Kia Syros gets 5-star BNCAP crash test rating

The Kia Syros has been crash-tested by BNCAP, and it has come away with a 5-star safety rating for both adult occupant protection (AOP) and child occupant protection (COP). The Syros scored 30.21 out of 32 points in AOP and 44.42 out of 49 in COP. This makes it Kia’s first model to get a 5-star safety rating in a crash test by either BNCAP or GNCAP.  

1. The Syros scored 30.21 out of 32 points in AOP
2. It secured 44.42 points out of 49 in COP
3. A 5-star rating is applicable for all petrol variants

BNCAP tested the top-spec HTX+ petrol-DCT and the mid-spec HTK(O) petrol-MT variants of the Syros, but the ratings are applicable for the entire petrol range of the Syros.

Kia Syros' safety features

Gets 6 airbags, ESC as standard 

The tested models came equipped with six airbags, three-point seatbelts with reminders for all passengers, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), ISOFIX anchors for rear outboard seats and a passenger-side airbag cut-off switch. The Syros also complies with ESC regulations and AIS-100 pedestrian protection norms.

Kia Syros adult occupant protection

30.21 out of 32 in AOP 

The report noted that the protection offered to the driver’s and the passenger’s head and neck regions was good, although protection to the driver’s chest and knee areas was adequate. The Syros secured 14.21 out of 16.00 in the frontal offset deformable barrier test. In the side movable deformable barrier test, the Syros secured 16.00 out of 16.00, offering good protection overall. In the side pole impact test, it was rated as OK.

Kia Syros child occupant protection

44.42 out of 49 in COP 

The Syros scored 23.42 out of 24 points in the dynamic test and 10 out of 12 points in the CRS installation. The 18-month-old and the 3-year-old child dummies were tested in rearward-facing child seats positioned in the front passenger seat, secured by ISOFIX anchorages and a support leg.

Interestingly, while the Sonet is based on Kia’s K2 platform, the Syros is underpinned by the smaller K1 platform that underpins cars like the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios and Exter. The company refers to the Syros’ platform as the reinforced K1, though, given that it has been strengthened with a lot of hot-stamped parts in the body shell. Kia says using the newer K1 platform has enabled it to bring in the latest electrical and electronics architecture and upgrade it to perform better in NCAP tests.

Kia Syros BNCAP score vs rivals

Kylaq has a higher safety score 

Among the Syros’ rivals, the Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV 3XO and the Skoda Kylaq have also been crash-tested by BNCAP, with all securing a 5-star rating. Among these, the Kylaq boasts the highest points, while the Syros comes just after it, followed by the Nexon and XUV 3XO. In Kia’s own stable, the Syros is the highest-rated car. The Seltos, Sonet and Carens have been crash-tested by GNCAP before, and all three cars have only secured a 3-star rating.