The Syros (pronounced si-ros) is unlike any sub-4 metre car – it’s neither an SUV, nor a hatchback, not even an MPV or a van, but looks like a box.Its starting price (Rs 9.5 lakh) is more than the top-end variants of most sub-4 metre cars, and the price of its top-end variant (Rs 17.8 lakh) is close to midsize SUVs.And despite being so expensive, Kia has sold almost 25,000 units of the Syros since January.We tested the car in peak Delhi summers for a couple of weeks – to find what makes this box so cool, and what all we didn’t like about it.
What makes it cool?
1. Its boxy styling – love it or hate it – is a head-turner.2. Even its entry-level variants (HTK and HTK+) are loaded with the following features:– Streamline door handles;– 12.3-inch HD touchscreen with wireless Android Auto/Apple Carplay, and four speakers;– Rear AC vents;– Rear door sunshade curtains (amazing feature in our summers);– Electrically-adjustable outside mirrors;– Rear-view camera with dynamic assistance;– Steering wheel-mounted controls.3. The top-end variants of the Syros (HTX and HTX+) get features from luxury cars:– Dual-pane panoramic sunroof;– All five ventilated seats (and rear seat recline);– Harman Kardon eight-speaker sound system;– Dashcam with dual camera;– Wireless smartphone charger;– 64-colour ambient mood lighting;– Rear centre armrest with cupholders, and rear parcel shelf;– All four windows one-touch auto up/down function;– 360-degree camera;– Air purifier with AQI display.4. The cabin space makes it cool – it is more spacious than every sub-4 metre car, and some midsize SUVs.5. The way it handles is cool, too – despite looking like a box, it handles very well at speeds of up to 120 km/h on expressways (even though crosswinds do shake it up a bit).
What makes it average?
1. Ride & handling on broken roads or tall speed-breakers gets rough and uncomfortable;2. There is uncomfortable body roll when taking sharp turns;3. The 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine (with 7-DCT) has poor fuel efficiency – the best we got was 16.2 km/litre, and the worst was 9.6 km/litre. The diesel might have better fuel efficiency;4. Streamline door handles look cool, but they need two touchpoints to operate, and their grooves easily catch dust;5. Seats are comfortable, but don’t have enough thigh support.6. While it’s loaded, some key features are missing (such as rain-sensing wipers).
How does it drive?
Petrol: The 1.0-litre turbocharged engine (88.3 kW; 172 Nm) is quiet and almost no vibrations enter the cabin. There is negligible turbo-lag, and acceleration in the 7-DCT feels powerful. The 6-MT shifts smoothly, but the 6th gear is good only on highways – as it starts knocking if you use it at city speeds of 50-60 km/h. Ride on highways and smooth roads is good, but on broken roads there’s a fair amount of tyre noise and vibrations.
Diesel: It’s the 1.5-litre turbocharged engine (85 kW; 250Nm), mated to 6-MT or 6-AT gearbox options. The car vibrates for a second as you fire the engine, and at low RPMs you can feel the diesel clatter. The 6-AT is quite good and you can drive in traffic at speeds of 10-15 km/h without using the accelerator pedal at all. It accelerates quite fast from about 40-100 km/h, but at high RPMs the cabin turns noisy.
Should you buy it?
The Syros is the priciest sub-4 metre car – Rs 9.5-13.3 lakh (petrol 6-MT); Rs 13.1-16.8 lakh (petrol 7-DCT); Rs 11.3-14.3 lakh (diesel 6-MT); and Rs 17-17.8 lakh (diesel 6-AT) – but a bit like the iPhone (expensive, but value-for-money for those who know their product).At a time when sales of the iPhone are growing in India – research firm IDC said 3 million iPhones were sold in Q1-2025, up from 2.21 million in Q1-2024 – it’s no wonder that car buyers are increasingly looking at feature-rich cars like the Syros.
Prices
Rs 9.5-13.3 lakh (petrol 6-MT)Rs 13.1-16.8 lakh (petrol 7-DCT)Rs 11.3-14.3 lakh (diesel 6-MT)Rs 17.17.8 lakh (diesel 6-AT)
Competitors
Tata Nexon: Available in petrol, diesel, and CNG, and four gearbox options (5-MT, 6-MT, 6-AMT, and 7-DCA). It’s priced from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 15.6 lakh.
Maruti Suzuki Brezza: Available in petrol and CNG, and two gearbox options (5-MT and 6-AT). It’s priced from Rs 8.69 lakh to Rs 14.14 lakh.
Mahindra XUV 3XO: Available in petrol and diesel, and three gearbox options (6-MT, 6-AT, and 6-AMT). It’s priced from Rs 7.99 lakh to Rs 15.79 lakh.
Other competitors are Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Skoda Kylaq, and Tata Punch (but all of these have a relatively cramped cabin, though they are high on features).
What we liked
Boxy styling makes it a head-turner;Sheet metal, doors feel solid, not flimsy;Boxy, but drives well at high speeds;Best cabin space among all sub-4 metre cars.
What we didn’t
The 7-DCT has poor fuel efficiency;Grooves in the streamline door handles catch dust;Shakes a bit on poor, broken roads;Seats don’t have enough thigh support.
