The Hyundai Exter is a revolutionary vehicle in the world of compact SUVs. Designed to meet the needs of modern urban drivers, the Exter combines style, practicality, and performance, all at an incredibly affordable price point. With the ever-growing demand for compact SUVs in India, the Hyundai Exter is positioned to attract first-time car buyers, young families, and city commuters looking for a versatile yet budget-friendly option.
In this article, we dive into the various aspects of the Hyundai Exter, exploring its exterior and interior features, performance, and how it competes with rivals in the compact SUV segment.
A Bold and Compact Exterior Design
At first glance, the Hyundai Exter makes an impression with its bold yet compact design. Despite its smaller size, the Exter is designed to offer the aggressive stance and modern appeal expected from an SUV, making it a perfect choice for those seeking both style and practicality.
Key Exterior Features:
- Sleek Front Fascia: The Exter features Hyundai’s signature cascading grille with chrome accents, giving it a distinctive look. Its LED headlamps and daytime running lights (DRLs) provide a sharp, modern appeal.
- Compact Dimensions: The Exter’s size makes it ideal for navigating congested city streets and tight parking spaces. Its compact dimensions allow for easy handling while still offering the elevated ride height of an SUV.
- Rugged Appeal: The SUV comes with sporty roof rails, skid plates, and flared wheel arches that add a rugged SUV feel, making it versatile for both city and light off-road driving.
- Stylish Alloy Wheels: The Exter features 16-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels that complement its sporty design while also enhancing its road presence.
- Color Variants: The Exter is available in a range of bold color options, including vibrant shades that appeal to younger buyers, making it a trendy choice for those seeking personalization.
The compact yet aggressive design ensures the Exter stands out in the crowded compact SUV segment, offering both practicality and eye-catching looks.
Interior: Spacious, Practical, and Packed with Features
Inside the Hyundai Exter, the emphasis is on space, comfort, and modern tech. Despite its compact size, the cabin offers ample space for up to five passengers, making it ideal for city commutes or weekend getaways.
Interior Highlights:
- User-Friendly Infotainment System: The Hyundai Exter is equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The intuitive interface ensures ease of use while driving.
- Comfortable Seating: The seats are designed to provide both comfort and support, even during long drives. The materials used are premium, with options for fabric and leatherette upholstery depending on the trim.
- Ample Storage: The Exter’s cabin features clever storage solutions, including a spacious glovebox, cup holders, and a center armrest with additional compartments. The boot space is also practical for the SUV’s size, providing enough room for luggage or groceries.
- Premium Features: Higher trims offer premium features such as automatic climate control, a digital instrument cluster, push-button start, and rear AC vents.
- Spacious Rear Seat: Despite its compact footprint, the rear seat offers generous legroom and headroom for passengers, making it suitable for longer trips as well.
The interior design is functional and ensures that both the driver and passengers have an enjoyable ride, blending comfort with modern features.
Performance: Engine Options and Efficiency
Under the hood, the Hyundai Exter offers a choice of petrol engines, delivering a balance between power and fuel efficiency. This ensures the Exter is a practical option for both city driving and longer road trips.
Engine Specifications:
| Specification | Petrol Engine |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 1.2L Kappa Petrol |
| Power Output | 83 PS @ 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 114 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
| Transmission | 5-Speed Manual / 5-Speed Automatic |
| Fuel Efficiency (ARAI) | 18-20 km/l |
The 1.2L Kappa petrol engine offers a solid 83 PS of power and 114 Nm of torque, providing sufficient performance for daily commutes and highway driving. The engine is paired with a 5-speed manual or automatic transmission, depending on the variant, ensuring ease of driving in both urban and rural environments.
Additionally, with an ARAI-certified fuel efficiency of 18-20 km/l, the Hyundai Exter is a highly economical vehicle that provides low running costs, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious buyers.
Safety Features
Hyundai has equipped the Exter with a range of safety features that offer peace of mind for both the driver and passengers. Safety is a key consideration for compact SUVs, and the Exter doesn’t disappoint.
Key Safety Features:
- Dual Front Airbags: Standard across all variants, ensuring protection for the driver and front passenger in case of a collision.
- ABS with EBD: The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) ensures better control during sudden braking or slippery conditions.
- Rear Parking Sensors: The Exter comes with rear parking sensors and a rearview camera, making parking in tight spaces easier.
- Seat Belt Reminder: A seatbelt reminder for all passengers to enhance safety during the drive.
- High Strength Steel Body: The Exter is built with a high-strength steel body structure, providing enhanced crash protection.
Price and Variants
One of the most attractive aspects of the Hyundai Exter is its budget-friendly pricing. Hyundai has priced the Exter to compete with small hatchbacks and compact sedans while offering the practicality and appeal of an SUV.
Expected Variant-Wise Pricing:
| Variant | Price (₹) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Exter Base | 5,99,000 | Basic features, manual transmission |
| Exter S | 6,49,000 | 7-inch touchscreen, rear parking sensors |
| Exter SX | 7,49,000 | Automatic transmission, alloy wheels |
| Exter SX (O) | 8,49,000 | Premium features, automatic climate control |
| Exter SX+ | 9,49,000 | Full infotainment suite, 16-inch wheels |
The Hyundai Exter’s pricing ensures that it’s accessible to a wide range of buyers, with the base variant offering essential features at a very competitive price. Higher variants come with added comfort and tech features, ensuring there’s an option for every budget.
Competitors
The Hyundai Exter faces competition from other compact SUVs and hatchbacks in the market. Here’s how it stacks up against its rivals:
| Model | Price Range (₹) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Exter | 5.99L – 9.49L | Compact design, budget-friendly pricing |
| Maruti Suzuki Ignis | 5.39L – 7.49L | Small size, practical features |
| Tata Punch | 5.83L – 8.49L | Rugged design, strong build quality |
| Renault Kwid | 4.54L – 5.99L | Compact size, great fuel efficiency |
Conclusion
The Hyundai Exter offers a compelling combination of affordability, style, and practicality, making it one of the most attractive options in the compact SUV segment. Its compact design, modern features, and budget-friendly price make it a perfect choice for city dwellers, young families, and first-time car buyers. Whether you’re looking for a vehicle to navigate city traffic or an SUV that offers more space and versatility than a hatchback, the Hyundai Exter ticks all the boxes.
With its impressive features, fuel-efficient engine, and attractive pricing, the Hyundai Exter is poised to be a strong contender in the ever-growing compact SUV market, offering excellent value for money.