Kia Launches Factory CNG Carens and Carens Clavis from Rs 12.12 Lakh
The seven-seat Carens and Carens Clavis gain factory CNG versions with a 1.5-litre engine, six-speed manual gearbox and a 60-litre tank mounted below the boot floor.
ViPeople Automotive DeskPublished Updated 8 min read
Photograph: Kia India official product media
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Kia has launched factory CNG versions of the Carens and Carens Clavis in India. The Carens Premium (O) CNG is priced at Rs 12.12 lakh, while the Clavis HTE CNG costs Rs 12.39 lakh and the Clavis HTE (O) CNG costs Rs 13.35 lakh. All prices are ex-showroom, India.
The launch gives Kia a factory-built CNG option across two closely related seven-seat vehicles. Each version uses a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine with a six-speed manual gearbox. The CNG installation is integrated into the production specification, with changes to the suspension, braking and luggage area to account for the additional hardware.
The Carens Clavis CNG is offered in HTE and HTE (O) specifications.Photograph: Kia India official product media
Three variants define the range
The regular Carens receives CNG only in Premium (O) form. The newer Carens Clavis offers the powertrain in HTE and HTE (O) specifications. Each CNG variant costs Rs 1 lakh more than its corresponding petrol manual version.
This positioning keeps the CNG models near the accessible end of each range. Buyers are choosing the fuel system together with a defined equipment level, so the price comparison needs to be made against the matching petrol manual trim and not against the least expensive vehicle in the wider line-up.
Carens Premium (O) supplies the equipment base for the new factory CNG variant.Photograph: Kia India official product media
The engine is calibrated for CNG use
The 1.5-litre engine produces 96hp and 123Nm when running in the CNG specification. Those outputs are 19hp and 21Nm below the equivalent petrol figures reported for the naturally aspirated engine. A six-speed manual is the only transmission offered with CNG.
Kia's official configuration pages list the Smartstream G1.5 CNG 6MT and seven-seat layout. The company has also fitted a dedicated fuel-change switch and a fire extinguisher to CNG versions. A certified fuel-efficiency figure had not been published when this report was completed, so ViPeople is leaving estimated economy outside the specification table.
Carens Clavis brings the CNG powertrain into two accessible seven-seat variants.Photograph: Kia India official product media
The tank changes the luggage calculation
A 60-litre CNG tank sits beneath the boot floor. The installation reduces quoted luggage capacity from 216 litres to 116 litres, though the underbody spare wheel remains. That trade-off is central to the ownership decision because a three-row family vehicle is often used with every seat occupied.
Kia says the suspension has been retuned for the additional weight and the front disc brakes have been upgraded. These changes matter because a factory CNG conversion alters the load carried behind the rear axle and adds components that the standard petrol chassis does not have to manage.
The Carens retains its three-row cabin and one-touch second-row access in CNG form.Photograph: Kia India official product media
The Carens keeps its practical cabin package
The Carens Premium (O) retains three rows, sliding and reclining second-row seats, a one-touch tumble function and roof-mounted ventilation for the second and third rows. Kia also lists six airbags, electronic stability control, hill-start assistance, downhill brake control, tyre-pressure monitoring and rear parking sensors within its safety package.
The equipment mix is designed around family use. An 8.0-inch touchscreen, phone connectivity, multiple USB Type-C ports and flexible seat folding keep the cabin familiar to buyers considering the petrol version.
The Clavis cabin remains a seven-seat layout, with its feature set determined by the HTE or HTE (O) trim.Photograph: Kia India official product media
Clavis adds a second route into the same fuel choice
The Clavis uses its own exterior and cabin treatment while sharing the basic CNG powertrain. Kia lists 16-inch styled steel wheels for the CNG configuration, a dedicated fuel switch and the same seven-seat format. The HTE (O) trim adds equipment above HTE, which explains the Rs 96,000 difference between the two Clavis CNG prices.
The launch broadens the factory CNG choice for buyers who need three rows and want to reduce running costs without moving to a smaller vehicle. The final decision will depend on fuel availability, typical passenger load and whether 116 litres of luggage room is sufficient when all seven seats are being used.
What remains to be verified in daily use
The official configuration confirms the engine, gearbox, seating and equipment. Real fuel economy, performance with seven occupants and the effect of the smaller boot require an instrumented road test. ViPeople will treat those as test questions and will not convert early estimates into claimed figures.
For now, the launch facts are clear. Kia has moved CNG from an aftermarket route into factory production for both Carens families, priced the three versions Rs 1 lakh above their petrol manual equivalents and engineered the chassis and luggage area around the installation.
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