Kia Syros crossover officially unveiled: unusual design with a body length of less than 4 metres

Kia today held the world premiere of the all-new Syros compact crossover in India. It is the Korean brand's second model in the under 4 metre body length segment after the Sonet, and it addresses the latter's major drawback - limited second row space.

Here's What We Know

The new Kia Syros is designed in line with the brand's modern design language, like the larger global EV3 and EV9 models. At 3,995mm in length and 2,550mm in height, the Syros has a rather angular appearance, which is complemented by massive wheel arch overlays. In part, the novelty evokes associations with the Skoda Yeti.

There are eight names in the Kia Syros palette: Frost Blue, Pewter Olive, Aurora Black Pearl, Intense Red, Gravity Grey, Imperial Blue, Sparkling Silver and Glacier White Pearl.

The front panel in the cabin is similar to the Kia EV3, with a digital cockpit including two 12.3-inch displays and a 5-inch screen for climate control. To control the climate system, Kia has provided a series of physical keys above the centre console. Another highlight is the adjustable rear seat with slide, recline and ventilation functions. The boot volume is 465 litres, which is quite good for such a compact car.

In the list of optional extras: panoramic sunroof, 64-colour backlighting, driver's seat with electric adjustments in 4 directions, Harman Kardon sound system with 8 speakers, wireless charging pad for smartphones and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto wireless connectivity. Kia also mentions "call centre-enabled navigation" and several plug-in features. As for safety, the crossover has six airbags and can be equipped with adaptive cruise control.

Engines

Only petrol and diesel versions have been announced so far, but an all-electric version will be added to the line-up later.

The turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol engine produces 120 hp (88.3 kW) and 172 Nm of torque. The 1.5-litre diesel engine develops 116 hp (85 kW) and 250 Nm. The petrol engine is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission and a 7-speed automatic (DCT). The diesel is offered paired with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission with torque converter.

Prices and competitors

The prices have not been officially announced yet. Autocar India expects them prices to be known in February 2025. Most likely, the Syros in the base configuration will be slightly more expensive than the Sonet model, but cheaper than the larger Seltos. The Kia Syros' competitors will be similar models for the Indian market like the Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV 3XO, Maruti Brezza and Skoda Kylaq.

Source: Autocar India