This paper compares and evaluates the cost, performance and reliability of three drive systems. The motor in these drive systems is a synchronous reluctance machine (SynRM). The first drive system (Drive-1) consists of a threephase SynRM fed from rectifier-inverter. The second drive system (Drive-2) consists of a five-phase star-connected SynRM fed from rectifier-inverter. The third drive system (Drive-3) consists of a combined star-pentagon SynRM fed from indirect matrix converter. It is found that the average torque of Drive-2 and 3 is 6.56% and 13.35% higher than Drive-1, respectively. Drive-1, 2 and 3 have torque ripples of 7.94%, 6.58%, and 5.52%, respectively. At rated condition, Drive-2 and 3 are 0.32% and 0.58% more efficient than Drive-1. In terms of cost, Drive-2 and 3 are only 2.44 %and 2.19% more expensive than Drive-1. Moreover, Drive-3 is the most reliable drive system and Drive-1 is the least reliable system.