Kia Carens Clavis EV vs Creta EV vs Windsor Pro: Who Should Buy What?
Kia has launched its first mass-market EV in India- the Carens Clavis EV. It interestingly has the same starting ex-showroom price as one of its rivals- the Creta Electric. Both start at 17.99 lakh rupees. This makes it difficult for buyers to choose between the two. Another major rival is the MG Windsor Pro. Let's pit these against each other and explain who should buy what.
Kia Carens Clavis EV vs Hyundai Creta Electric
For starters, the Creta Electric is an electric SUV, while the Carens Clavis EV is an electric MPV. The Hyundai is a five-seater while the Kia comes as a seven-seater alone. If you're looking for an EV which can seat more than five people, the Clavis EV is the one to go with.
Let's now take a look at the pricing. The starting price is the same for both EVs. The range-topping Creta Electric has an ex-showroom price of Rs 24.37 lakh, while the top-spec HTX+ has a slightly higher ex-showroom price of Rs 24.49 lakh. Both vehicles come in four broad variants each.
However, the buyer gets more options to choose from on the Creta Electric. The electric SUV's Executive, Smart, Smart (O), and Premium variants come with the standard range battery pack while the Smart (O) and Excellence come with the long-range (LR) battery pack.
The trims offered on the Clavis EV are HTK+, HTX and HTX+. The HTK+ is offered only with the standard range battery pack. HTX can be had with both battery packs while the HTX+ comes only with the Long Range battery pack.
On design grounds, both vehicles are familiar. The Creta Electric gets almost the same cues as its Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) counterpart. Similarly, the Clavis EV is based on the same 'Opposites United' design philosophy as the regular Clavis.
Both vehicles get EV-specific elements like aero-optimized alloy wheels, a closed-off grille section, underbody covering, and Active Air Flaps (AAF). AAF helps with battery cooling and keeps the design high on aero-efficiency. Choosing between designs is subjective.
Let's consider the cabin experiences. The Creta Electric is a strict five-seater, while the Carens Clavis EV is a seven-seater (2+3+2). The second row in the Clavis EV gets an electric tumble function and comes with boss mode as well. The rear seats of the Creta Electric offer ample room and comfort, and so does the Clavis EV's middle row. The rear-most seats have just enough space for two.
Both the electric vehicles come with a lot of features and equipment. They get a dual-screen cluster, ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control, wireless charging pad, powered driver's seat, air purifier, and a panoramic sunroof. Both Creta Electric and Clavis EV come with an 8-speaker premium BOSE audio system, delivering identical performance. Both vehicles come with Vehicle-To-Load (V2L) (and Vehicle-To-Vehicle (V2V)) charging abilities.
Both vehicles are underpinned by the same platform and feature the same battery packs- 42 kWh and 51.4 kWh. The electric motor, in both cases, sits on the front axle. It makes 133 hp and 255 Nm on the 42 kWh version and 170 hp and 255 Nm on the larger battery version.
Talking real-world performance, the Creta Electric does the 0-100 kph sprint in 7.9 seconds while the Clavis EV takes 8.5 seconds for the same. The performance clearly is slightly dulled down on the Clavis EV due to its larger size and higher seating capacity. Both claim the same range of 490 km on the long-range variants.
Clavis EV vs Windsor Pro
MG sells two versions of the Windsor in India- the EV with a 38 kWh battery and the Pro with a larger 52.9 kWh unit. It is a five-seater EV. While the Carens Clavis EV spans 4550 in length, 1800 mm in width and 1708 mm in height, the Windsor Pro is shorter (4295 mm in length and 1677mm in height). It is, however, wider by 50 mm. The Windsor Pro comes in just three colours- Celadon Blue, Aurora Silver and Glaze Red.
The feature list on the Windsor Pro consists of a 9-speaker Infinity system (4 speakers, 4 tweeters, 1 subwoofer), ambient lighting, a huge 15.6-inch central touchscreen, 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, 360-degree camera, ventilated seats, Level 2 ADAS and more.
On the powertrain front, it is the Clavis EV that takes the lead. The Windsor Pro comes with a 52.9 kWh battery pack mated to an electric motor that generates 136 hp and 200 Nm- much less than the 51.4 kWh Clavis EV's 170hp and 255 Nm. The claimed range of MG Windsor Pro is 449 km per charge.
Talking prices, the Windsor Pro comes in just two variants, priced at Rs 17.25 lakh and 18.10 lakh, ex-showroom. The Windsor Pro stands much lower than the Clavis EV in the price ladder. It in fact, belongs to a lower segment, but could be considered by many as an option, due to the overlap in prices.
Verdict: Who Should Buy What?
In short, if you are a buyer who is looking for a three-row electric vehicle, the Clavis EV is the one to go for. The Creta is for you, if you're savvy for meatier acceleration and performance. Buy the Windsor if you are looking for something that's much more affordable than the Creta Electric and the Clavis EV.