BACKROOM BOY

With its quirky design & tall boy looks, the Syros is far from your typical SUV, but then, we don't judge a book by its cover, do we?

- SHIVANK BHATT

So, your pocket only allows you to afford a compact SUV, but your family insists on more space and legroom in the rear? Well, until recently, you had only two options in such a situation. First, just ignore your family obviously a bad idea! Second, stretch your budget and get a bigger loan for a bigger SUV, which is possibly an even worse idea! Things, however, have changed for now, there is a third alternative - the all-new Kia Syros. It's priced like the Sonet but offers the space, practicality, and creature comforts of the Seltos. Well, that's what Kia wants you and me to believe. But is that really the case?

GOT ITS Q

Let's address the elephant in the room the design and appearance of the Syros. Now, this isn't your typical compact SUV. It has a rather quirky and unusual design, which is likely to divide the opinions of buyers in the segment. Its tall-boy design, short overhangs, and slab-sided rear are a far cry from a typical SUV design. Instead, it seems more like a cross between an MPV and an SUV.

That said, I find it appealing. It stands out for sure! It's simple and functional, but at the same time, it's no wallflower. Plus, the EV9-inspired design elements, like vertically stacked cube-shaped LED headlights, starlight LED DRLs, flush door handles, and dual-tone 17-inch alloys (on top models), give it quite a premium feel.

It's an acquired taste, no doubt. For some, it could even be a deal breaker. The Syros prioritises function over form, rather than the other way round - it has not been designed to please your visual senses but to serve a purpose.