Kia Syros to enable Korean carmaker to grow its compact-SUV market contribution in India from 15% to 20%

Kia India has today unveiled its latest offering – Kia Syros – for the Indian market which is seeing a growing demand for SUVs. The sub-four-metre Kia Syros which sits above the Kia Sonet, aims to disrupt the compact-SUV segment that includes rivals of the likes of the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, and Maruti Suzuki Brezza.

The Syros will give a fresh charge to Kia India, and empower it to grow its SUV market share. With a UV-centric product portfolio, Kia presently holds around 9% of an estimated 1.84 million UV sales in the country between April-November 2024 period. In fact, within their respective segments, Kia claims that the Sonet, Seltos, and Carens, each comprise 15% market share, and the company says that when it envisioned the Syros, it considered combining the best of both worlds – compact- and mid-size SUV segments. 

According to Hardeep Singh Brar, SVP and Head, Sales and Marketing, Kia India, “The SUV trend is on the rise in India and compact- and mid-sized SUVs today account for a significant 34% share of the PV market, and continue to grow their contribution. While compact SUVs have been growing at a rate of 17% YoY in 2024, mid-size SUVs are growing at 12.5%.”

“While the Sonet, Seltos, and Carens, hold a 15% share of their respective categories within the SUV segment, with the Syros, we aim to grow our market contribution from 15% to 20% in the compact-SUV space,” Brar added.

With a high-on-technology, feature-packed offering, Kia India is betting big on the Indian market’s growing premiumisation trend, with buyers willing to loosen their wallets for a modern, and advanced product. Hence, the Kia Syros, which is based on the same K1 platform as the Sonet, takes a step further to enhance its appeal in a new form factor and high-tech kit.

Dimensional upgrade on K1 platform
While the Syros measures 3,995mm in length, it is 10mm wider than the Sonet (at 1,800mm) and 55mm taller (at 1,665mm). The wheelbase is also longer by 50mm to 2,550mm. This liberates more cabin room, which has been one of the biggest shortcomings of the Kia Sonet compact SUV. 

The car offers sliding-and-reclining function for the rear seats, ventilated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof to enhance the sense of space inside the cabin. At 465-litres, the boot space of the Syros is also 80 litres more accommodating than that of the Sonet. 

According to Brar, “The Syros offers a lounge-inspired interior that enhances the sense of space and offers a luxurious feel inside the cabin. The rear sliding and reclining seats also get a 60:40 split-folding option for unmatched practicality.”

Distinct design over Sonet

While it leverages the same underpinnings as that of the Sonet, the Kia Syros boasts a completely different top hat, with unique styling that makes it appear more tall-boy in stance. The front end gets an upright bonnet and a flat face that is marked by a solid-mass ‘Tiger Nose’. The vertically-stacked tri-cube LED headlights also blend with the overall design theme, while the upfront profile is characterised by a wide stance and strong shoulders. 

The side profile gets large doors which are complemented by flush-fitting outer door handles, a tall window line, and chunky body claddings. The geometric wheel arch claddings which house the 17-inch alloy wheels, also highlight the SUV character of the Kia Syros.

At the rear, a simple tail gate with a solid mass is complemented by a pair of vertically-stacked slim LED tail lamps. A dual-tone, faux rear skid plate lends a sense of toughness to the package.

 Modern, safe cabin

On the inside, the Syros focuses on interior space and features a modern design for the dashboard that features dual-12.3-inch displays for the infotainment and instrument cluster. The car also gets ventilated front seats, an 8-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and ambient lighting.

Uniquely, Kia is offering its Kia Connect 2.0 suite of connectivity features and has also equipped the Syros with a Level-2 ADAS system. As per Brar, “Connectivity makes the Syros future ready with OTA capabilities for software enhancements. The Syros is the first car in its segment to sport this capability, that remotely updates 22 controllers, including the BCM, powertrain systems, infotainment and clsuter, and ADAS. Kia Connect 2.0 also integrates safety, diagnostics, and vehicle tracking.”

In terms erms of safety, the Kia Syros also gets six airbags, and ESC as standard, while also getting parking blind-view monitor and parking sensors at the front as well.

Turbocharged powertrains

With the majority of Kia’s sales of the compact Sonet SUV coming from the entry-level, 1.2-litre gasoline engine variants, Kia is differentiating the Syros with a turbocharged-only approach. The Syros comes powered by the 120hp, 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged gasoline-direct injection petrol engine mated to a 6MT or 7-speed DCT, and a 116hp, 1.5-litre, BS-VI-compliant diesel engine with a 6MT and 6-speed torque-convertor transmission.

The Kia Syros will also be introduced in a locally-manufactured, all-electric avatar in a year’s time. The company says despite close positioning with the Sonet, the powertrain is a key area by virtue of which it has differentiated the Syros, which will also appeal to more family-oriented customers, compared to the Sonet’s individual appeal. 

While bookings for the new Kia Syros will commence on January 3, 2025, its deliveries will start in February. The company is likely to announce the pricing of the SUV at the upcoming Bharat Mobility Show in January. The car will be retailed through Kia’s strong network of 700 touchpoints in over 300 cities in India.

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