Kia launches Carens Clavis HTE (EX) with sunroof, auto AC and 6 airbags at ₹12.55 lakh

Kia India has launched a new HTE (EX) trim for the Carens Clavis (ICE) lineup at ₹12.55 lakh (ex-showroom). The trim is positioned above the HTE (O) variant and is offered only in a 7-seater configuration with a manual transmission.

The HTE (EX) trim is available with all three engine options. It is priced at ₹12.55 lakh for 1.5-litre petrol, ₹13.42 lakh for 1.5-litre turbo-petrol and ₹14.53 lakh for 1.5-litre diesel (all ex-showroom).

With this addition, the Carens Clavis is now available in eight trims: HTE, HTE (O), HTE (EX), HTK+, HTK+ (O), HTX, HTX (O), and HTX+.

Kia said the new variant lowers the entry point for key features in the lineup. The HTE (EX) is the most affordable Carens Clavis trim, offering a single-pane sunroof and fully automatic temperature control. This is the first time a sunroof is available with the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine.

The HTE (EX) trim adds LED daytime running lamps, LED cabin lamps and driver-side auto up/down power window. The cabin retains the beige and black theme seen in the lower variants.

Compared to the HTE (O), the HTE (EX) adds an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 6-speaker sound system, a rear parking camera, powered ORVMs with turn indicators and a semi-digital instrument cluster. It also gets a rear window sunshade and a tilt-adjustable steering wheel with audio controls.

Wheel size varies according to engine. The petrol variant comes with 15-inch black alloy wheels, while the diesel variant gets 16-inch steel wheels with covers. The trim uses auto-projector halogen headlights instead of LED units.

Safety equipment includes six airbags, rear parking sensors, a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), ISOFIX child seat mounts and disc brakes on all four wheels.

The Carens Clavis is offered with three engines. The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol produces 113 bhp and 144 Nm. The 1.5-litre turbo-petrol produces 158 bhp and 253 Nm. The 1.5-litre diesel produces 114 bhp and 250 Nm.

Commenting on the launch, Atul Sood, Senior Vice President – ​​Marketing and Sales, Kia India, said, “The introduction of the HTE (EX) trim for the Carens Clavis (ICE) range is a direct result of listening closely to our customers and understanding what they value most.

Kia pits the Carens Clavis against the likes of Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, Maruti Suzuki XL6 and Toyota Rumion.

Cirros line-up expanded

Kia India expanded the Ciros lineup yesterday, January 15, with the new HTK (EX) trim. The trim is priced at ₹9.89 lakh (ex-showroom) for the petrol variant and ₹10.65 lakh (ex-showroom) for the diesel variant. With this addition, the Sciros is now available in seven trims. Based on the HTK (O), the HTK (EX) gets LED DRLs, LED headlamps, LED taillamps and 16-inch alloy wheels.

It also gets an electric sunroof, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, electrically adjustable and foldable ORVMs and a rear parking camera with sensors. In terms of safety, it includes six airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control and hill start assist. Kia said the trim is now available with both petrol and diesel powertrains.

500,000 connected cars milestone

Kia India crossed the 500,000 connected cars mark on Indian roads earlier this month. The company said connected variants now account for about 40% of its domestic wholesale volumes. These vehicles run on Kia Connect 2.0 with CCNC system. Kia described the milestone as evidence of the growing acceptance of its digital mobility ecosystem. The company said it will continue to expand connected features across its portfolio in India.