If you’re in the market for a three-row EV, your primary choices today are the Kia Carens Clavis EV and the recently launched Mahindra XEV 9S. While both are offered with multiple battery options, there’s a good overlap between the two, with the Clavis ranging from Rs 17.99 lakh-24.49 lakh and the XEV going from Rs 19.95 lakh-29.45 lakh. So, which one makes more sense? We gathered the two long-range versions and put them through our exhaustive test regime.
Kia Carens Clavis EV vs Mahindra XEV 9S Exterior Design and Engineering
These two EVs approach the brief from very different angles. The XEV 9S, with its blanked-off nose and oversized LED DRLs, goes the SUV route and looks like a futuristic evolution of the XUV700, with which it shares its basic top hat. Aerodynamically optimised alloy wheels, along with a blacked-out tailgate and distinctive LED tail-lamps, help visually separate it from its ICE sibling.
The Kia Carens Clavis EV, by contrast, goes with the understated MPV style. Against its ICE sibling, subtle EV-specific cues are the green number plates, a light bar above the grille, a centrally mounted charging flap, a redesigned bumper with active aero elements, ‘ice-cube’-style fog lamps and a revised scuff plate. Overall, the XEV still looks every bit a modern SUV, while the Clavis unmistakably remains an MPV in its stance and proportions.
Dimensionally, the XEV 9S is larger than the Clavis EV in length, width and height; and even its 18-inch wheels look noticeably more substantial than the Kia’s 17-inch units. That said, the Clavis counters with an 18mm longer wheelbase, which plays a key role in interior packaging. A closer look, however, reveals that the Kia’s underfloor battery pack remains visually exposed, which isn’t a pleasant sight.
Kia Carens Clavis EV vs Mahindra XEV 9S Interior Space and Comfort
The Mahindra XEV 9S shares its dashboard layout with the XEV 9e, and that’s a double-edged sword. On the positive side, the triple-screen setup, beige leatherette upholstery with olive accents, and generous use of soft-touch and piano black materials give the cabin a premium, techy feel. On the downside, the same confusing user interface carries over. Several functions are buried deep within menus, the steering-mounted controls are prone to accidentally triggering the horn, and the passenger screen still lacks a privacy filter, thus making video playback distracting for the driver.
Comfort levels, however, are excellent. The front seats are wide and supportive, though the driver’s seat is mounted slightly high even in its lowest setting. The middle row is spacious and comfortable, helped by a flat floor and generous width that makes it friendlier for three passengers. The outboard seats even get ventilation, and the sliding function allows occupants to prioritise either second- or third-row legroom.
Access to the third row is where compromises begin. It is easy only via the kerbside – 40 percent section of the middle-row bench, which tumbles forward; the remaining 60 percent merely folds flat. Once inside, third-row comfort is limited – adults sit low with a pronounced knees-up posture, and headroom is tight regardless of seatback angle. It’s acceptable for short trips, but for longer journeys, the Clavis EV is clearly superior. With all seats up, boot space is limited to soft bags, though the generous 150-litre frunk does help.
Kia Carens Clavis EV vs Mahindra XEV 9S Features and Safety
The Kia Carens Clavis EV’s cabin adopts a cleaner, more intuitive approach. The beige colour scheme, twin-screen setup and backlit touch panels lend it a modern feel, but it’s the ease of use that truly stands out. Physical knobs and buttons for key functions, a logical layout and a simpler touchscreen interface make it far easier to live with. That said, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are missing; both require a wired connection.
Seat comfort is strong across the board. The driver’s seat is comfortable, though only partially powered and lacking a memory function. The middle row slides fore-aft and offers a greater recline angle than the Mahindra’s, and while the cabin is narrower, three adults can still sit abreast without feeling too cramped. The absence of an adjustable headrest for the middle passenger is a miss. Access to the third row is good thanks to one-touch tumble-forward seats on both sides, aided by pneumatic struts. Impressively, even tall adults will find the third row genuinely usable, with ample headroom and comfortable recline options. Boot space with all seats up is slightly better than the XEV’s, though the frunk is only large enough for a charging cable or a small bag.
Kia Carens Clavis EV vs Mahindra XEV 9S Value for Money
The Mahindra XEV 9S is offered with three battery options – 59kWh, 70kWh and 79kWh – with prices starting at Rs 19.95 lakh. The Kia Carens Clavis EV gets two battery options – 42kWh and 51.4kWh – starting at Rs 17.99 lakh.
Crucially, the long-range 79kWh XEV 9S starts at Rs 21.95 lakh, almost identical to the Rs 21.99 lakh starting price of the Clavis EV 51.4kWh. At this price point, both cars offer a strong safety and feature baseline, including six airbags, ESP, hill-start assist, a panoramic sunroof, a touchscreen infotainment, a digital instrument cluster, cruise control, a reverse camera and TPMS.
The XEV’s highlights include wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay and a passenger-side display, while the Kia counters with electric folding mirrors, one-touch power windows, ambient lighting and leatherette upholstery.
At the top end, however, the gap widens considerably. The XEV 9S tops out at Rs 29.45 lakh, while the Clavis EV maxes out at Rs 24.49 lakh. The Mahindra, however, adds features such as a driver’s knee airbag, powered front seats with memory, rear seat ventilation, a sophisticated head-up display and dual-zone climate control, which justify the premium to an extent.
Kia Carens Clavis EV vs Mahindra XEV 9S Performance and Refinement
The XEV 9S uses Mahindra’s familiar born-EV powertrain setup, featuring a 79kWh Blade LFP battery and a rear-wheel-drive motor producing 286hp and 380Nm. Performance is strong, with brisk acceleration and a choice of multiple drive modes – Range, Default, Everyday and Race. In Race mode, the XEV unleashes its full potential, sprinting from 0-100kph in just 7.54 seconds, with a top speed north of 190kph.
The Clavis EV, meanwhile, uses a smaller 51.4kWh NMC battery paired with a front-mounted motor producing 171hp and 255Nm. While it lacks the Mahindra’s outright punch, performance is more than adequate for family use. Throttle response varies noticeably across Eco, Normal and Sport modes, and despite the lower output, the Clavis doesn’t feel underpowered even when fully loaded. It completes the 0-100kph sprint in 8.44 seconds and tops out at 168kph.
Both cars offer five levels of regenerative braking, including regen off and a single-pedal mode. We discovered that the Clavis EV’s Level 3 and single-pedal regen was more aggressive, while the XEV decelerated more forcefully in Level 1 and Level 2.
Kia Carens Clavis EV vs Mahindra XEV 9S Range and Efficiency
Not only is the XEV the larger vehicle, but its bigger 79kWh battery also makes it nearly half a tonne heavier than the Kia Carens Clavis EV. That added mass takes a toll on efficiency, with the XEV returning 6.05km/kWh in the city and 6.04km/kWh on the highway in ‘Range’ mode. However, sheer battery capacity works in its favour, translating to an impressive real-world average range of 477km on a single charge.
The lighter Clavis EV, by comparison, is noticeably more efficient. It delivered 7.45km/kWh in urban driving and 6.71km/kWh on the highway, which, due to its smaller 51.4kWh battery capacity, extrapolates to a real-world range of around 364km – a substantial 113km short of the XEV’s.
Charging is another area where the gap widens. The XEV’s 409V electrical architecture supports DC fast-charging speeds of up to 175kW, while the Clavis EV manages an average DC charging rate of just 42kW. Both manufacturers offer an optional 11kW AC wallbox charger – priced at Rs 75,000 for the Mahindra and Rs 62,000 for the Kia. Kia buyers also have the option of a 7.2kW AC charger, which costs Rs 54,000.
Kia Carens Clavis EV vs Mahindra XEV 9S Ride Comfort and Handling
Mahindra’s born-EV platform delivers an impressive ride-handling balance, and the XEV 9S is no exception. Riding on 18-inch high-profile tyres and equipped with semi-adaptive dampers, it prioritises comfort at city speeds. However, compared to its platform siblings, the setup is noticeably softer, and at highway speeds, the XEV exhibits persistent vertical movement, which feels unsettling and will induce motion sickness in those prone to it. Even in Race mode, where the dampers firm up slightly, it doesn’t match the Kia’s composure.
That said, it feels robust and confidence-inspiring over broken roads, effortlessly soaking up large potholes. Its light steering and tight turning radius, remarkable for a vehicle of this size, make it easy to manoeuvre and park.
The Carens Clavis EV, by contrast, has a firmer suspension tune. You feel this at low speeds, where it doesn’t absorb bumps as plushly as the Mahindra, but it never feels harsh. As speeds rise, the Kia feels more stable and better tied down. Neither car is particularly sporty, but while the Clavis rolls less through corners, it’s the XEV’s steering that feels marginally more engaging. Both feature disc brakes all around, though in panic braking tests from 80kph, the lighter Kia consistently stopped in a shorter distance.
Kia Carens Clavis EV vs Mahindra XEV 9S Vedict
In terms of sheer fitness for purpose, the Kia Carens Clavis EV gets a lot right. Its cleverly packaged cabin is spacious, and its third row is roomier than that of the XEV 9S. Pair that with a more tied-down highway ride, a sensible user interface, agreeable ergonomics and a top-spec variant that significantly undercuts the XEV on price, and the Clavis EV comes across as a practical, well-rounded family EV. However, its notably lower real-world range and much slower fast-charging capability are hard to ignore, which weaken its case in this EV comparison.
The XEV 9S, meanwhile, makes its case with a starting price comparable to the Kia, while offering a more powerful motor, quicker acceleration and a substantially larger battery pack, resulting in a longer real-world range too, important for vehicles that will do the odd highway run. It also has a stronger road presence and a distinct ‘X-factor’ that adds to its appeal. And when you look at the lower variants that are similarly priced and still well equipped with even the three-screen setup thrown in, the XEV 9S gives you considerably more car for the money and ultimately feels like the more compelling EV.
