This paper presents the field oriented vector control scheme for synchronous reluctance motor (SRM) drives, where current controller followed by hysteresis comparator is used. The test motor has a star-connected wound stator and a segmental rotor of the multiple barrier type with an external incremental encoder to sense rotor position. The magnetic characteristics of this motor are described using 2D finite element method, which is used firstly for rotor design of SRM. The field oriented vector control, that regulates the speed of the SRM, is provided by a quadrature axis current command developed by the speed controller. The simulation includes all realistic components of the system. This enables the calculation of currents and voltages in different parts of the voltage source inverter (VSI) and motor under transient and steady state conditions. Implementation has been done in MATLAB/Simulink. A study of hysteresis control scheme associated with current controllers has been made. Experimental results of the SRM control using TMS320F24X DSP board are presented. The speed of the SRM is successfully controlled in the constant torque region. Experimental results of closed loop speed control of the SRM are given to verify the proposed scheme.