MPV, thanks to retuned steering and suspension. The ride on 17″ wheels is firm but not harsh, absorbing bumps reasonably well. In sharp corners the Clavis exhibits mild body lean but remains predictable and stable, assisted by the extra steering lock onboard.

Kia's editorials summarized the driving impressions: the petrol Clavis is "a great family car for every situation," offering ease and refinement, while the diesel does "what's needed" for long-distance touring. The overwhelming theme is that the Clavis's practicality and space are its strongest assets: multiple media notes that in its segment (7-seater, ~₹15–20L), few rivals match its combination of cabin room, features and comfort. The additional ADAS and premium touches (dual displays, sunroof, Bose audio, etc.) simply make it a more upmarket, "complete" package compared to the old Carens.

India and Beyond

Kia Carens (third generation) is sold in markets like India, Indonesia and Vietnam, where it is known as a roomier MPV version of the Hyundai Stargazer. The "Clavis" moniker appears to be unique to this upgraded model. In a teaser, Kia India explained that "Clavis" (Latin for "golden key") underlines the car's premium positioning. The refreshed Clavis is expected to reach overseas markets later in 2025 as well – for example, reports note that the update will likely be applied to Carens models sold outside India. While India's Clavis is marketed with seven seats and an optional 6‑seat captain‑chair layout, Kia may offer similar trim levels globally. Early reports from launch-region media (e.g. the Philippines) highlight many of the same new features: twin-screen instrument panel, ventilated and power seats, adaptive cruise control and other ADAS, panoramic sunroof, etc. Any market-specific differences (such as exterior color choices or minor spec tweaks) will become clear after launch announcements in each country.

Kia India has also hinted at future variants: company executives confirmed that a CNG version of Carens Clavis is in the works, and even spoke of an upcoming electric version of the Clavis. (At launch, only petrol and diesel versions are confirmed.) Given that Kia has been steadily electrifying its lineup, it's plausible an EV-C car based on the Clavis could appear in the next year or two. For now, the 2025 Clavis is focused on offering a premium petrol/diesel family experience.