Kia’s new compact SUV, the Syros, has made headlines by scoring a 5-star safety rating in the latest Bharat NCAP crash test. This is a big achievement, as it becomes the first made-in-India car to get 5 stars in both Adult and Child Occupant Protection under the Bharat NCAP (BNCAP) norms.

Let us break down what this means for Indian buyers.

Adult Occupant Protection (AOP)

Score: 30.21 out of 32 points

• Frontal impact test (at 64 kmph):
  The Syros offered good protection to the driver and passenger’s head and neck.
  Driver’s chest got an adequate rating, while the passenger’s chest was rated good.
  Protection for thighs and pelvis was rated good for both. For the legs (tibias), the driver got adequate protection, while the passenger’s right tibia also received an adequate score. The feet of the driver were well protected too.
• Side impact test (at 50 kmph):
  The car scored full marks. It gave good protection to all parts of the driver’s body.
• Side pole test:
  Similar results here as well, with good protection to all critical areas.

This shows that Kia has done a solid job with the Syros’ structural design and safety equipment.

Child Occupant Protection (COP)

Score: 44.42 out of 49 points

• Dynamic score: 23.42/24
• CRS installation score: 10/12
• Vehicle assessment: 9/13
• For an 18-month-old child, the car scored 7.58/12
• For a 3-year-old child, the Syros did even better with a near-perfect 7.84/12

While the BNCAP report does not go into too much detail about individual body part protection for children, the high overall score is a strong indicator of safety.

Standard Safety Features in Kia Syros

Kia has packed the Syros with all the right features:

• Six airbags (standard across all variants)
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• ISOFIX mounts for child seats
• Level-2 ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System)
• 360-degree camera
• Electronic parking brake
• Front and rear parking sensors

This makes it one of the most well-equipped cars in its segment.

The Kia Syros is priced between ₹9 lakh and ₹17.80 lakh (ex-showroom). It competes with premium sub-4 metre SUVs like Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza, Kia Sonet, Nissan Magnite, and Skoda Kylaq. But with the 5-star safety rating and Level-2 ADAS, the Syros definitely stands out as a premium, feature-rich, and safe option in the compact SUV market.