Kia Syros is positioned neatly between the company’s two popular offerings: the Seltos and the Sonet. This sub-4m SUV doesn’t try to be a Sonet-plus or a Seltos-lite. Instead, it carves its own space in the market. The Syros is a boxy, tall, family-first machine that blends MPV practicality with SUV road presence. It’s a car for people who see their vehicle not just as a driving tool but also as an everyday living room on wheels. And while it gets so much right, space, features, and safety it also falls into the “practical car” trap, where excitement sometimes takes a back seat to sheer usability.
Why Syros Exists
The Indian SUV market is ballooning in every direction, but in the sweet spot between ₹9 lakh and ₹18 lakh, buyers are spoilt for choice. You’ve got compact SUVs such as the Sonet, Nexon, and Brezza, and midsize SUVs like the Creta, Seltos, and Grand Vitara. Kia realised something clever: as the Seltos grows bigger, more luxurious, and more expensive, it leaves a gap for a spacious family car with premium touches that still benefits from sub-4m tax advantages. The Syros perfectly fits this puzzle, becoming the “mini Carnival” or “small Carens” that no one asked for, but a lot of families might end up wanting.
Design: Polarising by Intent
In pictures, the Syros can look awkwardly upright, but in person, its tall stance and vertical lines make sense. Flush door handles, manual, not motorised, oversized grey cladding, and lamps pushed to the very corners give it a distinct identity. The evident downside to this design is that the headlamps and tail-lamps are now prime targets for scuffs in tight parking situations.
Cabin: Where Syros Justifies Its Existence
Step inside, and you’ll see the masterstroke. The Syros offers an MPV-like sense of air in a sub-4m footprint. The tall roofline, massive glasshouse, and 2550 mm wheelbase create a rear seat experience that’s genuinely segment-defying. The rear bench slides, reclines, and, in top trims, even ventilates. Knee-room is better than many SUVs, headroom is tall-people-friendly, and shoulder space is enough for three. The flat floor adds to comfort, and the massive windows make the cabin feel open and airy.
The front seats are equally accommodating, offering a commanding driving position and good visibility. Higher trims get a powered driver’s seat, though it tilts rather than rises flat, something taller drivers might notice.
Dash & Tech Layout
Kia’s interior design game is strong here. The dashboard is fresh, with vertical elements, clean lines, and physical buttons placed where you need them. Top trims get the now-signature triple-screen layout, comprising two 12.3-inch displays for infotainment and instrumentation, along with a 5-inch climate control screen, cool to look at but arguably unnecessary. Even the base HTK gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, plus rear AC vents with sunblinds, which is more than some rivals’ mid-variants.
Storage has been given thought, although some solutions are occasionally impractical. The deep adjustable cupholders can make fishing for your coffee tricky, though door pockets are generous. The glove box is a decent size (though not cooled), and there are dedicated phone slots for convenience.
Build Quality
As expected from Kia, fit-and-finish is top-notch where your hands and eyes fall most often. Soft-touch panels, glossy grey plastics, and well-damped switchgear create a premium impression. Lower down, some harder plastics creep in, and they’re not quite at Sonet levels in perceived quality.
Engines & Transmissions
The Kia Syros offers two tried-and-tested powertrains from the Kia-Hyundai family. The 1.0-litre turbo-petrol produces 118 bhp and 172 Nm of torque. It’s punchy in the mid-range, feels lively in both city and highway driving, and is paired with either a 6-speed manual (6MT) or a smooth-shifting 7-speed dual-clutch automatic (7DCT). While the DCT makes for effortless commuting, the petrol engine can be thirsty in stop-go traffic, averaging around 10–12 kmpl in the city.
The 1.5-litre diesel delivers 114 bhp and a healthy 250 Nm of torque, giving it effortless torque delivery and quiet, relaxed cruising manners. It’s offered with a 6-speed manual (6MT) or a 6-speed torque converter automatic (6AT). On the highway, the diesel is exceptionally frugal, with real-world efficiency figures often touching 24–25 kmpl. The diesel automatic, however, is reserved for higher-spec trims.
Driving Experience
This is where the Syros will not attract the hardcore driving enthusiast. Kia has a history of launching cars with slightly off suspension tuning, then refining it a year later. With 17-inch wheels, the Syros rides firmly over broken surfaces and can feel floaty at speed. The heavier diesel AT masks these issues better, but the mismatch is still there.
High-speed stability is commendable, and body roll is kept in check for such a tall car. Steering is light for city use but lacks feedback on the highway. Brakes are progressive, with all-wheel discs in higher trims, though tyre grip could be better. Noise insulation is good but not class-leading. The petrol engine’s note seeps into the cabin under hard acceleration, and there’s some vibration at idle.
Features
Kia knows Indian buyers love features, and the Syros doesn’t disappoint. Level-2 ADAS is available in top trims, bringing adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, forward collision avoidance, blind spot monitoring, and auto high beam. Six airbags are standard across all variants, and the model proudly carries a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating. Ventilated front seats appear from the HTX trim onwards, while the HTX Plus adds a ventilated rear seat base. A dual-pane panoramic sunroof is offered from mid-trim levels. There’s also a 360° camera, front and rear parking sensors, and even side sensors, a segment-first. OTA updates and Kia Connect 2.0 enhance connectivity, while the Harman Kardon 8-speaker audio system sounds good.
Safety
The Syros isn’t just feature-rich; it’s genuinely sorted on safety. Kia’s first Bharat NCAP 5-star rating sets the tone. Six airbags are standard, along with stability control, hill-hold assist, TPMS, and ISOFIX mounts from the base variant. Top trims add blind spot view monitors, and ADAS is calibrated to work well in Indian conditions.
Who It’s For
The Kia Syros isn’t trying to be a driver’s car. It’s an unapologetic family-focused, tech-loaded, comfort-first machine. It’s perfect for buyers who often have rear passengers, value features and safety as much as looks, and want an easy city car with the ability to handle long highway trips.
The Syros’ strengths lie in its outstanding rear seat comfort and space, feature-rich base trims, premium cabin feel, strong safety package, diesel efficiency for long trips, and flexible boot design. On the flip side, its weaknesses include the need for suspension refinement (especially with 17-inch wheels), petrol turbo efficiency in city conditions, polarising exterior styling, plastics that don’t quite match the Sonet in quality, and steering that lacks highway feedback.
The Syros feels like a car that will age well once Kia ties those shoelaces, i.e., sorts the suspension. For now, it’s a compelling choice for the family buyer who wants Seltos-like comfort and features without stretching the budget. In a market where style often trumps substance, the Syros is refreshingly substance-first… with just a hint of Kia’s usual showmanship.
