Kia India has strengthened its electric vehicle lineup with the launch of the Kia Carens Clavis EV, currently the only 7-seater electric MPV in the brand’s Indian portfolio. After the massive success of the petrol and diesel Carens, Kia introduced its electric version to cater to families looking for space, comfort, and lower running costs in an EV.
While the claimed range looks impressive on paper, real-world range is what truly matters for buyers. Before booking the Kia Carens Clavis EV, it is important to understand how it performs in actual driving conditions.
Kia Carens Clavis EV: Battery Options & Pricing
The Kia Carens Clavis EV is offered with two battery pack options, both using Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion cell chemistry, known for better energy density and performance.
Battery Options:
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42 kWh battery pack
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51.4 kWh battery pack
Ex-Showroom Price (India):
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42 kWh variants: ₹17.99 lakh to ₹20.49 lakh
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51.4 kWh variants: ₹21.99 lakh to ₹24.49 lakh
The higher 51.4 kWh battery version is positioned as the long-range option, making it the preferred choice for highway users and long-distance family travel.
Claimed ARAI Range vs Reality
According to Kia, the 51.4 kWh battery pack offers an ARAI-certified range of 490 km on a single charge. However, ARAI figures are generated under controlled test conditions and often differ from real-world usage.
To understand the true performance, Autocar India conducted a real-world range test, focusing on both city and highway driving scenarios.
Kia Carens Clavis EV Real Range Test Results
Before the test, the Carens Clavis EV was fully charged to 100%. The test was conducted in separate city and highway conditions to reflect everyday usage.
City Driving Range
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Real range achieved: 383 km
In city conditions, frequent braking and regenerative energy recovery helped the EV perform better. Stop-and-go traffic actually worked in favor of the battery efficiency.
Highway Driving Range
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Real range achieved: 345 km
On highways, constant high speeds and less regenerative braking resulted in slightly lower efficiency compared to city driving.
Average Real-World Range
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Combined average range: 364 km
This means the real-world range is around 126 km lower than the claimed ARAI range of 490 km.
Is the Real Range Good or Disappointing?
While the difference between claimed and real range may look significant on paper, the average real-world range of around 360+ km is still respectable for a large 7-seater electric MPV.
Key points to note:
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City range is strong for daily use and office commuting
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Highway range is sufficient for medium-distance family trips
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Real range remains consistently above 345 km in both conditions
For most users, this means 1–2 weeks of city driving on a single charge, depending on usage.
Things to Consider Before Booking Kia Carens Clavis EV
Before finalizing your booking, here are some important points to keep in mind:
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Do not rely only on the 490 km ARAI figure
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Expect real-world range between 350–380 km
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Highway trips will require charging planning
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Ideal for families looking for space + EV savings
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Best suited for city users with occasional highway travel
Final Verdict
The Kia Carens Clavis EV stands out as a practical, spacious, and family-friendly electric MPV. While its real-world range is lower than the claimed figure, the actual performance remains strong and usable in daily life.
If you are planning to buy a 7-seater EV with decent real-world range, modern features, and Kia’s reliability, the Carens Clavis EV is definitely worth considering — as long as you understand its real-world range limitations before booking.
Rohit Sharma
AuthorLast updated 8 hours ago
