Kia Sonet vs Kia Syros
The Indian subcompact SUV segment has witnessed the arrival of an intriguing challenger that’s set to redefine expectations in the sub-4-meter category. Kia has introduced the all-new Syros—a premium subcompact SUV positioned above the established Sonet, creating a fascinating sibling rivalry within the same manufacturer’s lineup. While both SUVs technically compete in the same segment and share mechanical components, they target distinctly different buyer personalities and priorities. The Sonet represents proven, affordable excellence with sporty styling and comprehensive features, while the Syros embodies next-generation thinking with bold design, enhanced space, and premium positioning. Whether you’re drawn to the Sonet’s established success and value pricing or the Syros’s distinctive tall-boy design and cutting-edge features, this comprehensive comparison will help you determine which Kia subcompact SUV deserves your investment in 2025.
Understanding Kia’s Dual Strategy
Before diving into specifications, it’s crucial to understand Kia’s positioning strategy. The price of Kia Sonet HTE Petrol 1.2L 5 Speed Manual and Kia Syros HTK Petrol 1.0L Turbo Manual is ₹7.30 Lakh and ₹8.67 Lakh respectively. Kia Sonet is cheaper than Syros, with Kia Sonet starting price at ₹7.30 Lakh while Kia Syros’s starting price is ₹8.67 Lakh in India.
The Syros is set to go on sale in India in January 2025, with pricing yet to be fully announced. For context, the Kia Sonet, currently available, is priced between Rs 7.99 lakh and Rs 15.76 lakh (ex-showroom). Given the Syros’ upgraded feature set and premium positioning, it is expected to command a notable price premium over the Sonet.
Pricing: The Value Equation
The starting ex-showroom prices reveal a meaningful difference. The Kia Sonet price is Rs. 7.30 Lakh and Kia Syros price is Rs. 8.67 Lakh, making the Sonet cheaper by approximately Rs. 1.37 lakh at the entry level. However, the base variant of Kia Syros is Rs 1 lakh costlier than the Kia Sonet HTE, though the additional premium seems justifiable considering what the Syros brings to the table.
When fully loaded, both SUVs reach similar price points in the Rs. 15-16 lakh range, suggesting the Syros’s premium positioning mainly affects lower and mid variants rather than creating a massive gap at the top end.
Dimensions: Spaciousness Advantage
Physical dimensions reveal the Syros’s meaningful advantages. While the Syros shares a similar length with the Sonet (both sub-4-meter), it is noticeably larger in every other dimension. It has a 50mm longer wheelbase and significantly larger boot space, making it the bigger car overall.
While the lengths of both sub-4m SUVs are the same, the Syros is wider, taller and has a bigger footprint in comparison to the Sonet. This points out that the former has more cabin space than the latter. The Syros’s boot space is also 80 litres more than the Sonet, allowing it to accommodate a few more luggage bags during long road trips.
Specifically, the Syros has a 465-litre boot (when second row seats are pushed completely forward), while the Sonet’s is only 385 litres. This 80-liter advantage translates to genuinely superior cargo capacity for family trips and daily practicality.
Engine Performance: Shared Powertrains, Different Characters
Both SUVs share mechanical components, though their base offerings differ meaningfully.
Kia Sonet Engine Options:
For the HTE 1.2 Petrol MT variant, 1197 cc Petrol engine of Sonet produces 82 bhp @ 6000 rpm of power and 115 Nm @ 4200 rpm of torque. The Sonet expands on engine configurations by offering an additional 6-speed intelligent manual transmission (6-iMT) for the diesel and replacing the 6MT with a 6-iMT for the petrol engine.
Moreover, the Sonet also has a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine on offer, producing 83 PS and 115 Nm, available with a 5-speed manual transmission, a powertrain option not available in the Syros. The Sonet offers more powertrain diversity with three engines and five transmission options—providing buyers maximum flexibility.
Kia Syros Engine Options:
For the HTK 1.0 Turbo 6MT variant, 998 cc Petrol engine of Syros produces 118 bhp @ 6000 rpm of power and 172 Nm @ 1500-4000 rpm of torque. The Syros inherits its powertrain lineup from the Sonet, featuring a 1-litre turbo-petrol engine delivering 120 PS and 172 Nm, and a 1.5-litre diesel engine producing 116 PS and 250 Nm.
The Kia Syros comes with only the turbo-petrol-manual combination in the entry-level variant. If you want an automatic transmission with the turbo-petrol or a diesel engine, you’ll need to go for the higher HTK (O) variant. In short, the Syros offers a more powerful engine that definitely feels nicer to drive than the 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine.
Fuel Efficiency: Economy Considerations
Running costs matter for daily commuting and long-distance driving. The claimed mileage for Kia Syros HTK Petrol 1.0L Turbo Manual is 18.2 kmpl. The mileage of Sonet is 19 kmpl & the mileage of Syros is 17.65 kmpl according to some sources. Kia Sonet gives better mileage than Kia Syros.
As far as mileage is concerned, the Sonet has a mileage of 24.1 kmpl (Diesel top model) and the Syros has a mileage of 20.75 kmpl (Diesel top model). That said, the Sonet’s entry-level engine is slightly more efficient than the Syros’ turbo-petrol unit, providing better fuel economy for budget-conscious buyers prioritizing running costs.
Design Philosophy: Conventional vs Bold
Both SUVs make strong visual statements through completely different design languages.
Kia Sonet Design:
The Sonet carries a sportier aesthetic with sleek LED headlamps and DRLs. A large air intake and sporty bumper add to its aggressive styling. It features 16-inch alloy wheels, black cladding, and silver roof rails, while the body-colored door handles provide a refined look. The Sonet’s rear boasts LED tail lamps connected by a reflector strip, a roof-mounted spoiler, and a sporty bumper.
Kia Sonet ranks better in Styling according to user reviews, reflecting its established, conventionally attractive design that appeals to mainstream buyers seeking sporty aesthetics.
Kia Syros Design:
The Syros features a strong and futuristic front fascia with vertically stacked LED headlights and a distinctive ‘I’ pattern for the daytime running lights (DRLs). The upper half of the bumper is body-colored and features a dual air inlet arrangement. Its 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, silver-painted roof rails, black cladding above the wheel arches, and flush-type door handles all draw attention to its boxy side profile.
The new kid on the block maintains a ‘tall boy’ silhouette as opposed to the Sonet’s conventional compact SUV look. A panoramic sunroof, flush-type door handles and 17-inch alloy wheels set the Syros apart; the Sonet gets a single-pane sunroof, pull-type handles and 16-inch alloys.
Additionally, the Syros features a design inspired by the EV9, setting it apart from the Sonet and Seltos in terms of styling. The tall, boxy design maximizes interior space while creating a distinctive road presence.
Interior Quality and Features: Where Syros Excels
This is where the Syros justifies much of its price premium over the Sonet.
Display Technology:
The Syros’ Trinity display – touchscreen infotainment (12.3 inch), driver’s display (12.3 inch) and touchscreen panel (5 inch) for HVAC controls – is bigger than the Sonet’s displays for infotainment and instrumentation, each measuring 10.25 inches.
The larger, more comprehensive display setup in the Syros creates a premium, modern ambiance that significantly enhances the ownership experience and technological sophistication.
Premium Features:
Notably, the Sonet also misses out on the digital climate control panel, dual-tone dashboard, leatherette upholstery, eight speakers (Sonet gets seven), and reclining, sliding and ventilated second row seats. Exclusive to Syros, there are some features like ventilated rear seats with reclining and sliding functions, an air purifier display, a dual dashcam setup, side parking sensors, and an electronic parking brake.
The Syros boasts sleek flush-type door handles, contributing to a more modern and aerodynamic design, while the Sonet features conventional pull-type handles. The Syros is offered with a more comprehensive Level 2 ADAS suite, offering advanced safety features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and autonomous emergency braking. The Sonet, while equipped with ADAS, does not offer adaptive cruise control (only Level 1 ADAS).
Sunroof Advantage:
Kia India is capitalizing on Indian car buyers’ love for sunroof by offering the new Syros SUV with a panoramic sunroof. The dual-pane panoramic sunroof is available in 4 variants of the 2025 Syros. In comparison, the Kia Sonet is only available with a single-pane sunroof limited to a few variants equipped with the 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine with DCT automatic transmission.
Safety Equipment: Comprehensive Protection
Both Kia subcompact SUVs prioritize safety with comprehensive equipment. As standard, Kia provides six airbags across its line-up in India. The Syros and Sonet share safety features like a 360-degree parking camera, front and rear parking sensors, hill-start assist, three-point seat belts for all passengers, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), ABS with EBD, all-wheel disc brakes and a tyre pressure monitor.
In the Syros, Kia has added Level 2 ADAS (Level 1 in the Sonet), an electronic parking brake (EPB) and side sensors at the front and rear. The new Kia offers an electronic parking brake with an auto-hold function, enhancing convenience and safety. The Sonet, on the other hand, offers a conventional handbrake.
User Reviews: Real-World Satisfaction
Owner experiences provide valuable context. Kia Syros ranks better on user rating. Sonet and Syros score based on user rating calculated on mileage, styling, performance, comfort and value for money. Kia Sonet ranks better in Styling while Syros is better in Comfort and Performance according to user reviews.
The Syros’s higher ratings in comfort and performance reflect its enhanced interior space, superior feature set, and more powerful standard engine. The Sonet’s styling advantage shows buyers still appreciate its sporty, conventional SUV aesthetics.
The Verdict: Choose Based on Priorities
Declaring a definitive winner oversimplifies what amounts to choosing between proven value and next-generation premiumness.
Choose the Kia Sonet if:
- Budget is your primary constraint and Rs. 1.37 lakh savings matters
- You prefer sporty, conventional SUV styling
- Better fuel economy is important for daily use
- You want maximum powertrain flexibility (3 engines, 5 transmissions)
- The naturally aspirated petrol engine’s simplicity appeals
- Established track record provides confidence
- You prioritize value for money over cutting-edge features
- Lower insurance and maintenance costs are considerations
- Sportier styling resonates more than boxy design
- You don’t need ventilated rear seats or panoramic sunroof
Choose the Kia Syros if:
- You can justify the Rs. 1 lakh+ premium for enhanced features
- Maximum interior space and cargo capacity are priorities
- Distinctive tall-boy design appeals to your taste
- Premium features like ventilated rear seats matter
- Panoramic sunroof is a must-have feature
- Level 2 ADAS with adaptive cruise control is important
- Larger displays and digital climate control appeal
- You want the most modern, feature-rich subcompact SUV
- Electronic parking brake convenience matters
- You prioritize comfort and rear passenger space
Final Thoughts: Kia’s Smart Portfolio Strategy
The Kia Sonet vs Kia Syros comparison reveals two excellent subcompact SUVs that both deserve consideration despite targeting different buyer segments. The Sonet represents proven excellence—established, affordable, sporty, and offering maximum powertrain flexibility. It’s the safe, sensible choice that delivers comprehensive features at accessible pricing.
The Syros represents Kia’s vision of next-generation subcompact SUVs—distinctive design, enhanced space, premium features, and a more sophisticated ownership experience. Considering all its offerings, the Kia Syros, while technically part of the sub-4m SUV segment, establishes a category of its own as a next-generation model in the brand’s SUV lineup.
Despite falling under the same segment, the Syros outdoes the Sonet in more ways than one. The Syros aims to carve out its niche within the sub-4-meter SUV category, with a list of features unmatched by any other competitor in this space. While the Sonet already stands as a well-equipped product from Kia, the Syros takes things a step further.
Test drive both SUVs if possible to experience their different characters. Pay attention to which design resonates with you, which interior environment feels more comfortable, and whether the Syros’s premium features justify its higher pricing. Consider your typical usage patterns, passenger needs, and whether you value established sportiness or next-generation distinctiveness.
The beauty of Kia’s strategy is that there’s a subcompact SUV for every type of buyer. Whether you choose the proven Sonet or the innovative Syros, you’re getting a well-engineered, feature-rich vehicle backed by Kia’s quality and service network. Both represent outstanding options in India’s most competitive SUV segment, and buyers are the ultimate winners with such compelling choices available in 2025.
