Kia is finally getting into the CNG game. The brand has opened bookings for the Carens Clavis CNG and the regular Carens CNG, its first bi-fuel seven-seaters, both packing a factory-fitted 60-litre CNG tank. This is a direct shot at Maruti's Ertiga and XL6 CNG, which have owned this space for years. The catch? Kia hasn't shared prices, so the big question is whether you should book now or wait.
Carens CNG vs. Carens Clavis CNG: What's the difference?
Kia is launching two CNG MPVs, and they're not the same car. The Carens Clavis launched in early 2025 as the more premium-looking model. The regular Carens is the older, plainer version that still sells alongside it. For CNG, the Clavis gets the HTE and HTE (O) trims for private buyers, plus an HTM trim for fleet and taxi use. The regular Carens CNG comes in the Premium (O) trim, plus an M-Drive trim built for commercial buyers. So Kia is chasing families and fleet operators with the same underlying tech, just split across two badges.
The CNG setup: a 60-liter tank, 95 bhp, and a fuel switch
Both cars use Kia's 1.5-liter petrol engine, here tuned to 95 bhp and 123 Nm (pulling power), mated to a 6-speed manual. That's less than the petrol Clavis, which makes 113 bhp, so expect it to feel more relaxed than quick. The big deal is the 60-liter CNG tank fitted at the factory, not bolted on later at a local workshop. Because it's factory-built, Kia has re-tuned the engine and suspension to handle the extra weight of the gas tank. You get a dedicated switch to move between petrol and CNG and a 4.2-inch color screen that shows how far you can go on the gas left in the tank. That last bit matters on a highway run when the nearest CNG pump is 40 km away.
Kia Carens Clavis
MUV/MPVWhat carries over from the petrol Clavis
The CNG version isn't stripped down. The showcased car had 16-inch alloy wheels, projector headlamps, a digital instrument cluster, and a touchscreen, all in a seven-seat layout. It also gets 16-inch disc brakes. Kia has redesigned the third-row seat-back frame to improve the reclining angle, so the last row should be a bit more comfortable on longer trips to, say, Lonavala with the whole family. This is where Kia hopes to beat Maruti: the entry Ertiga CNG doesn't give you alloys or projector lamps, but the Clavis CNG does even in HTE trim.
Expected price: how much over the ₹11.27 lakh petrol Clavis?
Here's the honest part. Kia has not announced CNG prices, official mileage, or on-road figures. The petrol Clavis starts at ₹11.27 lakh (ex-showroom) for the HTE, with HTE (O) at ₹12.23 lakh. Maruti charges roughly ₹1 lakh extra for CNG over petrol. If Kia keeps a similar gap, the Clavis CNG HTE could land around ₹12–13 lakh. On-road price will be higher once you add road tax, registration, and insurance, which vary by state. Fleet-focused HTM and M-Drive trims should sit lower, since they skip the comfort kit. Until Kia confirms numbers, all of this is an educated guess.
Kia Carens Clavis CNG vs. Maruti Ertiga CNG and XL6 CNG
Maruti is the one to beat here. The Ertiga CNG runs ₹8.90–13.04 lakh, and the XL6 CNG runs ₹11.62–14.58 lakh, both proven and hugely popular with families and taxi operators. Kia's advantage is kit: alloys, projector lamps, and a digital cluster that the base Ertiga skips. Maruti's advantage is a known 26.11 km/kg mileage figure and years of CNG reliability, while Kia's CNG tuning is untested in the real world. Kia also matches the seven-seat layout that makes these MPVs work for large families. Priced right, the Clavis CNG could be genuinely tempting for buyers who want more features than the Maruti twins offer.
Should you pre-book now or wait?
Book now only if you're a fleet buyer eyeing the HTM or M-Drive trims and want to lock your slot early. For private buyers, we'd wait. There's no confirmed price, no official CNG mileage, and no first-drive review yet. The Clavis itself is barely a year old, and its CNG version hasn't been tested for real-world running costs. If Kia keeps the CNG premium under about ₹1.2 lakh and launches within a month or so, it becomes a strong buy. If you want a feature-rich CNG MPV and can sit tight for the price reveal, the Kia Carens Clavis CNG is worth the short wait.
References: Kia India — official website
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