Autocar India
MB

MB

•8h

I am considering the Kia Clavis petrol for my family of six. I am a relaxed driver with mostly city usage and occasional long road trips. I am conscious about my budget but willing to stretch if it is the right choice for the next 7 years. I am confused about which transmission to choose — naturally aspirated petrol, turbo petrol manual, or turbo petrol DCT. I have heard about DCT issues in slow-speed traffic and uphill driving. Given this, would going with the naturally aspirated petrol be sufficient, or should I consider the turbo petrol manual instead? Currently, I drive a Honda City i-VTEC manual, and during uphill driving with a full load, it feels underpowered and requires frequent downshifts. Could you please advise on the best option for my usage?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•20m

You have already experienced how a naturally aspirated engine feels under load in your Honda City, especially on inclines. In a larger and heavier car like the Kia Carens Clavis, that limitation will be even more noticeable. With six people on board and occasional hill drives, the naturally aspirated petrol will feel strained and require frequent downshifts, which takes away from the relaxed driving experience you are looking for.

The turbo petrol solves this. It offers stronger low and mid-range performance, making city driving easier and highway or hill driving far more effortless, even with a full load. It reduces the need for constant gear changes and feels more relaxed in real-world conditions. The DCT does offer convenience, but your concern is valid. In slow traffic and uphill situations, it can feel less smooth and slightly hesitant, which does not suit your usage.

That said, since you are based in Gurugram, where traffic can get quite heavy, you should be prepared for the manual to feel tiring in daily stop-and-go conditions. If convenience becomes a bigger priority, the DCT is still usable, but it comes with the trade-off of low-speed smoothness.

Kia Carens Clavis

Kia Carens Clavis

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Kia Carens Clavis

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VI

VIJAY

•2d

Hi Autocar, I am planning to buy a car that offers good comfort and strong road presence with an on-road budget of ₹14 lakh. I have shortlisted the following options: Skoda Kushaq base variant, Kia Seltos base variant, Kia Carens Clavis base variant, Mahindra XUV 3XO base variant, and Citroen Aircross 7-seater. We travel long distances once a month, and I already own a 2017 Swift ZDi diesel variant. Kindly suggest which car I should choose from the above options and also recommend the most suitable variant. Since I have provided multiple options to the Autocar team, I would really appreciate your advice as a car enthusiast.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•20h

For one long highway trip a month, a ₹14 lakh on-road cap, and a step up in comfort from your Swift diesel, the Kia Seltos HTE 1.5 petrol manual suits you best. As far as base variants go, the Seltos is very well equipped, with features like cruise control, keyless entry, and an HD infotainment screen with wireless phone connectivity. The new generation also rides better than the last one, has a roomier cabin, and better road presence. Compared with your Swift, it will feel far more spacious and calmer at speed, and the big boot makes luggage easy.The Skoda Kushaq and Mahindra XUV 3XO base variants are good choices, but will feel a bit smaller on the inside. If you need 7 seats, the Kia Carens Clavis offers a similar experience to the Seltos, but its base trim is not as well equipped. The Citroen Aircross 7-seater offers superb ride comfort, but the service reach is still limited in many cities.Overall, for your use, the Seltos base lines up best.

VehicleSkoda Kushaq
VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleMahindra XUV 3XO
VehicleKia Carens Clavis
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Swift
RB

Rahul Bansode

•2d

I am currently using a 2014 Maruti Wagon R CNG, which has completed 1,05,000 km in Maharashtra. The car is still in very good condition, and about 4 years are still left before it completes 15 years. I would now like to buy an automatic car. My family consists of 6 members (including 2 children). I use the car mainly for outstation travel once every 1–2 months, with around 80% highway usage and 20% city driving. My key requirements are good power, safety, and spaciousness. I am not interested in features like a sunroof or ADAS. My budget is ₹15 lakh and can be stretched up to ₹22 lakh.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•23h

Highway trips with the whole family of six and an automatic in the Rs 15-22 lakh range point us to the Kia Carens Clavis, specifically the 1.5 turbo-petrol DCT. Pick the HTK+ that comes without a sunroof. It fits your use because it has true three-row space, the third row is easier to get into than most taller cars, and even your older parents will find the ride comfortable on long runs. Coming from a Maruti Suzuki Wagon R CNG, you will feel a big jump in power and highway ease; the turbo-petrol has strong pull for quick overtakes, even with all six on board. Safety basics are well covered with six airbags and stability control across the range, and it feels steady at 100 kph, which matters for your 80 percent highway use.A couple of things to note. With all three rows up, the boot is small, so you may need to use soft bags or fold one seat for luggage on longer trips. Also, the DCT can feel a bit jerky in very slow, stop-and-go traffic, though your driving is mostly highway, so it should not bother you. If you often travel fully loaded and want an even calmer drive with better fuel efficiency on long trips, the Kia Carens Clavis diesel with the smoother 6-speed torque-converter automatic is also worth a look.If you want an even tougher-feeling highway cruiser, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic is larger and feels very solid, but it will cost more and is harder to park. Overall, for your use and feature preference, the Carens Clavis automatically lines up best.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Wagon R
VehicleKia Carens Clavis
VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
SC

Scientist

•3d

I am planning to buy an SUV for myself and my family. My daily driving will be around 80 km, and I plan to do occasional off-roading once a month. My average monthly driving is about 2,000 km. I am looking for a powerful, safe, and secure vehicle with 7 seats that is also economical. I am open to electric, hybrid, petrol, and diesel options, but not CNG. Since I have high running, I am also looking for low running costs. Please suggest, as I plan to make the purchase within the next 2 months.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1d

Go for a diesel 7-seater SUV or MPV, and shortlist the Kia Carens Clavis or Toyota Innova HyCross depending on your budget. These are the most practical and economical choices for your usage.The Kia Carens Clavis diesel is the most practical starting point. It is comfortable, easy to drive daily and efficient for long distances. The diesel engine is well suited for your high running, and this Kia car is stable enough on highways while remaining manageable in the city. It is also one of the most sensible family 7-seaters available today.If you can stretch your budget, the Toyota Innova Hycross hybrid is the best overall choice. It offers excellent comfort, much better space across all three rows and very low running cost for a large vehicle thanks to its hybrid system, which delivers high efficiency for city and highway use. It is also among the most reliable long-term ownership options.Now, since you mentioned occasional off-roading, you need to be realistic. Cars like the Carens Clavis and Hycross are not meant for serious off-roading. If your off-road use is mild, like rough roads or trails, they will manage. If you want proper off-road capability, then something like the Mahindra Scorpio N diesel is the better fit. It is rugged, has strong torque and proper SUV capability, while still being usable daily.The trade-off is clear. The Scorpio N is tougher and more capable off-road, but less comfortable and less efficient than the Carens or Hycross.

VehicleKia Carens Clavis
VehicleMahindra Scorpio N
VehicleToyota Innova HyCross

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Posted on: 28 Apr 2026