ACKO Drive Awards 2026: Kia Carens Clavis EV Takes the 2026 EV Car TOTM

Competition in the 2026 EV Car category was strong, but Kia’s Carens Clavis EV has taken the TOTM for its combination of design, tech, handling, safety, range, comfort, and of course value for money. It’s the seven-seater family EV a lot of people in India had been waiting for, and its people-carrying capacity alone gives it an edge over the other options available in its price range. 

The Carens Clavis EV looks like its ICE siblings, but with a few updated elements. Its design language is unmistakable, fitting right in with Kia’s current aesthetic, down to the LED bars across the front and back. Little touches such as a roof rail and good cabin insulation give it utility, and the cabin is heavy on tech without being too much to handle. Bonus features include an 8-speaker Bose audio system, dual-pane panoramic glass roof, V2L capability, and cabin air purifier. Safety is taken care of with L2 ADAS and 360-degree cameras with blind spot awareness. 

This isn’t the fastest or most powerful EV around, but the ARAI-certified range figures of 404 km with the 42 kWh battery option and 490 km with the larger 51.4 kWh battery are good enough for city driving needs.

All of this impressed our jury enough to secure the win for the Kia Carens Clavis EV over the Hyundai Creta Electric, Mahindra BE 6 and XEV 9e, Tata Harrier EV, and Vinfast VF6 and VF7.