The latest Kia Carens Clavis is under consideration for SA, though this crossover-styled 3-row MPV will likely drop the “Clavis” suffix should it make it to local roads…
This is the Kia Carens Clavis, which is effectively a facelifted version of the KY-series Carens. Freshly revealed in India, the crossover-styled 3-row MPV is seemingly in the pipeline for South Africa, too.
Kia South Africa has confirmed to Cars.co.za the newly unveiled Carens Clavis is under consideration for a local introduction, though points out it is “still investigating” timing (having previously suggested a local launch would take place at some point in 2025) and indeed negotiating price.
Furthermore, the South Korean firm’s local division says the Anantapur-built model will be called “Carens” – that is, without the “Clavis” suffix that has just been added to the refreshed model in the Indian market – should it receive the green light for South Africa.
As a reminder, back in August 2023, Kia SA quietly registered 2 units of the 4th-generation Carens in Mzansi, soon thereafter confirming to Cars.co.za these were brought in “for homologation, study and consideration”.
However, at the time, the company added that that version of the Carens – a nameplate that was briefly offered in South Africa in 2nd-generation form, before exiting the local market around 2009 – would “not be introduced” here. But this updated model is clearly on the cards.
Revealed at the end of 2021, the 4th-gen Carens is built on a stretched version of the Seltos platform. Measuring 4 540 mm from snout to rump (making it slightly longer than the current Sportage), the 3-row family vehicle boasts a generous 2 780 mm wheelbase. Unlike its decidedly MPV-shaped predecessors, the KY-series Carens features a distinctly crossover-inspired exterior design.
In India, the Carens is offered in both 6- and 7-seater guise, pitched as a rival to the likes of the Suzuki Ertiga, Suzuki XL6 and Hyundai Alcazar. But this latest Carens Clavis is seemingly positioned slightly above the pre-facelift version, with the latter interestingly set to soldier on in that market.
Compared with the pre-facelift version, the refreshed model gains Kia’s latest design language as well as some extra features. In the world’s most populous nation, the front-wheel-drive Carens Clavis is available with a choice of 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder engines: an 84 kW/144 Nm naturally aspirated petrol engine, an 85 kW/250 Nm turbodiesel mill and a 117 kW/252 Nm turbocharged petrol motor.
The free-breathing petrol unit is combined with a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard, while the turbopetrol engine and turbodiesel motor can be optionally equipped with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and a 6-speed automatic gearbox, respectively.
Of course, with the latest Carens technically not yet approved for South Africa, potential powertrain details for the local market remain unconfirmed (though all 3 engines mentioned above are available in SA in the related Seltos). Check back in the coming months to find out whether this MPV cracks the nod for Mzansi…
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