Kia Carens Clavis

Kia has introduced the Carens Clavis in India. Like all other Kias, this car is no different in terms of features and new age technology. The Clavis is a technology packed wonder in all aspects. The price of the car is not yet announced but the pre booking is allowed in the website.

Exterior

The Clavis comes with a bold and refreshed exterior design, positioning it as a more premium and SUV-inspired version of the popular Carens MPV. It aims to turns heads with a futuristic stance while retaining its family friendly practicality.

The Clavis greets onlookers with Kia's signature 'Digital Tiger Face,' which has been updated for a more assertive look. A key highlight is the redesigned front end featuring striking triangular, three-pod LED headlamps, in some variants referred to as 'Ice Cube MFR LED Headlamps.' These are complimented by distinctive angular or inverted L-shaped LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) dubbed 'Star Map LED DRLs,' that lend aggressive edge. The grille takes inspiration from Kia's newer electric models like the EV5 and Syros, appearing largely blanked-off. A redesigned front bumper incorporates a contrasting black section and a robust faux silver skid plate, enhancing its rugged appeal.

While maintaining a silhouette similar to the existing Carens, the Clavis boasts several upgrades. Prominent black body claddings along the wheel arches and side sills emphasizes its SUV-like character. It rides on newly designed larger  wheels, available in 16-inch or 17-inch sizes, often featuring a crystal-cut dual-tone finish. Body coloured outside rear view mirrors with integrated turn signals, sleek black roof rails (integrated on certain trims), and conventional pull type door handles complete the side view. Subtle silver inserts add a touch of premiumness. Dimensionally, the Carens Clavis is slightly longer than the standard Carens by approximately 10mm, with the overall length of  4550 mm, width of 1800 mm, height of 1708 mm, and a wheelbase of 2780 mm.

The rear of Carens Clavis has undergone a significant transformation. It now features eye-catching connected LED taillights, referred to as 'Star Map LED Connected Tail Lamps,' which are linked by an illuminated light bar spanning the width of the tailgate. A redesigned rear bumper, also featuring a chunky silver skid plate, mirrors the ruggedness of the front. A 'Clavis' badge, a roof-mounted spoiler and a shark-fin antenna round off the modern rear aesthetics.

Interior

Step inside the new Kia Carens Clavis, and you are greeted by a significantly revamped and more premium interior compared to the standard Carens. Kia has focused on enhancing the ambiance, technology, and comfort levels, aligning with the Clavis's upmarket positioning.

The most striking change in the all-new layered dashboard design. It prominently features a dual-screen setup on higher variants, compromising  a large 12.3-inch floating touch screen infotainment  system  and an equally sized 12.3-inch fully digital driver's side display, reminiscent of the  setup in the Kia Syros. Lower trims are expected to feature an 8-inch touchscreen, often with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

A new two-spoke multi-function steering wheel, also borrowed from the Syros, adds a contemporary touch. Below the central screen, a sleek touch-enabled panel with physical knobs allows for intuitive control over both the climate control and media systems, featuring an "infotainment/temperature swap switch" for dual functionality. The center console has also been redesigned with contrasting silver accents and houses the gear selector, wireless phone charger, and cup holders.

The Carens Clavis retains its versatile three-row seating configuration, available in both 6-seater (with captain's chairs in the second row, typically on the top-spec HTX+ variant) and 7-seater (with bench seats) layouts. Kia has introduced new upholstery options to elevate the cabin feel. These include dual-tone themes like black and beige for entry to mid-level variants, and a sophisticated navy blue and beige combination for higher trims. Some variants feature an indigo-coloured dashboard with black metal trim, paired with the beige and navy leatherette seats, while others offer premium fabric with semi-leatherette seats in black. A vertical line design on the seats further enhances the premium look.

Passenger comfort is a key focus in the Clavis. A major highlight is the introduction of the panoramic sunroof, with higher turbo-petrol trims receiving a dual-pane version, while other variants get a single-pane electric sunroof. Front occupants benefit from ventilated seats and a 4-way powered driver's seat (though height adjustment often remains manual).

The cabin experience is further enriched by 64-colour ambient lighting, a wireless phone charger, and thoughtful additions like retractable seat back tables with integrated cup and IT device holders. Rear door sunshades are standard fitment from the base variant, and the second row seats feature a convenient one-touch electric tumble function for easy access to the third row. Practicality is maintained with roof-flushed second and third-row diffused AC vents, multiple USB Type-C charging ports, a smart key with push button start and remote engine start, auto dimming IRVM with Kia Connect controls, telescopic steering adjustment, cooled cup holders and even a cooled can holder for the second-row passengers.

Beyond infotainment, the Clavis's interior is packed with technology. Higher variants boast an 8-speaker Bose premium sound system and Kia Connect for connected car features with Over-The-Air (OTA) updates.

For safety and driver assistance, a Level 2 ADAS (Advance Driver Assistance Systems) suite is available on the top-spec DCT variant. Other notable interior safety and convenience features include a 360-degree camera system, Blind View Monitoring System in the instrument cluster, a factory installed dual-camera dashcam (on HTX and HTX+ variants), a Smart Pure Air Purifier with an AQI display, an electronic parking brake with auto-hold, and front and rear parking sensors. As standard, the Clavis comes with six airbags.

While offering a more luxurious environment, the Carens Clavis doesn't compromise on the practicality that the Carens is known for. It continues to offer a spacious three-row layout with good headroom and legroom, particularly in the first and second rows. The third row remains usable, especially for short journeys. With all three rows in place, the boot space is a practical 216 liters.

Overall, the interior of Kia Carens Clavis represents a significant step up, with a clear emphasis on a more premium design, enhanced material quality, a wealth of new technology, and improved comfort and convenience features, making it a more sophisticated and inviting space for families.

The Kia Carens Clavis  will be offered with three distinct engine choices:

• 1.5-liter Naturally Aspirated Petrol Engine: This unit is tuned to produce approximately 115PS of power and 144Nm of torque is  available  with a manual transmission and potentially an automatic option, focusing on smooth city drivability and efficiency.
• 1.5-liter Turbo-Petrol Engine: For those seeking a more spirited driving experience, this engine delivers a robust 160PS and 253Nm torque. It will likely be paired with multiple transmission choices, including a 6-speed (intelligent Manual Transmission) and a 7-speed DCT (Dual-Clutch Transmission), offering a blend of performance and convenience.
• 1.5-liter Diesel Engine: A staple for long-distance cruising and fuel economy, this engine generates around 116 PS of power and 250Nm of torque. Buyers can expect this engine to be mated with both manual and a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

The turbo-petrol variant is the most performance-oriented of the lot, providing brisk acceleration suitable for both urban commutes and highway journeys. The diesel variant will continue to be a strong choice for its torque delivery and fuel efficiency, while the naturally aspirated petrol will serve as an accessible entry point into the Carens Clavis range.

 Kia Carens Clavis aims to elevated overall ownership experience with an updated design, enhanced interior features and the inclusion of  Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in higher trims, positioning it as a more upmarket offering compared to the standard Kia Carens.

Note: All images used in this blog has been taken from Manufacturer's website for a general information.

Hyundai CRETA Electric

Hyundai Creta EV is an all-electric version of Hyundai's hot selling SUV Creta. The Creta EV launched in India in January.2025. Price of the base variant starts with Rs.17.99 lakh and goes up to Rs 24.38 lakh for top end model.

As usual, the Creta looks very handsome and bold from its exterior. The Creta EV shares its design language with the regular Creta, but with some EV-specific touches like a pixelated closed-grille, aerodynamic wheels and lighting elements. The lower portion of the grille having an auto open and close function, is a part of  battery management system.

The 17-inch alloy wheels of the car looks beautiful, these are designed to reduce drag and improve efficiency. Charging port is integrated into the front grille, making it easily accessible. A small storage space or frunk space of 22 liter is also made available under the front bonnet.

As the regular Creta, the EV variant of the car looks good from the rear too. An Electric badging is provided on the electric tail gate differentiate it from the ICE version. Overall, the Creta EV's exterior design is a blend of familiar Creta styling and EV-specific elements, creating a unique and appealing look.

The interior of the Hyundai Creta EV is designed to be spacious, comfortable and modern, with a focus on technology and convenience. It has a very premium cabin. The long sunroof provided on the Creta EV elevates its premium feel from inside.

The dashboard features two 10.25-inch screens, one for the infotainment system and the other for the digital instrument cluster. This gives the cabin a high-tech feel. Wireless mobile charger and two C-type charging points are provided. 

It has a nice 3-spoke steering wheel with three dots on the middle, other than the regular Hyundai logo, that represents a Morse code for H as in the Ioniq-5. Volume control and cruise control switches are provided on it. Gear selector is now provided on the steering wheel is making the center console more spacious.

Center console has a floating design, creating a sense of spaciousness, it houses the drive selector, cup holders and electronic parking break. Bottle holders are provided on all four doors. Cool glove box and ambient lighting are provided. A driver armrest provided is also having a small storage space, is good to hold wallets or snacks.

Front seats are very comfortable and are ventilated seats. Both the driver and co-driver seats has electrical adjustment. The driver seat have 8-way electrical adjustments with memory function to store preferred driving position. The co-driver seat also gets an electric boss mode, allowing rear passengers to adjust it for more legroom.

The rear seats are also well cushioned and offer good under-thigh support, even with the raised floor due to the battery pack. Three headrests are provided. It also have a 2-step reclining function for added comfort.

Features like AC vents, sunshades and a retractable tray with cup-holders with slots for phones or tablets are made available for rear passengers.

The Creta EV is powered by a single electric motor mounted on the front axle, driving the front wheels. The vehicle is provided with two battery pack options: A 42kWh pack with a claimed range of 390km, and a 51.4kWh pack with a claimed range of 473km. The long range variant offers 171hp and 255Nm torque, while the standard variant delivers 135hp and 200Nm of torque. The higher variant of the car can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 7.9sec. The instant torque delivery of electric motor makes overtaking effortless, both in city and highway conditions.

The Creta Electric offers three driving modes: Eco, Normal and Sport. Each mode offers a distinct driving experience, with varying levels of responsiveness and power delivery. The Eco mode prioritizes efficiency, while the Sport mode offers the most spirited performance.

The regenerative braking feature helps to recover energy and improve efficiency. Creta EV offers five levels of regenerative braking, allowing driver to customize the level of deceleration. The highest level of regenerative braking enables one-pedal driving, where the car can be brought to a complete stop  without using the brake pedal. 

The steering is well weighted and responsive, making the car easy to maneuver in city traffic also the added weight of the battery pack gives the car a planted feel, thus improving stability at higher speeds. Suspension of the Creta EV is well tuned to provide a comfortable ride even on rough roads. It is a practical and efficient choice for daily commutes and long journeys.

Dimension & Technical Specification

When come to safety, the new Creta Electric comes with a lot of active and passive safety features. Some of them are given below..

• 6 Airbags
• ABS with EBD
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Vehicle Stability Management (VSM)
• Hill-Start Assist Control (HSC)
• Hill Descent Control (DSC)
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Front & rear disc brakes
• Electric Parking Brake with Auto Hold
• Rain sensing wiper
• Seat belt pretensioners-Driver & Passenger
• Driver anchor pretensioner
• Height adjustable front seat belts
• Seatbelt reminder for all seats
• Child seat anchor (ISOFIX)
• Emergency stop signal (ESS)
• Impact sensing auto door unlock
• Speed sensing auto door lock
• Auto headlamp
• Parking assist
• Rear defogger with timer
• Rear and front parking sensors etc..

And Hyundai SmartSense features (ADAS) include

• Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
• Forward Collision Avoidance Assist
• Blind-spot Collision Warning
• Blind-spot Collision Avoidance Assist
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Lane Departure Warning
• Driver Attention Warning
• Safe Exit Warning
• Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go
• Lane Following Assist
• High Beam Assist
• Leading Vehicle Departure Alert
• Rear Cross- Traffic Collision Warning
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist
• Surround View Monitor
• Blind-Spot View Monitor

In conclusion, the Creta Electric is a nice, bold looking SUV, comes with a very spacious cabin and luxurious seats. It is a technology packed all round vehicle with tons of active and safety features too. Moreover, 400+ km driving range and fast charging facility provided on the car makes a good choice to consider it if you are planning to buy an EV.

Note: All images used in this blog has been taken from Manufacturer's website for a general information.

Skoda Kylaq

Skoda has recently launched its new sub-four meter SUV Kylaq in India. It is available in petrol manual and automatic variants. Manual entry model of the Kylaq is priced at Rs.7.89 lakh and goes up to Rs.14.40 lakh for the top end automatic model.

The Kylaq looks bold from the front. Power bulges can be seen on the bonnet. LED headlights and DRLs are provided. Typical Skoda grille and large air dam with skid plate are making the car more more beautiful from the front. 

From the sides, you can find the beautiful 17 inch alloy wheels, whereas16 inch wheels are provided on the lower variants, 189mm ground clearance is evident from the sides. Black cladding starting from the front bumper passing all the way to the back bumper making it more rugged. ORVMs are in body color. Black roof rails (non-functional) provided on the Kylaq is enhancing its SUV stance from the sides.

The thick skid plate element is provided on the back bumper. Skoda name is fixed on the black element under the rear glass. 

The Kylaq is having a nice neatly laid out cabin. Fit and finish of the material are very good. A 10.1 inch touch screen infotainment system is provided. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are provided. However, the resolution of rear view camera is a bit low when compare with the competition. The 8 inch digital cockpit looks very neat, the driver can access various vehicle related information like speed, distance travelled, average fuel efficiency, service interval etc. from this screen. Touch and feel of the driving wheel is very good. This steering wheel has manual  tilt and reach adjustment. Volume and cruise control switches are provided on it.

Skoda Kylaq is provided with well contoured seats. It can accommodate five people. Front seats are ventilated seats with six-way electrically adjustable functions. A small sun roof is provided.  Wireless mobile phone charger, two type-C USB chargers and a 12V charger are provided on the front. A small storage space is provided under the driver arm rest. Rear A/c vents and two type-C chargers are provided for rear passengers. Three adjustable headrests are also provided. All the four doors are provided with bottle holders also you will get two cup holders on the center arm rest of the rear seat.

The boot space of the Kylaq is 446 liters with all the seats are in upright position, but it can be increased to a whopping 1265 liters by folding the second row seat. These rear seats are actually a 60:40 split seat.

Skoda Kylaq Dimension

Engine and Transmission

The Kylaq is provided with a 999cc 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, is mated with a 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmissions. The automatic variant is provided with paddle-shifters too.

Safety

Skoda Kylaq is a robust vehicle. It is provided with six airbags as standard. Some of the safety features are giving below.

• Six Airbags as standard
• ABS
• Electronic Differential Locking System (EDS)
• Multi-Collision Brake
• Brake Disc Wiping
• Hill-hold Assist
• Traction Control System (TCS)
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• High Speed Alert
• Central Locking
• Seatbelt Pretensioners and Reminders
• Rear Parking Sensors
• Rear Parking Camera
• Anti-theft Alarm
• ISOFIX, etc.

Although it is provided with several safety features and having robust build quality, it lacks in the department of ADAS features, it could have provided at least in its top variant.

Conclusion

Skoda Kylaq looks very powerful and a well engineered vehicle. The Kylaq is one of the few vehicles which has scored full 5-stars in the BNCAP safety ratings. It is a perfect 5 seater and having a very decent boot space too. Definitely you can consider the Kylaq if you have plan to vehicle in its price range.

Note: All images used in this blog has been taken from Manufacturer's website for a general information.

Toyota Camry 2025

Toyota Camry is a popular mid-size sedan known for its reliability, comfort, and fuel efficiency. It has been in production since 1982 and has undergone several generations of updates and improvements. Now, Toyota has launched the new version of the Camry in India with an ex-showroom price tag of Rs.48.15 lakh.

Exterior.

The car looks very stylish with the stylish grille. LED headlights and DRLs are provided. LED fog lamps are nicely fixed at the lower bumper. Parking sensors and the ADAS camera are provided. Strong character lines on the bonnet making it more muscular.  Toyota logo is now shifted from grille to the bonnet looks good and perfectly syncing with the front design of the car.

From the sides, it is a long car with 4920mm length and 2825mm wheelbase. 18 inch diamond cut alloy wheels provided on the car looks extremely beautiful. Shoulder line passing through the doors of the car making you feel the car more longer that it is. Door handles and wing mirrors are provided in body colour.

At the back you can see the big Toyota logo on the middle of the boot lid, Camry badging is provided under the logo. LED tail lamps are provided. The car is having a massive boot capacity of 587 liter, a proper 18 inch spare wheel is also placed inside the boot without hampering the luggage area. 

Interior.

The car comes with a very spacious and comfortable interior with high quality materials and features like climate control, premium 9 speaker JBL sound systems and advanced infotainment systems. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available. A 12.3 inch touch screen infotainment system provided on the screen is very clear and very smooth to operate.

Three zone A/c is provided. Touch and feel of the A/c control switches are very good. You will get two cup holders on the front console. A wireless mobile charging pad and USB chargers are provided. A deep storage space with a USB charger is provided under the driver arm rest. Bottle holders are provided on all four doors.

Front seats are ventilated with lumbar support and having 10 way electrical adjustments. These are very comfortable seats.12.3 inch driver side display is provided. The steering wheel having electrical adjustments for height and reach. It is also provided with paddle-shifters and also having switches of cruise control and audio telephony. Memory settings are available for ORVMs driver seat and steering position is a very useful feature. A rear power sunshade and two manual window sunshades are provided.

When come to the back seat, it is spacious and comfortable. There is more than sufficient head room and legroom at the back. Two A/c vents are provided. You will get a nice digital control panel while accessing the rear arm rest. You can electrically control the seat reclining angle, music and A/c etc. with this digital control system. Two cup holders are also provided on this arm rest. Two C-type charging ports are also available. Moreover, the  UV protecting glass provided on the car helps to make the temperature cool.

Also you can push the co-driver seat to the front by a button from the back to get the maximum legroom at the back left seat. A small electrically controlled sunroof is provided. Overall, the Camry is a very spacious car.

Dimension an Weight

Engine and Transmission

Toyota Camry comes with a 2.5L petrol engine with 5th generation hybrid technology and a high-capacity Li-ion battery. It delivers 220NM of torque at 3200 rpm. Toyota claiming 25.49km/l mileage for this new Camry.

Camry is provided with an e-CVT gear box with three drive modes namely, Eco, Normal and Sport. 

Safety.

Camry is equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, some of them are given below...

• 9 Airbgas
• 360 Degree Camera
• ABS with EBD
• ISOFIX
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Parking Assist
• Impact Sensing Fuel Cut-off
• Speed Sensing Door Auto-lock
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Hill Start Assist
• Uphill/Downhill Assist
• Immobilizer with Alarm

ADAS Features includes

• Lane Keeping Assist
• Lane Departure Alert
• Pre-Collision System
• Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC)
• Automatic High Beam, etc.          

Overall, the Toyota Camry is a well-rounded sedan that offers a compelling combination of practicality, comfort and reliability. You can consider this vehicle for its ultimate luxury, affordability and for its bullet proof reliability.

Note: All images used in this blog has been taken from Manufacturer's website for a general information.