The Kia Syros was one of the first new cars I tested at the start of the year and I have to say, I was mighty impressed with the SUV’s packaging. I felt, Kia India was right in identifying a niche in the compact SUV segment, one that every other manufacturer offering a sub-4 metre SUV seems to have missed. A ‘compact’ SUV it may be, but Kia has packaged the Syros in a manner that it feels more spacious and has more features than most midsize SUVs that sit a segment above it, making it a very interesting proposition. And while the press drive at the start of the year did help me assess the SUV well, I was keen on spending more time with the Syros. And with it joining our fleet for a few months, I’m keen on living the SUV and seeing how it stacks up against bigger SUVs, like its own elder sibling, the Seltos, and the Hyundai Creta, both of which are heavyweights from the midsize SUV segment.
Admittedly, what I like the most about the Syros here is that it does not skimp on offering a premium feel, just because it is a compact SUV. And this is the memo other manufacturers seem to have missed, at least until a while ago. Because not only does the Syros look very premium, it also feels plush, well built and has the vibe of a scaled-down premium SUV, which I feel is what a lot of buyers living in metro cities would want. And that’s because a bigger vehicle means more cause for concern when driving in peak-hour traffic and also more challenges while maneuvering, be it in traffic or in parking lots.
In comparison, the Syros feels easier and less stressful to drive thanks to its relatively more compact footprint. I also like the seating position as you sit tall, with an excellent view of the road ahead. Also, our long term Syros is the petrol version with Kia’s 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine (that puts out 120PS and 172Nm), mated to a 7-speed DCT under its hood. This is a powertrain we’ve always liked, we’re, err… TURBOCHARGED after all! Besides the affable powertrain, it’s the comfortable seats, richness of the materials used inside and the feature-rich cabin that impress too.
I’m particularly impressed by its 360-degree view system and the Harman Kardon music system. My commutes over the past couple of weeks have thus been quite engaging, and I’m hoping to tell you more about the experience of living with the Syros in the coming months, as I spend more time with it.
