The Kia Syros might cannibalise the sales of the Sonet, but to me, it’s a more evolved, innovative take on the compact SUV. Think of the Syros as a more compact MPV because that’s what it’s designed for – to offer more space at the rear. Or to offer more space. Period. Polarising though its design may be, I found the Syros to be a very honest piece of design. Unconventional, yes. But with its large greenhouse, short overhangs and plastic-clad wheel-arches, it seemed tailor-made to take on the topographical challenges offered by every major city in India. Think of it as a considerably more upmarket and larger alternative to the likes of the Wagonr whose spiritual successor, the Syros, certainly appears to be.
Unlike the Sonet which is based on the K2 Platform, the Syros is based on the smaller K1 platform - the same one that forms the basis of the Exter and the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios. This also enables Kia to retroactively electrify the Syros, the result of which we will see next year. On the styling front, it is unabashedly square, from the fenders to the front and rear profile. The A-Pillars are decidedly upright, offering a great view of the road. There’s something Kei-car inspired about both the interiors and the exteriors and, in my book, that’s yet another feather in the Syros’ cap. An equally upright front-fascia remains steadfastly opaque, with the radiator grille pushed below to the bumper and two vertical headlight units flanking it. It’s clear that there won’t be much differentiation in design between the upcoming EV version and this.
The Diesel Mill
Kia is one of the few brands that continues to offer a diesel motor in this range. The Syros gets a 1.5-litre diesel engine that’s good for 116 bhp of power and 250 Nm of torque. With the 6-speed torque converter on the top-end version (the one being tested), performance isn’t as brisk as you’d expect it to be, so a highway scorcher this one isn’t. Yes, there is enough low end grunt so immediate acceleration isn’t infuriating but the diesel Syros likes to be driven with a light foot, with which both the engine and the gearbox offer the best performance. Upshifts are timely and smooth and the downshifts are quick enough to not require the use of the paddle shifters, although for a more engaged drive, you will find your fingers grasping for the paddles. Thanks to the plentiful torque, the Syros does gather decent pace.
As far as NVH levels go, this isn’t the smoothest diesel unit out there but it isn’t the gruffest one either. Some of the noise comes from mashing the throttle and waiting for the cogs to pick-up the slack, so once again, with gentler throttle inputs, the Syros feels reasonably smooth although it makes no attempt to mask its gruff oil-burner heart. The torque converter also is fairly tractible, staying in as high, even at relatively low speeds. Where the Syros excels is in offering a soft, supple ride. Many other cars could benefit from abandoning their sporty intent and being more singular in their purpose like the Syros. Sure there’s considerable body roll and it can be a bit bouncy if driven quickly over potholes but for the most part it offers an above average, if not sublime ride quality.
The Interiors
There’s an IKEA-esque placidity to the cabin, which is packed to the rafters with features, as you can expect in a top-end Rs 17.8 lakh (ex-showroom) car. A large horizontal screen, which includes a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, takes centre stage, but it's the smaller design details that grab your eye. The dash isn’t intrusive. In fact it feels so spacious and airy that it would be better suited to an EV. At least the use of grey cladding on the charging dock and the (illuminated) gear lever certainly suggests so.
It’s got both camera and radar-guided ADAS, USB-C ports, cooled seats at the front and rear, a 360-degree camera, ambient lighting, panoramic sunroof – this car has a lot of kit at the top-end, but then again, it’s not exactly inexpensive. Should you want the top-spec model without the ADAS functions, as I’ll reckon many would, that’s Rs 80,000 off the price tag. Kudos to Kia for providing that option since many find ADAS to be not so much of a luxury as a nuisance and would rather rely on good old-fashioned vision to assist with the job.
Verdict
India is a market that has proven to be experimental with its cars, displaying a healthy appetite for. The Carens was unconventional and remains one of Kia’s biggest hits yet. The Syros does manage to differentiate itself from the Sonet considerably. If it’s a sharp-looking, spacious (boot space tallies up to a cavernous 450 litres with the rear seats slid forward), well-specced, not to mention efficient (Kia claims an efficiency figure of 17.5 kpl for the diesel AT) daily driver you want – you could do a lot worse than the Syros.
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