SILENT TREATMENT

Kia has launched the electric version of their recently introduced MPV, the Carens Clavis. So is this the everyday EV India has been waiting for? We find out

- Rahul Ghosh

The Kia Carens had already established a strong foothold in India, competing with rivals like the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, Toyota Rumion, and even the Toyota Innova Crysta.

Recently, Kia updated the Carens lineup with the introduction of the Carens Clavis. With this shift, the original Carens has now been repositioned for the commercial vehicle segment. Enter the next chapter, the all-electric Kia Carens Clavis EV.

At first glance, the EV version of the Clavis looks nearly identical to its ICE counterpart. However, a closer inspection reveals a few distinct touches. Up front, there's a connected DRL strip running across the bonnet, along with a blocked-out grille that houses the charging flap, clear indicators of the MPV's electric identity. The lower bumper features active air flaps designed for cooling.

The headlamps and fog lamps remain all-LED units. From the side, it's hard to tell the ICE and EV versions apart, though the 17-inch aero alloy wheels and newly added roof rails serve as subtle clues. At the rear, there's a connected LED light bar, a larger third brake light, and a neatly integrated spoiler. The only explicit EV branding is a discreet badge, making the electric transformation more understated than overt. Dimensions reveal that the Clavis EV is 4,550mm in length, 1,800mm in width and 1,730mm in height. Kia tells us that the EV stands taller than the ICE version primarily because of the reworked suspension that has been tweaked to accommodate the additional weight of the battery pack.

The EV also boasts a marginally higher clearance, thanks to the smoothened underbody.