Some folks might find it surprising that the Hyundai Stargazer has a fraternal twin. It’s called the Kia Carens, and like fraternal twins, it looks significantly different from the Hyundai. The current version has been around since late 2021, and is primarily offered in India, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
Now, the Carens has been given a facelift. It’s now called the Carens Clavis, and it gets big updates inside and out. The new MPV has just been launched in India, and likely to go to select markets later this year.
It’s not often that a facelift brings with it a new name, but Kia does have an explanation behind it. Clavis is, apparently, inspired by the Latin phrase Clavis Aura, meaning golden key.
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For the update, the new Kia Carens Clavis gets a major nose job. It now resembles the EV5 with its multi-dimensional headlights and a smoother bumper. The entire front apron has been totally been redesigned, and even the shape of the hood has been changed.
The rest of the body is unchanged, although the rear end gets an overhaul. Now inspired by the Carnival and Seltos, the new Carens Clavis follows the form of the latest Kia models. Also, the reverse lights have been moved to the bumper from the tail lights.
Inside, the dashboard has been given a thorough makeover. It now adapts a large panel that houses a pair of screens. These screens put together the instrument cluster and the infotainment system. The haptic panel below the air-conditioning vents can be switched audio and climate controls. It’s a feature that’s used widely in Hyundai-Kia products at the moment. Also, the new steering wheel with the offset badge is a neat retro touch.
There are pretty interesting features in the high spec variants. Front ventilated seats are among them, a rarity in the subcompact MPV class. Power seats are also available, along with a massive panoramic sunroof. If that’s not enough, there’s even an onboard air purifier. As for seating arrangements, there are six or seven-seat options.
Of course, advanced driver assists are standard in most variants. There’s adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, avoidance assist, and land keep assist. It also comes with Kia Connect 2.0 that allows users to control certain functions from an application, as well as the ability to track and locate the vehicle.
Three powertrain options are available for the Carens Clavis. It kicks off with a 1.5-liter engine that makes 113hp and 144Nm. For those who need a little more grunt, the 1.5-liter turbo produces 158hp and 253Nm. A diesel is also on hand with a 1.5-liter unit that produces 114hp and 250Nm.
