The Kia Syros Is Here! We Bet You Can’t Take Your Eyes Off

Kia debuts the Syros in India and at first glance, a lot of you may relate it to Maruti Suzuki’s WagonR. The tallboy profile coupled with the vertically stacked headlamps, the boxy roofline and the wide rear end suggest this to be a member of the utility-centric WagonR family. 

But that’s where the similarities with the WagonR ends. The Syros is a compact SUV that aims to take on the army of other sub-4 meter SUVs like Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza, Hyundai Venue and the new Skoda Kylaq. Within Kia’s portfolio, it competes directly with the Sonet SUV and Kia recommends it for those who seek more backseat space and advanced features. 

While the Syros is yet to get a price tag, Kia will commence booking from January 3 and by February, the first deliveries should commence. Kia is expected to make the Syros’ price public at the upcoming Bharat Mobility Expo 2025.

Until the price sheet arrives, we can look into the car’s spec sheet and everything else that Kia has revealed so far. 

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Kia Syros: On the skin

Kia has never shied away from doing bold design and that’s why the Syros doesn’t come as a surprise (Thanks Carens). 

The Syros, despite being an SUV, looks a lot more identical to a tallboy hatchback (hence the references to WagonR). Instead of sticking to plain surfaces though, the Syros gets lots of plastic cladding to add a tinge of butch SUV looks. The ‘Crystal Cut’ 17-inch alloy wheels add to the character of the car along with the unique vertically shaped LED headlamps and tailamps. The streamlined door handles, which are usually reserved for expensive cars, sit flush with the body and will be a segment-first feature.

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Kia Syros: On the inside

The Syros may have a controversial exterior but on the inside, Kia has done what it does best – create a special interior trim. The Syros gets a plush dashboard with stylish inserts and two large screens. The infotainment and instrument cluster, each measuring 12.3 inches, covers most of the dashboard and gives access to all the necessary information that the driver and co-passenger need. The center console features physical buttons for basic controls and a wireless charging pad is present for modern smartphones. The infotainment system will get OTA updates and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The two-spoke steering wheel inspired by the Kia EV3 adds a sense of sophistication to the cabin and the ambient lighting makes it all the more special.

The rear seat is where the Syros makes an impression. Kia says the rear bench can slide and recline, with the passengers also getting to enjoy the seat ventilation feature. The panoramic sunroof and the 8-speaker Harman Kardon system should add to the overall premium experience. The 10mm additional wheelbase not only offers more legroom than the Sonet but a larger boot space of 465 litres. 

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Kia Syros: Under the skin

The Syros sticks to the tried-and-tested compact SUV formula. Owners will be given the option to choose from the following powertrains:

- A 1-litre turbo petrol engine making 120 hp of peak power and 172 Nm of peak torque. You can get it with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed auto DCT gearbox. 

- A 1.5-litre diesel engine making 115 hp of peak power and 250 Nm of peak torque. This engine is mated to a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.

Whichever variant you choose, you get an electronic parking brake on the Syros. Kia has also doubled down on the safety aspect, with the highlight being Level 2 ADAS with 16 autonomous features. 

The Syros gets functions like Forward Collision Warning and Avoidance Assist (FCW & FCA), Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with Stop and Go, Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Parking Collision Avoidance Assist - Reverse (PCA-R) and more. Six airbags are standard across the range, with an option to equip a 360-degree parking camera system for assistance. 

Kia Syros: What does it cost?

The Syros is expected to slot in between the Sonet and the Seltos as a feature-rich and spacious compact SUV, thus establishing a new sub-category. Hence, you can expect the Syros to command a premium of over INR 1 lakh over the Sonet across all variants. 

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