- Kia has shared a teaser of the new Clavis minivan designed for the Indian market.
- The Clavis is an updated version of the Kia Carens featuring EV-inspired styling.
- The new model will reportedly be offered with both gasoline and diesel powertrains.
Kia’s expanding global portfolio will soon welcome the Clavis in India on May 8, with the model making its debut in an official teaser. Despite the new name, the Clavis is essentially an updated version of the Carens, a budget-friendly, three-row minivan with crossover styling cues.
The official teaser gives us a glimpse of the Clavis’ LED lighting signature, which looks suspiciously similar to the Kia EV5, the fully electric crossover. The front end features a slim grille, along with a rugged skid plate and integrated intakes on the bumper, just enough to make you think it could tackle some uneven pavement at a mall parking lot.
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From the side profile, it’s clear the Clavis is closely related to the Carens, as the greenhouse and roof are pretty much identical. However, the rear end has undergone some changes. The taillights now run the full width of the back and are slimmer, while the bumper gets a redesign that’s more in line with Kia’s modern EVs .
As reported by Autocar India, the interior will largely carry over from the Carens, with only minor trim updates. Expect features like ventilated seats, a double sunroof, ambient lighting, dual 10.25-inch displays, and wireless charging. The Kia Clavis will also come with an ADAS suite, hinted at by the “collision warning” signal on the digital instrument cluster.
Kia hasn’t shared any technical specifications, but the Clavis will likely mirror the powertrain lineup of the Carens. The latter is available with non-electrified gasoline and diesel 1.5-liter engines, offering the option between manual and automatic transmissions. All variants of the Kia Carens drive the front wheels, so don’t expect any AWD capabilities from the Clavis.
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One year ago, Kia confirmed they were working on a fully electric model based on the Carens. The EV is expected to launch in India in the second half of 2025, and could be exported to other markets. Reading between the lines, this model could be a zero-emission variant of the Kia Clavis, justifying its sci-fi looks.
Interestingly, the original Kia Carens, launched in India three years ago, will remain on sale alongside the new model, offering a more budget-friendly alternative for those who don’t need the latest bells and whistles.
