KIA CARENS CLAVIS

Kia's adds some muscle to its hugely popular family MPV to broaden its appeal

- ABHAY VERMA

As a three-row MPV, the Carens has turned out to be so good, Kia has sold over two lakh units in about three and half years. Heck, it even won the Indian Car of the Year award for 2023! And now comes the Carens Clavis, a more aggressively styled and more premium version that builds on the MPV’ strengths, while looking more aggressive. The Carens Clavis does not replace the Carens though. But does it make sense for the manufacturer to sell both versions?

Of course, design changes help distinguish the two apart. Like the new, more aggressive headlamp design and the revised grille and front bumper, which are changes that help the Carens Clavis look more SUV than MPV. Kia has also increased wheel sizes and top trims run on 17-inch wheels. Design changes at the rear are subtler, but effective. I like the tail lamps, connected by an LED strip, besides which you also get a spoiler and shark fin antenna as standard, though roof rails are on offer only on mid and top trims. You also get skid plates, and overall, the Carens Clavis looks more robust and more SUV-esque, especially as compared to the Carens.