It was recently demonstrated that the synchronous reluctance motor is well suited for electric as well as for hybrid electric vehicles. This paper deeply investigates the capabilities of a synchronous reluctance motor and compares them with those of a permanent-magnet-assisted synchronous reluctance motor, according to the typical requirement of a traction application. A proper rotor design is necessary. The average torque is due to the rotor anisotropy. The permeance difference between the direct- and the quadrature-axis is achieved by means of a high number of flux barriers. The position of the flux barrier ends and proper rotor asymmetries are chosen so as to reduce the torque ripple, mainly due to the slot harmonics. The impact of the rotor design on the motor performance is presented deeply, showing several simulation and experimental results, carried out on synchronous reluctance motors with different rotor geometries. Permanent magnets can be inset in the flux barriers to assist the synchronous reluctance motor improving its capabilities, but avoiding to use rare-earth permanent magnets. The main advantages of the permanent magnet assistance is an increase of the main torque density and of the power factor. They are evaluated experimentally. However, the drawback of adopting permanent magnets is the possible demagnetization of the magnets themselves. This can greatly limit the maximum overload capability of the motor, which is a salient requirement of a traction motor.