Think of the Kia Syros as the Sonet’s older, slightly more expensive sibling who finally discovered a stylist and a love for gadgetry. The 2025 Syros is Kia’s latest attempt to move up the compact-SUV ladder by dressing the familiar Sonet formula in a sleeker suit: panoramic sunroof, flush door handles, bigger screen, and an entire playlist of minor (and not-so-minor) upgrades. This review looks at what the Syros brings to the table, who might actually need those upgrades, and where the Sonet’s simplicity still makes sense.
Key Features
Panoramic Sunroof
Yes, there’s a panoramic sunroof. No, it won’t make your commute enjoyable if traffic is a disaster, but it will flood the cabin with light and make rear-seat passengers stop complaining about the weather. Kia offers a dual-pane panoramic sunroof on HTK Plus, HTX, HTX Plus and KTX Plus (O) variants. Compared with the Sonet’s single-pane sunroof that is restricted to specific turbo-petrol DCT variants, the Syros makes an obvious bid for aspirational buyers who like to think of themselves as having a ‘one with the sky’ relationship with their car.
Practical scenario: family weekend drives where the back seat needs cheering up — panoramic sunroof wins. Scenario it fails: during summer months or dusty city streets, the extra glass just means more heat and more dust to clean.
Flush Door Handles
Flush-type door handles are the kind of cosmetic upgrade that reads very well on photos and gives the car a modern, aerodynamic profile. It’s a small win for design tidiness, and it appeals to buyers who like their cars to look like they were sketched in a design studio rather than at a bus stop. The Sonet keeps the traditional handles, which are arguably more practical in cold/wet conditions and less expensive to service.
Practical scenario: if you value looks and are into weekend car photography, the Syros will please. If you live where grime, snow, or sticky fingers are common, conventional handles are less fuss.
17-Inch Alloy Wheels
The Syros steps up to 17-inch alloys, versus the Sonet’s typical 16-inch wheels. The bigger wheels add presence and can sharpen handling marginally, though they also may transmit more road buzz and slightly affect ride comfort depending on the tyre profile. Don’t expect magic handling transformations — this is still a compact SUV, not a sports coupe.
Practical scenario: urban cruising and occasional highway stints look better and feel planted. Poorly surfaced rural roads? The Sonet’s smaller wheels may actually be kinder to your spine.
12.3-Inch Touchscreen Infotainment
Kia ups the infotainment game in the Syros with a 12.3-inch touchscreen. That’s a genuine upgrade from the Sonet’s 8-inch or optional 10.25-inch screens, offering a more immersive, map-friendly interface and fewer arguments about who controls the music. Bigger displays are easier to read and feel premium, though they also demand sharper UI design — nothing ruins a big screen faster than a clunky interface. Kia’s software has been competent recently, but be mindful of occasional lag or unintuitive menu layers on higher-res displays.
Practical scenario: long drives where navigation and infotainment are essential — Syros excels. If you use your phone for maps and basic audio, it’s a nice-to-have rather than a must-have.
Dedicated 5-Inch HVAC Display
From HTX Plus onward the Syros offers a separate 5-inch climate control display. It’s a small ergonomic win: quick temperature glance without diving into the main infotainment menus. The Sonet integrates climate controls into the central cluster, which is less elegant but simpler to service and learn.
Practical scenario: city driving with frequent temperature tweaks — Syros saves time and frustration.
Dual-Tone Dashboard
The Syros adds a dual-tone dashboard to lift the cabin’s perceived quality. It’s a familiar trick — contrast paints the cabin as more premium. The Sonet keeps a single-tone setup, which is functional and easier to maintain (less chance of visible wear showing up on the contrast areas).
Practical scenario: if aesthetics matter and you host passengers often, the Syros looks sharper. For taxi-like durability, Sonet is less fussy.
Enhanced Audio System (8 Speakers)
Stepping up to eight speakers (from the Sonet’s seven) sounds like incrementalism, and it is. But it’s the kind of improvement audiophiles will notice when combined with better amplifier tuning. Expect a fuller soundstage and a bit more bass presence, useful for those who think the car is the ideal place to critique strangers’ playlists.
Practical scenario: longer commutes with podcasts and music — Syros is more enjoyable. For occasional music listeners, the difference is subtle.
Second Row Comfort: Recline, Slide, and Ventilation
Here the Syros genuinely improves day-to-day life: reclining and sliding rear seats increase comfort and legroom flexibility, while ventilated rear seats add an unexpected dash of luxury. These are features that matter for families and anyone regularly chauffeuring adults. The Sonet’s fixed rear bench is fine for short trips, but on multi-hour journeys, the Syros rear passengers will be noticeably happier.
Practical scenario: long highway trips with adults or aging relatives — Syros is clearly superior. For solo drivers or short urban hops, you may never use these features.
Advanced ADAS (Level 2)
Kia equips the Syros with a more comprehensive Level 2 ADAS suite, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and autonomous emergency braking. The Sonet has ADAS but omits adaptive cruise in its lineup. Level 2 assistance can be genuinely useful on highways, reducing fatigue on long, monotonous drives — when it works. Expect typical Level 2 caveats: it’s an aid, not a chauffeur, and there can be variability based on lane markings, weather and traffic complexity.
Practical scenario: frequent highway commuters will appreciate adaptive cruise and lane-keeping; urban drivers may find the systems less helpful and occasionally intrusive.
Electronic Parking Brake with Auto-Hold
The Syros swaps the conventional handbrake for an electronic parking brake with auto-hold. This is a modern convenience: no more wrestling with a lever, and auto-hold is wonderful in stop-and-go traffic. However, it adds complexity and potential repair costs compared to the old-school handbrake that’s reliably simple.
Practical scenario: heavy city traffic and hill starts — Syros convenience wins. If you prefer mechanical simplicity and DIY repairability, the Sonet’s handbrake might appeal.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Interior feels more premium with a dual-tone dashboard and larger touchscreen.
- Rear-seat comfort is notably better — recline, slide and ventilation are tangible upgrades for passengers.
- Comprehensive Level 2 ADAS with adaptive cruise control improves highway comfort.
- Panoramic sunroof and flush door handles elevate the design language.
- Electronic parking brake and dedicated HVAC screen enhance everyday usability.
Cons:
- Many key features are limited to higher variants — the full Syros experience may require a pricey trim.
- Bigger wheels and a larger glass area could mean more road noise and cabin heat in certain climates.
- Added electronics (EPB, ADAS, large infotainment) increase long-term maintenance complexity and potential repair costs.
- The upgrades are largely evolutionary; if you’re happy with a simpler, cheaper Sonet, the Syros may feel like paying for niceties rather than necessity.
User Experience
Driving the Syros feels like using a familiar tool that’s been upgraded for a fancier workshop. The larger touchscreen and dedicated HVAC display reduce menu toggling, making the car feel smarter and more considerate. Adaptive cruise control takes the tedium out of highway slogs, while the electronic parking brake and auto-hold are small conveniences that quickly become irreplaceable.
From the passenger seat, the panoramic roof and dual-tone cabin create an airy, premium atmosphere. The reclining rear seats make longer trips tolerable for adults — a big shift from the Sonet’s tighter bench. On the downside, that larger multimedia screen sometimes sputters through complex inputs and the extra electronics introduce a cautious sense that repairs could be pricier than before.
Comparison with Alternatives
Compared to direct rivals like the Hyundai Venue (which shares many mechanicals with Kia) and the Tata Nexon, the Syros leans more premium in the cabin and equipment list. The Venue may still undercut on price and give similar ADAS offerings in comparable trims, while the Nexon focuses on structural safety and ride comfort rather than glossy tech. If you compare with the updated Maruti Brezza, the Syros’ rear-seat ventilation and panoramic roof stand out, but the Brezza may offer better fuel efficiency and a lower starting price.
In short: Syros picks finishes and passenger comfort over outright value; competitors may undercut on price or ride quality depending on what you prioritise.
Who Should Buy This
Buy the Syros if: you regularly carry rear-seat adults, value a quiet, premium-feeling cabin, and want modern driver aids like adaptive cruise. It’s for buyers who appreciate design flourishes (flush handles, dual-tone dash), and those who will genuinely use the panoramic roof and ventilated rear seats.
Skip the Syros if: you’re budget-conscious, prefer minimal electronic complexity, or mainly use the car for short city commutes where the Sonet’s simpler setup is more than adequate. If you care more about lower long-term ownership costs and basic reliability, the Sonet remains a sensible choice.
Value for Money
Value is where the Syros is both honest and a little coy. On paper, the extra hardware — larger infotainment, panoramic roof, Level 2 ADAS, rear-seat ventilation — feels like a sensible uplift for a higher price. In practice, the best features are tied to top-tier variants, so you’ll likely be paying a premium for the ‘complete’ Syros experience. If the price gap between a well-equipped Sonet and a similarly equipped Syros is significant, the question becomes whether you want leatherette, a 5-inch climate display, and a panoramic roof enough to justify the spend.
Factor in potential higher servicing costs for advanced electronics and larger wheels. If resale trends in your market reward higher-spec tech and premium trims, the Syros might hold value better than a base Sonet. If they don’t, you paid for niceties that depreciate fast.
In my honest opinion, the Kia Syros is worth considering if you prioritise passenger comfort, cabin ambience and highway convenience over a tight budget. It smartly refines the Sonet rather than reinventing it, and for buyers who will use the rear-seat features and ADAS regularly, it’s a meaningful upgrade. For buyers who mostly do short urban drives or want simplicity and lower running costs, the Sonet (or similarly priced competitors) still makes a lot of sense.