KIA SYROS

Kia's second compact SUV for the Indian market is quite the disruptor!

- ABHAY VERMA

KIA SYROS HTX PLUS 1.0 TURBO 7DCT

Engine: 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol

Power: 120PS @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 172Nm @ 1,500 - 4,000rpm

Gearbox: 7-speed DCT

Price: 15.99 lakh ex-showroom

Weight: 1,221kg

Before we get to talking about the SUV, let's understand why Kia is launching the Syros. The past decade has seen compact SUVS take centre stage in the Indian market. Not only have they eaten into the share of premium hatchbacks and compact sedans, they've also dented the sales of midsize sedans and SUVs! And today, the segment has turned into a pie so lucrative that Kia India now wants a bigger share of it. The Sonet has been doing excellently-launched in 2020 and given a facelift last year, it continues to rake in good numbers. But Kia feels the compact SUV segment holds more potential than currently tapped, and also that there exists a gap between the Sonet and Seltos in its product line-up that's big enough to be bridged by something like the Syros.