TL; DR
- Kia Syros EV has been spotted testing in India, confirming a 2026 launch is imminent.
- Spy shots reveal a revised rear bumper, green brake calipers, and a front-left charging flap.
- Expected pricing between Rs 15-20 lakh pits it against the Nexon EV and Windsor EV.
Someone spotted it on an Indian road, grabbed their phone, and posted the shots on Reddit. That’s how these things usually go. The test mule is wrapped up tight, but there’s enough visible to tell this isn’t just another ICE Syros rolling out of the plant for routine checks. The charging flap on the front left quarter panel gives it away immediately — the Kia Syros EV is clearly out and about on Indian roads, and a 2026 launch is looking more real by the day.
Also Read: Mercedes-Benz Unveils New CLA Electric – Bookings Open On March 10
What the Spy Shots Actually Show
The silhouette is pure Syros — that boxy, upright stance that’s earned the ICE model a lot of fans since it went on sale. But look closer and the differences start showing up. The rear bumper appears reworked, with a mix of body-coloured and black panels that sits differently from the standard car’s setup, though the camouflage wrapping does its best to blur the details. The roof rails have been revised too, almost certainly for aerodynamic reasons — every bit of drag matters on an EV.
Neon green brake calipers show up on the Seltos too — so that’s clearly a conscious choice on Kia’s part, not something that just happened. The headlights are the same vertically stacked LED units with L-shaped DRLs you’ll recognise from the standard Syros, and the front bumper — radar sensor, 360-degree camera and all — looks identical to what the ICE car already runs. That said, Kia will probably tweak the front bumper on the production car to give the EV its own identity — that’s fairly standard practice for the brand when it splits a model into ICE and electric versions.
Also Read: I Will Buy The Kia Seltos HTE Over The Creta E Anyday: Here’s Why
Inside, Don’t Expect Many Surprises
The interior hasn’t been spotted yet — the test mule was camouflaged well enough to keep that under wraps — but Kia’s past behaviour gives a pretty clear indication of what’s coming. When the Carens Clavis made the jump to an EV, the cabin layout stayed largely intact. The Syros EV will almost certainly follow the same approach.
That means the dual 12.3-inch screens, touch-based AC panel, panoramic sunroof, wireless charger, and ventilated seats from the ICE car are all likely to make the cut. What the EV does add, in all probability, is vehicle-to-load (V2L) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) capability — useful features that the Carens Clavis EV already offers.
Also Read: Kia Carens Clavis Review: Fantastic Value For Money!
Why This Car Matters for Kia in India
Kia’s current EV lineup in India sits at opposite ends of the spectrum. The EV6 is a proper performance EV that most buyers can only dream about, and the Carens Clavis EV covers the family MPV space reasonably well. What’s been missing is something genuinely mass-market — a Kia EV that someone with a mid-range budget can actually walk into a showroom and consider seriously.
The Syros EV fills that gap. Pricing is expected to sit between Rs. 15 lakh and Rs. 20 lakh, which — if Kia can actually hold that line — would make it one of the more compelling propositions in the sub-20 lakh EV space. Yes, that space is filling up quickly.
But the Syros EV isn’t walking in empty-handed — ventilated seats, ADAS, and a body style that’s already found genuine takers in its petrol form give it a real head start over newer, less proven nameplates.
Also Read: Next-Gen Toyota Fortuner: Everything We Know So Far
When Does It Actually Launch?
Kia has confirmed the car is coming this year. The test mule showing up on public roads in this state of development suggests things are fairly far along — you don’t run these kinds of road tests if a launch is still 18 months away. Somewhere in the back half of 2026 is the sensible guess. Every month of delay is a month where the Nexon EV or the Windsor pulls further ahead in buyer consideration, and Kia knows that.
You can follow Smartprix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google News. Visit smartprix.com for the latest tech and auto news, reviews, and guides.
