Kia Syros

• The Syros’ boxy shape and tall stance certainly has an unconventional look to it, making it stand out. 

• Quirky design elements such as the large glass area, chunky wheel arches, and flush door handles pop out in profile. 

• Top-spec 17-inch alloys are the biggest in the segment. Lower variants get 15-inch steel wheels and 16-inch alloys.

• I feel the headlights and taillights are placed too low and outwards on the bumpers, making them prone to damage. 

• Overall styling might be a bit polarising, but it’s a design that’s likely to grow on you over time.

• The cabin of the Kia Syros looks modern and has premium material quality and excellent fit-finish. It’s good enough to be a benchmark in the segment. 

• Ingress and egress is effortless and the front seats are comfortable even for larger frames. 

• I appreciate the presence of physical buttons and switches for all major functions, which also have a satisfying feeling to them. 

• There are multiple interior colour themes available, depending on the variant selected.

• I found the front seats to be comfortable even for anyone who’s plus-sized.

• The rear seats are the best in segment with their slide and recline function, which offers immense versatility. Can easily accommodate a 6’5ft tall person behind a 6ft tall driver when pushed all the way back. 

• Practicality is generous with a total of 23 usable storage spaces, including sizable door pockets, cupholders, and seat back pockets.

Features

The Kia Syros has pushed segment boundaries with its features list. Here are the highlights:

• Apart from the usual 6 airbags and a few electronic aids, the Syros also gets tyre pressure monitoring and both front and rear parking sensors as standard. 

• Level - 2 ADAS pack gets features like adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and auto emergency braking. Have been tuned for our conditions and function as intended on well marked highways. 

• No crash test rating yet, but Kia is confident of a good result.

• Sliding rear seats mean that the Syros’ boot space figure can be adjusted between 390-465 litres, depending on the position of the rear seats. 

• The boot is deep and wide and can store your family’s weekend trip luggage with ease.

• There's a 60:40 split function in the rear seats too, so you can fold them in case you need to carry larger items.

1-litre turbo-petrol

• Doesn’t offer an exciting drive, but has enough power for all use cases. 

• City overtakes are easy, cruising at triple digit speeds is effortless and it doesn’t take much time to reach those speeds. 

• I found the 7-speed DCT to be smooth in slow traffic and quick when required. There’s paddle shifters too if you want manual control. 

• You can expect a fuel efficiency of 10kmpl in relaxed city driving conditions and around 14kmpl on the highway. 

1.5-litre diesel engine

• Offers a great mix of performance and efficiency. Recommended engine if you have a high running. 

• City drives feel effortless and it isn’t lazy to reach triple digit speeds as well. 

• No complaints from the six speed automatic transmission either, both in terms of smoothness and quickness. 

• You can expect a fuel efficiency of around 13kmpl in the city and 18kmpl on the highway.

• There’s scope for improvement in the ride quality of the Kia Syros. 

• It feels comfortable on smooth city roads and while you don’t particularly feel any impact from the bumps, you do move side-to-side over potholes. 

• There’s also vertical movement at higher speeds, which is especially apparent at the rear. 

• Because of its tall height, there’s some expected body roll around a fast corner. But you’ll feel confident in making high speed lane changes. 

• The Kia Syros will be enjoyed more when driven in a calm and relaxed manner.

• The base HTK variant is a good option for those on a tight budget. 

• Overall, the HTK Plus variant of the Kia Syros feels the most value for money with its balance of functional and comfort features.

Is the Kia Syros right for you?

With adequate all round performance and an unmatched rear seat experience, the Kia Syros is for those who want all the perks of a big car like space, practicality, premium features and modern safety tech, but in a small and compact footprint.

Other cars to consider

Kia sonet

Reasons to consider

• More conventional and sportier styling

• Feels more sporty to drive

• Option of a naturally aspirated petrol engine, suitable for relaxed city driving 

Reasons to ignore

• Less rear seat space and comfort

• Misses out on a few features

• Not as well insulated or refined

Tata Nexon

Reasons to consider

• Looks modern without being polarising 

• More comfortable ride quality 

• Offers a fully-loaded CNG option

Reasons to ignore

• Less refined and powerful powertrains 

• Rear seat space is significantly less

• In-car storage spaces are limited

Maruti Brezza

Reasons to consider

• Offers a more efficient CNG option

• More comfortable ride quality

Reasons to ignore

• Less premium cabin experience 

• Limited rear seat space and conveniences

• Misses out on a few feel good features

• No turbo-petrol or diesel engine option

Skoda Kylaq

Reasons to consider

• Proven 5 star safety rating

• Feels more enthusiast oriented 

Reasons to ignore

• Less premium cabin experience

• Limited rear seat space and conveniences

• No diesel option

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Reasons to consider

• Proven 5 star safety rating

• Better ride quality

• More powerful turbo-petrol engine

Reasons to ignore

• Styling might not be to everyone’s tastes

• Infotainment prone to glitches