The Syros was launched earlier this year as Kia’s second contender in the compact SUV space. Positioned between the Sonet and the larger Seltos, the Syros places greater emphasis on interior space and practicality to stand out in the crowded segment. Should you be on the hunt for a new compact SUV, listed below are three reasons why you should go for the Syros, and two reasons why you might want to hold off.
Feature packed cabin
Dashboard sports a triple-screen setup
In typical Kia fashion, the Syros comes very well-equipped in terms of creature comforts, chief among them are ventilated bases for the rear seats – a segment-first feature. You also get ventilated front seats, 64-colour ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, a wireless charger, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, a 5-inch HVAC control screen, an electronic parking brake, an 8-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a 360-degree camera, a cabin air purifier, leatherette upholstery, Level 2 ADAS, and more.
Comfortable and spacious rear seats
Syros rear seats can be slid and reclined
As stated previously, space is a key design tenet for the Syros, and the compact SUV delivers exceptionally well on this front. In our review of the Syros, we noted that its segment-best wheelbase of 2,550mm and tall-boy proportions allow for excellent rear legroom and headroom, respectively.
Moreover, rear occupants can slide and recline the seats to make things more comfortable for themselves, and the aforementioned base ventilation can be a boon in hot weather, too.
Good ride comfort
Suspension is tuned on the firmer side, but it still provides a comfortable ride
Owing to the Syros’ tall-boy design and heavy panoramic sunroof up top, Kia has tuned the dampers on the firmer side to limit body roll. This means that the Syros rides a bit firmer than you’d expect, but at no point does it feel uncomfortable.
On all but the sharpest of ruts and potholes, the Syros’ ride quality proves to be pliant, and Kia also offers three traction modes – Snow, Sand and Mud – to optimise the traction control sensitivity for better grip on loose surfaces.
Now that we’ve covered the Syros’ pros, it’s time to take a look at the compact SUV’s downsides.
Polarising design
May divert prospective buyers towards Seltos or Sonet
The Syros features funky, unconventional styling comprised of vertically-stacked LED headlights that are essentially placed in the front fenders, very thick plastic cladding all around the body, upwards-sloping window line around the B-pillar, and split tail-lamps.
These radical design cues certainly lend the Syros its own identity, but may not be to everyone’s taste. In fact, the Syros’ styling might even push buyers towards the Seltos or Sonet instead – both of which are widely regarded for their appealing designs.
NVH levels need work
Both Syros engines get noisy post 2,000rpm
Two engine options are available with the Syros: a 120hp, 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol and a 116hp, 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel. While both engines feel peppy and responsive enough to drive, they do start to get audible beyond the 2,200-2,500rpm mark, beyond which the NVH levels continue to rise. This puts a veritable damper on what is a fairly smooth and comfortable driving experience otherwise.
Top end variants priced on the higher side
Very close to higher-spec Seltos trims
The Syros price starts at Rs 9.50 lakh and tops off at Rs 17.80 lakh, which places it at the costlier end of the compact SUV segment. In fact, pricing for the top-spec variants of the Syros falls right in the territory of the higher-end HTX and HTX(O) trim levels of the Seltos, which is a segment above.
You can even have the Seltos turbo-petrol – which makes 160hp and 253Nm – paired with a 6-speed iMT for Rs 2 lakh less than the range-topping diesel-powered Syros.
All prices are ex-showroom, India.
