- Firmer ride expected
- Mechanicals likely to be borrowed from the Hyundai Inster
Kia seems to be readying the India-spec Syros EV, and a wrapped test mule was spied testing in Delhi-NCR. While the overall silhouette remains unchanged, key placements and cosmetic modifications hint at a non-ICE powertrain.
The first giveaway is the placement of the charging port, which is located on the sub-4m SUV’s front fender, whereas the ICE iteration has a left rear quarter-mounted fuel lid. The alloy design has also been changed, and these look like aero-optimised units. Underneath the camouflage, expect a closed-off grille, active air vents for cooling the battery pack, charging indicators integrated in the port, EV badges, and drive and regen modes. A dual 12.3-inch display separated by a dedicated five-inch HVAC control unit, ADAS, 360-degree cameras, and all safety features as its ICE counterpart, will be carried over. Further feature additions are unknown for now, as we await an official announcement from the carmaker.
Mechanically, the Kia Syros EV will mostly mirror the Hyundai Inster EV, getting 42kWh, 95bhp/147Nm and 49kWh, 113bhp/147Nm battery + motor combinations. With support for 120kW DC fast charging, the Syros EV should be able to juice up from 10-80 per cent in 30 minutes. Like the Creta Electric, the Syros EV is likely to use an NMC battery pack rather than an LFP unit. This means the Syros EV should get eight years of battery warranty.
What Could Improve
Ride Quality: The ICE Kia Syros has a soft rear suspension, and it leads to noticeable kickback, especially when the car is fully occupied. EV powertrains, given the battery placement, warrant a firmer ride. The Syros EV will be no exception. While its handling may not witness a dramatic improvement, the said change should make the overall ride better.
Efficiency: The efficiency of the ICE Syros, both in petrol and diesel iterations, across manual and automatic transmission systems, has fallen short of our expectations. However, the carmaker has had a good track record with the efficiency of the EV powertrain. The Syros EV will get the same DNA.
What Would Remain Unchanged
Off-conventional headlights: Given that there’s no change in the overall silhouette, the Kia Syros EV will continue with the boxy design and the off-conventional, damage-prone headlight placement.
Steep Pricing: The Kia Syros EV will certainly cost more than its ICE counterpart. This is a gripe at the top of the order, where the ICE variant itself almost reaches Rs. 20 lakh (on-road).
