Kia has made the Carens Clavis automatic considerably more accessible by adding three new automatic variants lower down the range. The 1.5-litre turbo-petrol with a 7-speed DCT now starts at Rs 14.67 lakh in the HTE(O) trim, while the 1.5-litre diesel with a 6-speed automatic starts at Rs 15.82 lakh in HTE(O). Kia has also added an HTE(EX) turbo-petrol DCT at Rs 15.22 lakh. All prices are ex-showroom.
The price change matters most. Until now, buyers wanting the turbo-petrol DCT had to move up to the HTK+ trim, which was priced at roughly Rs 16.6 lakh. The diesel automatic also started with the HTK+ at about Rs 17.35 lakh. The new HTE(O) versions therefore lower the automatic entry point by nearly Rs 2 lakh for the DCT and around Rs 1.5 lakh for the diesel automatic.
There is no mechanical downgrade with the new variants. The turbo-petrol continues with Kia’s 1.5-litre T-GDi engine producing 160 hp and 253 Nm, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. The diesel uses the familiar 1.5-litre CRDi engine producing 116 hp and 250 Nm, with a 6-speed torque-converter automatic.
That means buyers who mainly wanted an automatic gearbox no longer need to buy a higher trim simply to get one. This matters particularly with the turbo-petrol, because the DCT is the conventional automatic choice for the 160 hp engine. The naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol continues to be manual-only.
Kia has also bundled several automatic-specific convenience features into the new variants. These include a smart key with motion sensor, push-button start, selectable drive modes, an electronic parking brake and remote engine start.
The Rs 14.67 lakh HTE(O) DCT is the most significant addition because it puts the quickest Carens Clavis powertrain into a lower trim. HTE(O) already covers most everyday essentials, including an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a reversing camera, steering-mounted controls and electrically adjustable outside mirrors. Kia’s standard safety package includes six airbags, ESC, hill-start assist, tyre-pressure monitoring, rear parking sensors and all-wheel disc brakes.
The HTE(EX) DCT costs about Rs 55,000 more. That extra spend brings equipment such as automatic climate control, LED daytime running lamps and a single-pane electric sunroof, making it the more rounded choice for buyers who want the lower-priced DCT without a very basic equipment list.
Moving down from HTK+ does mean giving up some convenience and cosmetic equipment. The higher trim adds features such as front parking sensors, cruise control, auto-folding mirrors, connected LED tail-lamps, roof rails and a more upmarket cabin treatment. Buyers will have to decide whether those features are worth the roughly Rs 1.4 lakh to Rs 2 lakh jump, depending on powertrain and current pricing.
For many customers, however, the gearbox itself is likely to matter more. A three-row family car spends plenty of time in traffic, and an automatic removes one of the biggest daily compromises of a manual. The new variants allow that without forcing buyers into the upper half of the Carens Clavis range.
The HTE(O) diesel automatic at Rs 15.82 lakh could be especially relevant for buyers covering higher annual mileage. It combines the diesel’s 250 Nm with a torque-converter automatic, while substantially undercutting the previous HTK+ diesel AT entry point.