The Kia Syros didn’t find the success it was hoping for. For starters, the boxy design didn’t go too well with Indians who are very conscious of aesthetics and second was the price, which was considered to be on the higher side but was it? Well, for the amount of kit you get in the Kia Syros, it seemed to be justified, no? Let’s get outside the perception, how is the Syros to live with as a daily car? The Syros 1.5-Diesel AT made it to the CarAdvice garage, and we had the chance to put it through day to day challenges.
Let’s start with the design. I personally started to love it after a while, especially after I realised the amount of practicality the design renders to the car. Yes, it does take time to grow on you and even if it doesn’t, that surely can’t be a dealbreaker by itself. The EV9 and Carnival-inspired design language is modern and the Sub 4-Meter size is what truly makes this car stand out . In a city like Mumbai, where you are struggling to find parking and need to frequently weave through traffic, the size surely helps. Well, the best part is that the size hasn’t compromised on the interior space. The interiors of the Kia Syros are by far, the most spacious offered by any sub 4-metre car.
The cabin of the Kia Syros is airy and the panoramic sunroof allows light to make it seem much roomier than it is. There is no shortage of space, even with my driving position (I am 6 foot 3 inches), the rear bench has so much legroom, you can actually fold your legs and sit without touching the front seat. The rear seat is the talking point clearly, it offers ventilation (cushion only) and multiple angles of recline, making it super comfortable if you are chauffeur driven. The ventilation function makes a huge difference in our tropical climate. The rectangular boot allows 2 large and a medium bag, making the Syros practical for long trips. The flushed door handles look cool but people are confused how to use them. Most people thought they will pop out electronically. Gets sometime getting used to.
The 3-screen layout looks modern but the temperature screen isn’t easily visible as the steering covers it, you need to strain your neck to get a good view. Lots is storage spaces for odds and ends and the small gear lever is quite funky. There is a lot of space in the centre console as Drive mode buttons have moved to the steering wheel. The steering wheel too looks modern and feels quite good to hold. Our test car comes with GoodYear tyres which offer quite good grip levels. The ride is slightly harsh but acceptable. Handling is sharp and the Syros feels quite planted at high speeds.
Powered by the same 1.5-litre diesel which does duty on most of Hyundai-KIA cars, this CRDi engine produces 116 PS and 250 NM. Mated to this is the 6-speed Torque Converter but this car drives very very differently as compared to others using the same hardware. For starters, this Syros feels a bit noisier, NVH levels from the engine could have been better. From the performance standpoint, power feels enough, the car pulls cleanly with little drama. Acceleration is brisk and the torque ensures you get up to speed quickly. So from the driving perspective, everything feels good. But there is a problem!
Why does one buy a diesel car? Purely for better fuel economy and less trips to the fuel pump. The Syros unfortunately doesn’t come to terms with that. In our mileage test, the Syros was returning 9.5-10 KMPL in the routine city running cycle and around 12.5-13 KMPL on the highways. This fuel efficiency came as a surprise especially since our long term diesel Alcazar was returning much much more. We repeated the mileage test 5-6 times and each time we got the same figures. To give the Syros the benefit of doubt, we sent the car back to the workshop for a thorough evaluation, it turns out everything was absolutely fine. Then what was the reason for this poor fuel economy?
We dug deep, spoke to insiders and came to the following conclusion. The Syros is a heavy car, so the additional weight is proving to be detrimental to the mileage. It isn’t aerodynamic either and the engine tuning has been done differently on the basis of weight and to keep emissions in check. Basically, the days of diesel efficiency are gone and going forward it looks like Hybrids will be the best way forward. However, there are no plans for the Syros hybrid but Syros EV is in the works and should be launched this year.
To sum up, the Syros has served us pretty well and we have been extremely happy with the practicality and comfort it offers. It’s spacious, loaded with tech, drives well, stable at high speeds and ticks almost all the boxes. Well almost, we have come to terms with the design and the only sour point being the fuel economy but if you can get yourself around that, the Syros really deserves to sell more than it does. We Indians always claim that we don’t get JDM spec cars in India and when we do, we end up finding faults with it.
