The electric three-row family vehicle segment in India has gained two strong contenders in the JSW MG Hector Tomahawk EV and the Kia Carens Clavis EV. Both aim to replace traditional petrol or diesel MPVs and SUVs for households that need seating for six or seven people while seeking lower running costs and modern technology. The Tomahawk, built on MG’s new ADAPT platform and launched more recently, positions itself as a larger, more powerful pure-electric SUV available in five- and seven-seat layouts. The Clavis EV, Kia’s first mass-market made-in-India electric model, takes the familiar Carens packaging into full-electric territory with a focus on everyday usability, advanced driver assistance, and efficient packaging.
At the heart of the comparison sits battery capacity and performance. The MG Hector Tomahawk EV carries a substantial 69.2 kWh LFP battery that feeds a front-mounted permanent-magnet synchronous motor producing 150 kW (204 hp) and 310 Nm of torque. This combination delivers a claimed MIDC range of 517 km and a 0-100 km/h time of 8.2 seconds. In contrast, the Carens Clavis EV offers two battery choices: a 42 kWh pack paired with a 99-135 hp motor or the more popular 51.4 kWh extended-range pack driving a 126 kW (171 hp) motor, both producing 255 Nm. The larger Clavis battery is rated at up to 490 km on the MIDC cycle. The Tomahawk’s bigger battery and higher power output therefore translate into longer claimed range and stronger acceleration, giving it an edge for buyers who frequently travel longer distances or prefer more responsive performance under load with a full cabin.Comfort and convenience features further differentiate the two. The Tomahawk emphasises powered comfort, with equipment such as ventilated front seats, a driver’s seat with memory function, a powered tailgate, ambient lighting, and a large 15.6-inch touchscreen paired with an 8.8-inch digital cluster. Multiple cabin modes (including Nap and Camp) and bidirectional charging capabilities such as V2L, V2V and claimed V2H add practical versatility. The Clavis EV counters with its own strong feature set focused on family practicality. It includes a 25-litre frunk for additional front storage, dual panoramic displays in higher trims, V2L capability, and a cabin that retains the flexible six- or seven-seat layouts of the ICE Carens, including captain-seat options in some configurations. Its more compact exterior dimensions—approximately 4,550 mm long, 1,800 mm wide and 1,730 mm tall on a 2,780 mm wheelbase—make it easier to manoeuvre and park in dense urban environments compared with the Tomahawk’s larger footprint of roughly 4,745 mm in length, 1,850 mm in width, 1,770 mm in height and 2,810 mm wheelbase.
Safety and driver-assistance technology represent one of the Clavis EV’s clearest advantages. It offers 20 Level 2 ADAS functions as a key highlight, covering adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alerts and more, alongside six airbags as standard. The Tomahawk also provides Level 2 ADAS including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist and automatic emergency braking, plus six airbags, but the Clavis is marketed more strongly around the breadth of its ADAS suite. Both vehicles prioritise battery safety, with the Tomahawk’s MAGIC battery undergoing extensive thermal and penetration testing and the Clavis featuring an IP67-rated pack.Charging behaviour highlights another practical difference. The Clavis EV supports faster AC charging via an 11 kW onboard charger, allowing a full top-up of the larger battery in roughly four hours 45 minutes, while DC fast charging at up to 100 kW can take the battery from 10 to 80 percent in about 39 minutes. The Tomahawk supports up to 90 kW DC charging, achieving 30 to 80 percent in around 35 minutes, but its AC charging is limited to 7.4 kW and requires approximately 12.5 hours for a 10-100 percent charge. For owners with access to higher-powered home or workplace AC chargers, the Clavis offers a clear convenience advantage in daily top-ups. Both support CCS2 ports and portable charging options.
Pricing and ownership models bring the two closer together. The Hector Tomahawk EV starts at ₹19.49 lakh (ex-showroom) for the Excite 7-seater and rises to ₹23.49 lakh for the top Essence 7-seater, with a five-seat Essence at ₹22.99 lakh. Under MG’s Battery-as-a-Service plan the entry price drops to ₹13.99 lakh plus a per-kilometre battery rental. The Carens Clavis EV begins lower, around ₹18 lakh for the base HTK+ with the smaller battery, and reaches approximately ₹24.5-25 lakh for the fully loaded extended-range HTX+ or X-Line variants. Kia also offers a BaaS option on select models. Variant-by-variant, a mid-spec Tomahawk Exclusive 7-seater sits in a similar price band to a Clavis HTX or HTX Extended Range, while the top Tomahawk Essence competes with the Clavis HTX+. Buyers prioritising absolute range and power will find the Tomahawk’s single large battery more consistent across the range, whereas Clavis buyers can choose between value-oriented standard-range and longer-range packs depending on the variant.
In everyday use the Tomahawk feels like the more substantial, road-trip-oriented choice thanks to its larger battery, higher power output, longer claimed range and emphasis on powered comfort features. The Carens Clavis EV, by contrast, rewards urban and suburban families with its more compact packaging, 25-litre frunk, faster AC charging and extensive Level 2 ADAS suite of 20 functions. Both deliver three-row electric practicality at competitive prices with modern connectivity and safety equipment. The final decision rests on whether the buyer values maximum range and performance or prioritises manoeuvrability, advanced driver aids and quicker home charging convenience. Test drives of closely matched variants—such as a Tomahawk Exclusive against a Clavis HTX Extended Range—will quickly reveal which character suits a particular family’s routes and preferences best.