Engine and performance
The petrol version of the Kia Syros is has a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that produces 118bhp and 172Nm torque. It comes paired, either with a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Then there's even a 1.5-litre diesel motor, that churns out 114bhp and 250Nm of torque. This oil-burner is paired with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearbox.
What we drove is the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol, which is silent, refined, and feels quite adequate for the job. And when we say that, we mean it has good tractability and offers sufficient grunt at low speeds, has a good mid-range, and can comfortably cruise at high speeds. It also has ‘drive’ and ‘traction’ modes, which can be set from the buttons on the steering wheel. There's Eco, Normal, and Sport mode, and the difference is quite apparent when you slot it in sport mode. The throttle response gets sharper, allows you to rev higher and stay in a lower gear, unlike in the other modes where it upshifts.
Speaking of the seven-speed DCT, Kia Motors says it will offer maximum durability and efficiency. The carmaker says that this gearbox can sustain three lakh km, and has an ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency of 17.68kmpl. The six-speed petrol manual on the other hand, boasts 18.20kmpl. This seven-speed gearbox is quick and seamless. In fact, we managed to sprint the car from 0-100kmph even under non-under ideal conditions, with a cameraman on-board. Nevertheless, it felt quick off the line. It won't be surprising if this crossover can manage a faster sub-10 second 0-100kmph run.
On the ride and handling front, the car's steering feels light, and with two-and-a-half turns lock to lock, it is quick too. Moreover, it weighs up adequately with increase in speeds. The carmaker has optimised the ride quality and improved the steering and suspension, as compared to the Sonet. It has been done to maximise passenger. As a result, low-speed steering comes with ease and the car portrays good body control. It is stable, even at triple-digit speeds. Even for the ride quality, Kia has hit the sweet spot by tuning it nicely for our road conditions, where rough patches, potholes, ruts, and broken roads are dealt with ease.
Exterior
Now let's talk about its exterior. For example, its signature frost blue colour looks good, and Kia says that's been the choice for 20 per cent of the cars booked. Kia's cars have always been unique in terms of styling, and the Syros also echoes the same. It might look a little weird, but look closer, and you'll start appreciating its design elements. For example, the star map LED lights are typical Kia design, seen on more of its recent siblings. It has these ice cube headlamps with DRLs next to it, which integrate the side indicators as well. Even on the side, the car gets flush-fitting retractable door handles, thick B-pillars, roof rails, and the flared wheel arches house two-tone alloy wheels. The design of these wheels is interesting, and a pattern that's unseen before. Likewise, the side cladding isn't just a black piece of plastic, but a tastefully designed unit with a silver insert. Like the vertically stacked LED headlights, it gets similar DRLs on the top most section and LED taillamps in the lower section. Lastly, there's a silver slab-like faux skid plate complimenting the look.
Interior and Features
The Kia Syros is based on a reinforced K1 platform. Though it has a boxy design, it promises interior space comparable to SUVs from a higher segment. There's good enough space in the front, and with an electrically adjustable seat, finding the perfect driving position is easy. The dashboard design is modern and simple, with horizontal air-con vents, and a huge 30-inch screen taking centre stage. There's also this new flat-bottom steering wheel with an asymmetric Kia logo on it, which we like. It gets all the controls, music, ADAS, infotainment etc. In fact, it even gets separate buttons; one for driving modes, and the other for traction modes. Furthermore, speaking of the 30-inch dual-screen layout, it houses a digital instrument cluster and a touchscreen infotainment system. There's even a five-inch screen between the air-con controls, so that you don't have to toggle between infotainment and AC controls on one screen itself.
In terms of quality, fit and finish, Kia has done a great job, as there is no equipment that looks or feels tacky. The grey coloured upholstery in different shades is a great idea and looks premium, matching other elements. There's even an orange accent on the seat backrest to add to the spunk. Interestingly, these colours and patterns change with top-spec variants boasting leatherette and entry-level trims still getting part-fabric, part-leatherette seats.
In terms of equipment, the Syros is a feature-packed vehicle. Some notable features include an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, ambient lighting, connected car features with remote window ventilation, rear AC vents, and a rear sunshade. That reminds us of the rear-seat experience which is a USP of this car! There's oodles of space in the second row in terms of knee- and legroom. The headroom is sufficient for a 5'8 individual like me, but sliding and reclining seats add to the space. Besides, an arm rest provides more support and ventilated seats make the experience more relaxing. Also, the shoulder room is good for four, but adding another occupant wouldn't be very uncomfortable, as the centre portion of the seat is flat, and the floor doesn't have a high hump. The panoramic sunroof adds to the feel-good factor in this top-spec variant, and Kia will offer a smaller one for lower variants as well.
The Syros is equipped with a slew of safety features. The car gets a 360-degree camera, six airbags, ESC, hill-start, and disc brakes on all four corners. Then, there's Level 2 ADAS which uses a combination of radar, cameras, and sensors for the driver-assist and braking tech. Unfortunately, we didn't get to experience the autonomous braking system, but we did manage to try out some other interesting features like lane assist, adaptive cruise control, lead-car departure, and lane-watch camera that are practical and will help drivers.
Conclusion
The new Kia Syros will sit between the Sonet and the Seltos. Bookings for this latest sub-4-metre SUV have started, and deliveries will begin early in February. It slots itself into the sub-4-metre segment due to its length. But it's only the length that makes it comparable to other cars in this segment. It manages to bring in multiple features, even from the midsize SUV segment. Yes, the Syros is boxy and not as muscular or sharp as other SUVs. Yet, it is modern, unique, and has a spacious and comfortable cabin, and an interior that is loaded with new tech and many features. Some features like a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting etc. maybe considered a novelty, but most features including ventilated seats are very practical for our market. But then, the Syros is aimed to fill in the space where buyers are ready to shell out that premium for a car with a compact footprint, a slew of new features, and a comfortable cabin. It will appeal to buyers, as it looks like a promising package.
Note: Pictures of the diesel Kia Syros have been used for reference.
Pictures also added by Kapil Angane
