Kia Carens Clavis EV Long Term Report: Month 2 - Practical by Design

December turned out to be a relatively quiet month for the Carens Clavis EV in terms of kilometres covered. Overall usage was lower than my usual monthly average, with most driving limited to office commutes.

Even so, the car highlighted one of its most thoughtful strengths. What stood out was how intelligently the rear seats are designed when folded forward. They create a flat, usable floor that easily accommodated the large crash test dummy used for our ADAS testing - something that couldn’t be managed as neatly in an Innova Hycross. The generous storage spaces and flexible cabin layout proved invaluable during the shoot, and readers should check out the full ADAS comparison in this issue.

Cold ambient temperatures had a noticeable impact on battery performance. Charging speeds slowed, and real-world range dropped alarmingly. The rear doors also continue to require extra effort to shut properly — a small but persistent annoyance.

Overall, it was a calm month that reaffirmed an earlier conclusion – the Carens Clavis EV needs only a few updates to be the perfect family MPV.