Key highlights
- Refreshed design inside and out, with upmarket styling
- Dual-pane panoramic sunroof now available
- Feature-rich cabin with ADAS Level 2
- Three engine options, including a fuel-efficient diesel
- Maintains practicality, improves plushness
When the Kia Carens first entered the Indian market, it struck a fine balance between being an MPV that didn’t feel like a boring people-mover and an SUV that didn’t pretend to be overly rugged. It was practical, well-priced, and feature-loaded. Now in 2025, the Carens Clavis arrives—more than just a facelift, it’s Kia’s attempt at making the Carens feel more premium, more modern, and more desirable.
A More Distinct Identity
From the outside, the Clavis sets itself apart from the OG Carens. You still get the familiar silhouette, but the face has been thoroughly reworked with smoked-out LED headlamps, DRLs that blend into the bodywork smartly, and a far more conventional—but handsome—design. No over-styled grilles here, just clean surfacing that looks more European than Korean. Interestingly, there are no fog lamps, but with those capable LEDs up front, you won’t miss them much. The front bumper now gets radar-based ADAS sensors and a redesigned bonnet that adds to the visual heft.
The connected LED tail lamps at the rear finally bring the Carens up to speed with its rivals. The tailgate branding is tastefully done, and the gloss black appliqué that wraps around the windscreen helps reduce the visual bulk. It still rides on 17-inch dual-tone alloys, which fill up the wheel wells nicely without compromising ride quality.
No major changes to the underpinnings, but the body shell has been reinforced to support the new dual-pane panoramic sunroof. You also get non-load-bearing roof rails, just in case you thought you could strap a kayak on top (don’t).
Cabin: Business Class for Six or Seven
Step inside, and the changes are immediately noticeable. The dashboard is all-new, with dual connected screens—one for the instrument cluster and the other for infotainment. It’s not as crisp as what you’ll find on the Kia Seltos or EV6, but it’s more than enough for a car in this segment. Toggle through drive modes and even ambient light settings, and you’ll find that the UI is clean, fast, and user-friendly.
A party trick is the dual-function haptic panel that switches between infotainment and climate controls with the press of a button—something we first saw on the Hyundai Verna. Neat, but not the most intuitive when on the move.
The cabin feels genuinely premium. Blue and beige tones are used tastefully, and everything you touch—switches, plastics, fabrics—feels a notch above what you’d expect in a mainstream family car. The front seats are ventilated, the second row (captain seats in this variant) recline and slide generously, and there’s even a cooled cupholder for your drinks in the rear.
The third row? Surprisingly usable. With dedicated AC vents, Type-C ports, and decent under-thigh support, even adults can manage short hauls without complaining. And yes, those seats recline too. Boot space with all rows up is limited, but fold down the third row and you’ll unlock a cavern of usable space.
On the Road: Familiar Powertrains, Better NVH
We drove the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol DCT, which offers 160 PS and 253 Nm of torque. It’s the same engine as before, but in this car, the tuning feels slightly more refined. The 7-speed DCT is slick, and the addition of paddle shifters means you can take control when needed. The only place the Clavis shows its MPV DNA is in NVH. While cruising, it’s calm and quiet, but under hard throttle, the engine note does creep into the cabin—not raucous, but not luxurious either.
Ride comfort is one of its biggest strengths. Kia’s worked on the suspension to accommodate the extra features and weight, but it remains pliant and absorbent. Bad roads, speed breakers, even undulations on flyovers—nothing unsettles the Clavis. Despite its size, it doesn’t feel cumbersome in city traffic or on highway stretches. The steering has decent heft and is predictable—not exactly fun, but perfectly suited for its family-hauler duties.
Safety and Tech
The Clavis finally brings Level 2 ADAS to the Carens range. Features like lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision warning make a noticeable difference on highways. However, as with all ADAS systems in India, real-world use requires constant attention because of our wonderfully unpredictable traffic patterns.
You also get front and rear parking sensors, a crisp 360° camera, blind-view monitor, and all the other expected modern safety kit. Six airbags are standard, and that alone is a big deal in this segment.
Final Thoughts
The Carens Clavis isn’t just a facelift—it’s Kia polishing an already strong product to near-perfection. It doesn’t chase the SUV tag. Instead, it leans into its identity as a spacious, premium family MPV that’s packed with features and backed by proven mechanicals. If you’re looking for a fuss-free highway mile muncher that can handle city duties and weekend getaways with ease, this is it.
The diesel-automatic is still the pick for efficiency, but if you want a more spirited drive, the turbo-petrol DCT does the job with flair. Kia didn’t need to reinvent the Carens—they just needed to elevate it. And with the Clavis, they have.
Also read: Hyundai Verna Turbo Manual – 1000+ KM long term review