Kia Carens Clavis EV variants

autocar.india

•3d

The Mahindra XEV 9S is a genuinely impressive product, but yes, at over Rs 30 lakh, it is a significant outlay, and the question is less about whether the car is worth the money and more about whether it is the right fit for you. The XEV 9S offers strong performance, a well-appointed cabin, and a premium feel, but if you would still like to avoid a Mahindra, opt for the Kia Carens Clavis EV. It does not offer you that SUV stance, but its MPV configuration means a flexible interior and a genuinely usable third row too. It's also well appointed inside with a premium look and feel around the cabin, with all the essential and some nice-to-have features too.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Kia Carens Clavis EV

autocar.india

•1w

Given your annual running of around 10,000km, with 8,000km in the city and only 2,000km on the highway, the Kia Carens Clavis EV makes the most sense. Since you have solar and can set up charging at home, running costs will be very low. Also, Since most of your driving is in the city, the Clavis EV suits your usage well. It also offers a modern, comfortable cabin, a usable third row for adults, and well-established aftersales network of Kia cars should make it a dependable choice for long-term ownership.The drawback of an Electric car is your highway trips will need more planning for charging stops. If you regularly travel to destinations where charging infrastructure is limited, the Toyota Innova Hycross would be the better alternative.

Kia Carens Clavis EV

Toyota Innova HyCross

autocar.india

•2w

Based on your requirements, the Kia Carens Clavis petrol DCT is the most sensible recommendation. Your running of 700-1,000 km a month does not justify a diesel, and the Carens is a comfortable 7-seater that will serve you well over an 8-9 year ownership period. The one downside with this powertrain is that the DCT can feel a bit hesitant, which you will notice on your commute.If you can install a charger at home, the Clavis EV is a superb fit for your needs. It has the same practical cabin as the ICE car, but the electric car will feel a lot better to drive in stop and go traffic. Your budget will only get you the 42kWh battery which should give you a real world range of around 300-320km.If you aren't going to use the third row that often then the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Strong Hybrid is a great choice for your needs. In heavy traffic it will run on EV mode cutting down fuel cost significantly. It is also very easy and smooth to drive in bumper to bumper traffic.On the E20 fuel concern, modern petrol engines are engineered to handle E20 blends, and there is no official roadmap beyond E20 at this stage. The main impact is a slight reduction in fuel economy.

Kia Carens Clavis

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Kia Carens Clavis EV

autocar.india

•7w

It isn't clear from your question whether your 4,000-5,000 km highway usage is per year or per month, and whether you have a home charging provision. If your monthly usage is high, and you have a charging provision, the Clavis EV is a no-brainer. You can expect a real-world range of around 350km (on the highway), and with 60kW DC fast charging along the way, you can easily add 100km of additional range in 30 minutes. However, with a home charging, your running costs will be much lower than public charging.On the other hand, if your 4,000-5,000 km is annual usage, pick the Kia Carens Clavis petrol - the fuel bill difference won’t recover the EV’s higher price premium for a long time, so you’re paying more up front for savings you may not fully use. For long highway runs, the simple truth is petrol gives you certainty - five-minute refuels anywhere and no planning around chargers, especially while travelling with family on board.

Kia Carens Clavis EV

Kia Carens Clavis

autocar.india

•9w

Buy the Toyota Innova HyCross hybrid automatic. It is the only other bigger 3-row with space that will feel like a real step up from your Taigun. For a family of five, it is superb - wide, airy, comfy second row, and the hybrid makes city driving smooth and quiet while keeping running costs low. Toyota service, parts availability, and resale are about the best you can get at this price, and the cabin fit and panel consistency are better than those of the 7XO you sampled.The catch is the price and waiting period. The sweet-spot VX (O) and ZX trims push beyond Rs 30 lakh on road, and waiting periods can be long, so keep that in mind. Also, it will not feel as sharp to drive as your Taigun 1.5 TSI.If that's too far out of budget, two other options you can consider are the Hyundai Alcazar petrol or the Kia Carens Clavis EV. The Hyundai gets you the SUV body style, a punchy petrol-DCT combo, and comfy seating for 5 with the option of two smaller seats in the third row. The Clavis EV, meanwhile, may have a less desirable MPV shape, but it actually has more interior space and an equally well put-together cabin. Both Hyundai and Kia offer an excellent after-sales experience.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Volkswagen Taigun

Hyundai Alcazar

Kia Carens Clavis EV