It’s no secret that Hyundai is one of the key manufacturers in the passenger vehicle industry to popularise the Compact SUV trend. Thanks to super popular vehicles like the Creta and Venue, this category is segregated into other segments as well in India. Almost all of their SUVs are among the best-selling models in their respective categories. Now that the Tata Punch has been a hit, it has long been known that Hyundai is developing a product to compete in the segment of compact SUVs (some call them raised-up hatchbacks).
Hyundai Exter Review:
The aspiration value of SUVs in the Indian market is currently at its peak. And Hyundai wants to use the opportunity. Tata Punch is currently the leader in this segment as per the sales figures. This is a class that will compete with small hatchbacks and compact sedans, and Hyundai obviously believes that it can achieve enormous sales numbers in this market. The Exter, as the name suggests, is now available in the Indian market to rival Tata Punch. Now, I must admit that I am really impressed by its pricing, especially in light of the fact that the Exter, like the majority of Hyundai’s offerings, comes fully loaded. But what about other aspects? Like driving, safety, comfort, etc. Does it drive well enough to compete with the Punch seriously? Let’s find out.
Exterior
When you look at the Exter, it is evident that some of its aesthetic cues have derived from the Venue and Creta’s design language. For instance, the headlamp design is comparable to that of the Venue, and it also has body cladding on its sides to give it a more SUV-like appearance. A modest grille up front, which deviates from the current trend of large grilles, is one of the new design elements that is rather intriguing.
Similar to how the large Exter name on the front blends in, the H-shaped taillights and daytime running lights blend nicely with the overall design as well. Another intriguing feature is the texture treatment on the rear panel between the taillights; it gives the design a sense of uniqueness and harmonizes with a related pattern on the dashboard inside. Overall, the Exter has a decent amount of road presence thanks to its 15-inch wheels and flared arches.
Interior
As soon as you step inside the Exter, you’ll note how similar it is to the Grand i10 Nios; the two vehicles share a common platform and motor, albeit they obviously have different suspension tuning due to the size differences. Both automobiles’ dashboards share a lot of similarities. The touchscreen and instrument cluster are digital, which function extremely well in the segment. The Exter’s interior space is what really takes you by surprise; it easily accommodates four adults of average size. In fact, even three people can manage in the rear seats with a little effort. I must admit that despite its small size, Hyundai did an excellent job of managing the cabin space. The vehicle offers 391L of boot space, which is well proportioned and is more than its main rival, i.e. Tata Punch.
Features
The Hyundai Exter has many industry-first features in this segment, including six airbags on all variants, wireless charging and sunroof. In addition, the Exter has rear air conditioning vents, which means that the fully automatic climate control system will make the ride more comfortable for the occupants in the back seat. Nevertheless, another first in segment feature that Hyundai has introduced and that is destined to become very popular in India is the standard fit Dashcam. The camera, which records both an outside view and an interior view, records both your driving and the traffic ahead of you, and it has already proven to be quite useful in many events happening on the road.
Click here to see variant wise list of features offered by the Hyundai Exter.
The level of connectivity provided by Hyundai’s more recent vehicles has been another standout feature, and the Exter succeeds admirably in this regard thanks to the BlueLink service provided by the manufacturer. Because of the connectivity, you may use your phone to find your car, control the numerous functions it has, and perform other tasks. In addition to this, the Exter comes pre-packaged with Alexa integration, which enables you to control various aspects of the device via voice commands issued to Alexa. In addition, the built-in menus and user interface can be used in both English and Hindi in addition to 12 additional native languages, making it possible to cater to the needs of a more diverse range of customers. The Exter also comes standard with a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8-inch multimedia system that supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Driving Experience
The 82 bhp power and 114 Nm torque generated by the 1.2-litre 4 cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine was not looking very exciting on paper as per the size of the vehicle. But as soon as I started driving it, I immediately knew that the Hyundai engineers had done a decent job at the engine refinement. The Exter can go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 12.6 seconds, which is impressive for its segment. Maintaining a good cruising speed on highways is easy.
The suspension configuration is also ideal; the Exter performs well on both paved and unpaved surfaces. After testing it, I would say that while it’s still a little bit on the sluggish side in terms of shifts, it’s clearly better than some of the previous AMTs. The Exter is supplied with a 5-speed manual and AMT gearbox options. Additionally, the AMT version’s inclusion of paddle shifters makes driving a lot simpler. Since you still don’t have the clutch, shifting is no longer a nuisance, which improves the entire everyday city driving experience. Overall, it is one of the most pleasurable to drive in its segment. You can spend hours in the vehicle comfortably.
Hyundai Exter Safety Features
Hyundai Exter has a decent amount of safety features, even in the base variant of the car. The brand offers Six Airbags, Seat Belt Warning, Child Lock, Speed Sensing Door Lock, Overspeed Warning, Anti-theft Engine immobilizer, Middle rear three-point seatbelt and Central Locking as standard. However, there is no NCAP safety rating for the structural integrity of the vehicle yet. Maybe after the launch of Bharat NCAP, the vehicle might get its safety rating according to the suitable safety standards for our country.
Price
When you combine this with a driving experience that is extremely encouraging, I have a strong feeling that Hyundai will have another hit on its hands with the Exter. The Exter starts from Rs 6 Lakh Ex-Showroom and goes up to Rs 10.10 Lakh Ex-Showroom. Aggressive pricing is one of the primary reasons for the popularity of this vehicle. You also have the choice between an automatic and a manual gearbox, in addition to a compressed natural gas (CNG) version of the vehicle.
Conclusion
The Exter is an excellent product to consider purchasing if you are in the market for a compact SUV suitable for use in urban traffic or even for the occasional excursion along a highway. It has a respectable amount of space inside, especially considering its length of 3.8 metres, and it is quite useful for a group of four adults, as there is room for all of their belongings for a short weekend trip. In addition, Hyundai has thoughtfully equipped it with practically all of the features that you might desire, and the safety features are also good enough, as seen by the fact that it comes standard with six airbags.
It would appear that Hyundai has thought of absolutely everything, and just like the company’s other SUVs, the Exter is likely to have very long waiting lists before it can be purchased. Exter is definitely going to steal a hefty amount of market share from its main competitor, Tata Punch.
