Kia India has just launched their second EV in the country in the form of Syros EV. This is their first ever attempt to take on the popular and high volume B Segment EV space to rival heavy hitters like Nexon EV and Punch EV. To put up a fair fight, Kia Syros EV comes with almost everything one could ask for in this price and size.
Excellent interior packaging, a feature-rich cabin, outstanding space and comfort, future-ready technology, and an electric powertrain that delivers strong range and performance are among Syros EV’s biggest strengths. We drove it in Bengaluru as part of the national media drive and we put it through testing across various parameters and compiled our thoughts on whether it is the new B Segment EV benchmark or not.
Kia Syros EV Review
We should get pricing out of the way because Kia Syros EV gets two pricing ladders – with and without BaaS. Without BaaS, Kia Syros EV Ex-sh prices range between Rs 13.5 lakh and Rs 20 lakh. With BaaS model, Kia Syros EV prices start from Rs 7.99 lakh + Rs 3.3 per km for the smaller battery pack. There are 9 monotone colours in total including the Matte Graphite colour exclusive to X-Line. That is the colour we sampled and loved.
The paint quality is among the best in the segment, and the Matte Graphite finish looks particularly striking. Syros EV is a tall-boy boxy sub 4m SUV for maximum interior space optimisation. Syros EV retains the identical quirky design from ICE version (recent 2026 model in particular) and it continues to split opinions. I think Syros EV looks polarising, but many in my team like Syros EV design and they say it has grown on them. Majority wins, I guess.
17-inch wheels, pop-out door handles, vertical LED headlights, split tail lights, thick B Pillars, unconventional window line, geometrical alloy wheel designs, squarish wheel arches and the added fog lights in front bumpers (similar to ICE version) are notable. If you always liked or disliked Syros, Syros EV will continue to instill the same feelings as ICE model because it remains visually identical, except for the charging port on front left quarter panel.
Interior Features & Equipment
While the exterior design may divide opinions, the same cannot be said about the cabin. Both Syros and Syros EV have one of the best interiors in the segment, combining thoughtful packaging, premium feel and a long equipment list. We liked the triple screens – 12.3-inch infotainment, 12.3-inch instrumentation and then a 5-inch climate control screen sandwiched in between. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported, there’s built-in maps, Harman Kardon audio system with a subwoofer.
Infotainment screen also doubles up as the monitor for 360-degree cameras. The button to trigger the 360-degree cameras is in centre console right where your left hand always rests (love the placement). We appreciated Kia’s love for physical controls. There are physical buttons for infotainment shortcuts and a vertical dial for volume. This dial doubles up as a button to turn off the screen. Below it is physical toggles for climate control.
There’s a 100W Type-C fast charger too which charged my phone and laptops at full capacity. The wireless charger occasionally did not charge my Samsung Fold phone, which might just be limited to our particular unit. Floating centre console creates a lot of storage below the front armrest. Gear selector is mounted on the steering column and this stalk also houses the start button as well. Kia Connect 2.0 telematics suite is extensive and offers a wide range of connected features.
Driver’s seat is powered with a limited range of motion, but is alright. Both front seats are ventilated for both back and thigh areas, while rear seats get ventilation only for thigh area. We wished this was for the back instead of thighs or ventilated for both. Rear AC vents, rear Type-C ports, panoramic sunroof, LED interior lighting, digital key which can be stored in your (compatible) phone and other attributes are notable too.
Space & Comfort
Just like the Syros ICE model, there’s nothing to complain about with Syros EV in terms of space and comfort. Both front and rear seats are spacious and accommodating. Rear seats are objectively the most versatile in the B SUV space. Seat base can slide forward and backward and seat back can recline to quite a comfortable degree. You can nap in the rear seat too and rear armrest helps in that regard further.
Two adults will sit comfortably at the rear and third centre occupant might be a squeeze, but there’s a flat floor and centre occupant will not have to fight for leg space. Maximum achievable boot space with Syros EV is 390L, which is quite commendable for a B SUV with this much comfort. There’s a 16L frunk under the bonnet, which can be usable for groceries and other paraphernalia.
Powertrains & Performance
Kia Syros EV has brought powertrain and performance of Hyundai Creta Electric, which is from a segment above, to the B Segment electric SUV space. Battery packs are 42 kWh and 51.4 kWh, promising range of up to 526 km on a single charge and powering a single electric motor rated at up to 171 PS of peak power and 255 Nm of peak torque. Kia claims an acceleration figure of 8.1s from 0-100 km/h and in real world, Syros EV comes close.
So, Syros EV now has the biggest battery in segment, highest range in segment and then highest performance in segment. Real world range of 400 km in multiple scenarios is possible too. The acceleration is quite strong. There are three modes – Eco, Normal and Sport, with variable performance at mild throttles. No matter which mode you are in, full throttle gives you full performance.
There are three levels for regeneration braking, controlled by paddle shifters. They allow drivers if they want to coast on the highway or get maximum regen, L3 being the strongest regen. On top of these, there’s an i-Pedal model which allows for one-pedal driving which brings the vehicle to a complete halt when let go of the throttle, giving it an edge over immediate competition.
Drive & Dynamics
In terms of ride quality, there’s an underlying firmness with Syros EV which we do not recall with Syros ICE. Maybe this is to counter the added weight of the 51.4 kWh battery pack. We felt like the suspension could have tuned more extensively to absorb bumps and road undulance better. On certain bumps, Syros EV thunked which filtered into the cabin, jolting the occupants. This was with two adults in the front seats. Ride quality might improve with a full house.
In terms of dynamics, Syros EV has a vague steering which is light for city use, but does not weigh up as much as we would have liked for highway speeds. There’s quite a disconnect with the road and it does not inspire confidence at all. Syros EV offers disc brakes at all four corners and braking performance is adequate, but did not blow us away. For everyday commuters and non-enthusiastic buyers, these will not matter and Syros EV will emerge as a dynamically good offering.
Even Syros EV’s ADAS is one of the most reliable and dependable systems in this segment. Lane keeping functions take over instantly and we did not feel like it was being too intrusive. There were no instances of unnatural behaviour and it did not brake pre-maturely.
What Can Be Better
Corners are the most prone to light dings or small mishaps and that is where headlights and tail lights of Syros EV are. So, a little ding will prove to be a costly affair needing replacements of lighting elements. Added fog lights are appreciated, but they don’t have cornering functions. The floating centre console is nice and it liberates a lot of storage opportunities, but it brings slight ergonomic inconveniences.
Music system did not blow us away and we wished there were more soft touch plastics on dashboard. Also, rain-sensing wipers are missing and Kia does not offer full-screen Maps or even partial Maps view in the instrument cluster which is a glaring omission. Only turn-by-turn navigation is offered which does not give the driver an opportunity to analyse the turn or curve ahead, without looking at the infotainment screen.
Should you buy one?
Syros EV isn’t perfect. The ride could be more compliant, the steering lacks feel and the design will remain divisive. But if your priorities are space, features, everyday usability, range and outright performance, it’s difficult to find another electric SUV in this segment that offers such a complete package. That, more than anything else, is what makes Syros EV one of the new benchmarks in the B-segment EV space.
