KIA CARENS CLAVIS EV

THE SMOOTHEST MPV UNDER 30 LAKH!

- ROHIT PARADKAR

Kia has been throwing darts at nearly every viable segment in India's automotive market - and most of them have hit the bullseye.

With the new Carens Clavis EV, it's taking a sharper aim at family buyers who want the practicality of an MPV but without the looming spectre of diesel bans or fuel price inflation. Question is: can a compact electric MPV really pull double duty as a highway cruiser and a sensible urban family hauler?

EV underpinnings

If you've been following the Koreans' EV roadmap, the hardware here won't surprise you. The Clavis EV borrows heavily from the Hyundai Creta EV. It has the same motor and battery pack options - 42kWh and 51.4kWh - but with a few tweaks to the battery management system (BMS) to suit the different weight and use case. It also means it's a healthy blend of performance and efficiency. It's still front-wheel driven, still quiet, and still offers that EV-typical torque off the line. But what stands out more is how the Clavis EV behaves on the move.