Kia Syros long term review, 13000km report

You’ll have noticed, if you’ve read or watched any of our reviews, that when we critique a car’s design or styling, we add the proviso of “but that’s just my opinion” or “looks are subjective”. However, in the case of the Kia Syros, it would appear they aren’t subjective. Before even getting to its relatively high price, what has seemed to put people off is the way it looks, which, it would appear, is just a bit too odd for this aspirational section of the market. My theory is this: weird works when the car is expensive (like a Tesla), and tall and practical works when the car is affordable (like a Wagon R), but for everything in between, it just won’t fly.

Which is a huge shame, because the Syros could just be the biggest advancement to the compact SUV formula we’ve seen since the segment came into being 13 years ago. 

I realised this the moment I left the controversial exterior behind and stepped into the cabin. It’s as if Kia has, in one fell swoop, addressed all the criticisms levied at compact SUVs (its own Sonet included) and modern cars in general. 

Where to start but with the space, which, thanks to its tall-boy design and clever packaging, gives it as much rear-seat space as the new Seltos within a 4m footprint. And that footprint means it’s still easy to park in a busy Mumbai suburb on a Sunday. And then there’s the sliding, reclining and ventilated rear seat – that’s even more than you get in the Seltos. There are simpler things, too, like choosing grey and beige for upholstery and interior trim instead of the overused and easy-to-ruin white and gloss black. Not to mention one-touch window switches all around, and genuinely well-thought-out storage.

Features? It absolutely doesn’t miss a beat – pano sunroof, rear windows, ADAS (that thankfully stayed off when I asked it to), powered driver seat, 6 airbags, air purifier and, my favourite, the Harman/Kardon sound system. Music takes the edge off the commute for me, and good sound only makes it better; and this is arguably even better than the Bose system in other Kias. You won’t see better screen hardware and software for another 20 lakhs up, and the surround cameras are excellent. 

Apologies if this sounds a bit like a conventional review, but I hadn’t driven the Syros until now, and it amazes me just how slept-on it is. Fuel economy hasn’t been stellar, but that aside, it has won me over through the daily grind. To me, the Syros is to the Sonet what the Clavis is to the Seltos – same size, less desirable body style, but more space. And is that such a bad thing? If you’re practical minded like I have become in my old age, there’s so much more to be had in the Syros. If you can just get past the looks.

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