The sub-compact electric SUV India segment is now a lot more interesting. The Kia Syros EV will go on sale on July 30, 2026. With three serious options available at under ₹20 lakh, you may end up paying lakhs more than you bargained for over three years.
The Price Stack
The Tata Nexon EV is still the entry point, starting at ₹12.49 lakh (ex-showroom) for the 30 kWh Medium Range variant and going up to ₹17.69 lakh for the 45 kWh Long Range top variant. The Mahindra XUV 3XO EV is priced just above at ₹13.89 lakh (AX5) and ₹14.96 lakh (AX7L) with the same 39.4 kWh battery. The XUV 3XO EV was originally due to be delivered from 23 February 2026, but this was delayed with deliveries starting in the weeks after that date.
The Syros EV starts at ₹13.49 lakh for the 42 kWh variant and goes up to ₹19.99 lakh for the 51.4 kWh X-Line ER. Those sticker prices, however, tell only part of the story.
Before you sign up for a BaaS, read this
Kia also sells the Syros EV under a BaaS (Battery as a Service) plan – that is, you buy the car without the battery at ₹7.99 lakh then pay a per-kilometre fee to use the battery. The official Kia India rate is ₹3.3 per km (as per one industry source, it is quoted at ₹3.8/km – please check with your dealership for the exact rate before signing).
If the battery fee is at 1,500 km per month (which is a realistic figure for an urban driver), it amounts to ₹4,950 per month or ₹59,400 per year.
Now compare the numbers side by side. The EMI for a five-year loan at an interest rate of approximately 9% on a ₹7.99 lakh (BaaS, car only) loan comes out to be around ₹16,600 per month. Include the ₹4,950 battery charge and your monthly expenses are approximately ₹21,550.
The EMI is approximately ₹27,950 per month (same loan terms) for the same car, but without any battery fee.
The difference in the two is approximately ₹6400 per month in the initial few years. As you pay off the car loan, but continue to pay ₹3.3/km indefinitely, the BaaS plan becomes less attractive over time. That threshold is reached sooner for those who drive over 1,500 km per month. The benefits of BaaS are primarily for those who drive very little and wish to maintain the initial investment at a low level.
The charging time and range in real-world conditions
The Syros EV can be charged at home with an 11 kW AC charger which is significantly faster than the Nexon EV’s 7.2 kW AC charger. The difference is less significant if you charge overnight, but if you charge during the day, the Syros EV will get more range in the same amount of time.
The XUV 3XO EV will need a separate home charger, which is an optional extra costing approximately ₹50,000. According to early owner and industry reports, the range of Mahindra is closer to 220 km in real-world mixed driving, while the company states 285 km under MIDC test conditions. It’s important to note the difference of 23% when you are planning your daily charging routine.
