Kia Syros Compact SUV’s Launch Date Revealed
Kia Motors will launch the Syros compact SUV in India on the 19th of December 2024. The Syros will be the third high profile launch from Kia Motors for 2024. Earlier this year, Kia launched the all-new Carnival luxury MPV and the eV9 electric luxury SUV. While the Carnival and eV9 were aimed at the niche, luxury car market, the Syros will be a mass market car, with aspiration for big sales numbers.
The butch-looking SUV from Kia Motors is expected to sit in the space between the Sonet and Seltos, in terms of price and positioning. It’s likely to borrow its engines from the Seltos, and could measure about 4.2 meters in length, which is roughly the size of the Kia Soul sold in markets abroad. Since it measures over 4 meters in length, a 1.5 liter naturally aspirated petrol engine, and 1.5 liter turbo petrol and diesel engines are likely to be offered with the Syros.
Another interesting aspect about the Syros is that it could get an all-electric powertrain sometime in 2025. Along with the Carens Facelift, which is lined up for a 2025 launch, it is expected to be one of Kia’s two new mass market electric cars. Like the Syros, the Carens Facelift will also get turbo petrol and turbo diesel engines – options that are already on offer with the MPV on sale presently.
The turbo petrol motor to be offered on the Syros could be the 1.5 liter-4 cylinder unit seen on the Carens and Seltos. this motor makes 160 Bhp-250 Nm, and is paired with 6 speed manual and 7 speed twin clutch automatic gearbox.
The turbo diesel engine will be the 1.5 liter-4 cylinder unit with 115 Bhp-250 Nm, accompanied with 6 speed manual and torque converter automatic gearbox options. Kia could also offer the 1.5 liter naturally aspirated petrol engine (115 Bhp-144 Nm) on entry level variants of the new SUV.
The Kia Syros will offer customers a different SUV experience from both the Sonet and Seltos. The slab-like proportions – as evidenced by the various teasers and spyshots – of the Syros indicate that the new offering will look more SUV-like than the Sonet and Seltos, both of which have crossover-ish styling. Also, there’s talk of an all wheel drive layout on the Syros, further underscoring its SUV positioning.
However, it remains to be seen if the all wheel drive layout is offered on the ICE versions, or on the electric variants. On the electric variant, implementing an all wheel drive layout is far more easier and cost effective as it involves an electric motor on the front axle rather than the more complex system on ICE.
In fact, we’re going to see multiple, mass market electric cars in 2025 with an all wheel drive layout including the likes of the Tata Harrier, Safari and Sierra models. So, the Syros getting a similar option is very likely.
As for pricing, the Kia Syros is likely to start from Rs. 9 lakh. This will make the new SUV about a lakh pricier than the Sonet and about a lakh cheaper than the Seltos. There will be some cannibalization of both Sonet and Seltos sales but this is something Kia will happily accept as the saying goes, ‘if you don’t cannibalize your products to grow sales, someone else will’. While the launch will happen in December followed by bookings, expect actual sales to commence only in early 2025. The Syros will be one of Kia’s show stoppers at the Bharat Mobility Expo of 2025, which will happen in January-end.
Featured image courtesy Autoweek.NL