If Delhi-NCR’s streets could talk, they’d tell tales of honking autos, darting scooters, and the occasional cow playing traffic cop. I took the Kia Syros – the HTX+ variant in Intense Red colour – out one morning to see if this compact SUV could tame the madness of the region’s urban jungle, and maybe, even make it fun.
Spoiler: It’s got more game than I expected. From dodging potholes on NH-48 to chasing street food in the narrow lanes of Old Delhi, here’s how my day with the Syros, powered by the G1.0T-Gdi 7DCT engine unfolded.
Morning madness: Surviving NH-48’s rush hour
To test the Syros in neck-to-neck traffic, I hit the road from Gurugram’s Sector 65 to Delhi’s CR Park via the Gurgaon-Delhi Highway (NH-48), right in the heart of the 9:00 AM rush, a time when most commuters dread being behind the wheel. On a good day, this 30-km stretch to the Gurugram-Delhi border takes 25-35 minutes, but during peak hours, it’s a 45-minute-to-an-hour crawl. The streets turn into a chaotic maze of two-wheelers, rickshaws, and overzealous cabs cutting lanes like nobody’s business.
The Syros’s high seating position made me feel like I was sitting on a throne, giving me a clear view over the sea of vehicles clogging the highway. Its compact size was a lifesaver, letting me dart through gaps that would’ve stopped bigger SUVs cold. I zipped past a cycle rickshaw with inches to spare near IFFCO Chowk, feeling like I’d cracked the code to Gurugram’s notorious traffic. At the tricky Shankar Chowk intersection, where signals seem to conspire against you, the Syros’s quick power delivery let me slip through just as the light turned green, saving me from another minute of gridlock.
In the bumper-to-bumper chaos near Mahipalpur, where NH-48 turns into a parking lot, the Syros shone. The steering was light and precise, letting me occupy tight spots without breaking a sweat, even as cabs tried to bully their way in. The ventilated seats, combined with the efficient air conditioning system, were a godsend in Delhi-NCR’s sticky 40°C heat, keeping me cool. The front-view camera was like having an extra pair of eyes, and the sensor alerts pinged in time to stop me from getting too cozy with swerving office goers.
Midday escapades: CR Park’s tight squeeze to GK 2’s coffee run
By 10:30 AM, I crossed Hauz Khas and decided to head to CR Park’s G Block to meet a friend. Parking in those narrow lanes has always been a nightmare, but the Syros slid into a tight spot between two giant trees, the front and rear cameras guiding me to squeeze the vehicle between two giant trees.
After catching up, my friend and I decided on an impromptu coffee run to GK 2’s M Block Market. He was seeing the Syros in the flesh for the first time and claimed the backseat to test its comfort. He was stunned by the space and comfort it offered, sprawling out like he owned the place. The rear seats had generous legroom, letting him stretch his legs as much as he pleased, and the thigh support kept him comfortable. The reclining seats were a hit. He adjusted them and lounged like he was in a movie theatre. The rear ventilation (only on the seats) kept him comfortable in Delhi’s heat. He also loved the sun-blinds. Drifting through the one-way roads in the market was a breeze, and I could secure a parking spot easily.
After dropping him back to his place, I decided to take the Syros to try its sports mode. To ensure there’s no traffic on the route, I decided to go on the Faridabad-Gurgaon highway that cuts through the Aravalli hills.
Evening rush: Highway kicks and the Old Delhi chaos
It was 3.30 PM already, and the map showed 20-odd minutes to get where I wanted. I wanted to see how the Normal and Sports modes on the Syros stacked up.
Since morning, I had been driving in Normal mode, and the drive through NH-48’s morning madness was not tiring at all. On the Faridabad-Gurgaon Highway, it kept things smooth and composed, gliding over the uneven patches near the Aravalli foothills with a calm, almost Zen-like vibe. The throttle eased in gently, and that was just what I needed with the slow crawl near Badshahpur, where a couple of trucks refused to pick a lane. Even the odd potholes didn’t cause much fuss; the suspension took it on the chin.
When the road opened up just after Gwal Pahari, I couldn’t resist. I switched the Syros to Sport mode, and instantly, it felt like someone had jolted it awake with caffeine. The throttle got punchier, ready to play. The engine gave a deep, eager growl as I pushed down, and the steering firmed up nicely. It was as if the whole car had tensed in anticipation. I was at 100 before I knew it, and even by 120, the drive was still calm, confident. Eventually, I took a U-turn and headed back toward GK-2 –– I had to pick up a friend who insisted on going to Chandni Chowk. Don’t ask me why.
By 5 PM, my friend and I were on our way to Old Delhi. I usually don’t take cars to that area. Delhi Metro, I believe, is the best way to get there. But this trip was my ultimate test for the Syros. I was curious to see whether the drive back would leave me completely drained, especially with the maze that is Chandni Chowk waiting at the other end.
Winding through the knot of lanes near Dariba Kalan felt less like driving and more like walking a wire in a windstorm. The streets were barely wider than a pair of rickshaws, jammed with everyone from cyclists and shoppers to men frying chaat right on the curb. At one point, I edged past a cart stacked precariously with jalebis, watching the front camera nervously as the gap between me and disaster narrowed to inches. The steering, thankfully, was snappy and precise, letting me manage the madness with enough control.
Inside the car, my friend was happy and completely unfazed by the circus we were navigating. She cranked up the Syros’s sound system, playing old-school ghazals and Coke Studio songs that matched Chandni Chowk’s vibe. The Harman Kardon speakers filled the car with crisp, thumping sound, turning our crawl through the alleys into a mini concert. The ventilated seats were her other obsession. She fiddled with the seat controls, reclining slightly to soak in the breeze from the AC vents, and raved about the seating comfort.
After a sumptuous dinner at Al Jawahar, we zipped back to GK, and by 11.30 PM, I drove back to Gurgaon Sector 65. The night drive was pleasant. The Syros almost glided home, and I made the best use of the massive panoramic sunroof the car has.
A city-proof companion
The Syros, I admit, has an exterior – with its tall boy frame – that can get polarising views. Most people call it a WagonR that hIt the gym. But it is not a car that doesn’t garner a lot of attention on the road. It does, and many have walked up to me in the past few days to enquire about the car and its performance. Plus, the interior is to die for, and I doubt if there’s any car in India – in any segment – that offers as many features as the Syros.
Is it flawless? Maybe not. But is it worth every penny? I think so.