Kia Carens Now Offered in Single Trim in India Ahead of Clavis Launch

Kia has rejigged the Carens lineup in India ahead of the upcoming Clavis launch. The MPV is now available in just one variant, the Premium (O), while all other trims, including the Prestige, Luxury Plus, and X-Line, are no longer on sale. With this update, the Carens is now starts at Rs 11.41 lakh (ex-showroom). Although Kia hasn’t officially commented on the reason behind this update, it’s likely part of a strategy to make room for the Clavis, set to debut on May 23 as a more premium alternative. Let’s see what changes this shift in the lineup brings for the Carens in the Indian market.

Kia Carens: Now Offered in One Variant with Manual Transmission

The latest update to the Carens lineup has also impacted its powertrain offerings. The sole remaining Premium (O) variant is available with three engine options: a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine (113bhp, 144Nm), a 1.5-litre diesel engine (114bhp, 250Nm), and a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol unit (159bhp, 253Nm). However, none of these come with an automatic transmission. 

Also Read: Kia Carens Clavis HTE, HTK, HTX and More Variants Explained: What's Different?

The petrol and diesel engines are paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox, while the turbo-petrol gets a 6-speed iMT (intelligent manual transmission). This means that previously available automatic options, including the 7-speed DCT and 6-speed torque converter, have been dropped from the lineup.

Kia Carens: Features

The now-standard Kia Carens Premium (O) trim features LED indicator-integrated power-adjustable mirrors and keyless entry with an anti-theft system. It also includes an infotainment system, an 8.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 6-speaker setup, voice control, and steering wheel audio controls, along with five USB-C ports.

Also Read: Kia Carens Clavis vs Standard Model: Key Differences Explained

However, several features that were previously offered in higher trims are no longer available in this model. These include ambient lighting, ventilated front seats, automatic climate control, alloy wheels, leatherette upholstery, a sunroof, push-button start/stop, cruise control, and the 6-seat layout option. Additionally, advanced safety tech includes Level-2 ADAS.