“The Exter does many things well, including the cabin experience, spaciousness, practicality, comfort, ease of operation, and boot room. And the feature list is so impressive that it will be difficult to top in this price range. However, the Exter lacks excitement while driving and appears to be trying too hard to be an SUV.
Hyundai Exter 2024
Hyundai Exter will be the name of the South Korean automaker’s latest model for the Indian market. Hyundai will enter India’s rapidly developing micro-SUV market with the Exter, fighting against rivals such as the Tata Punch and Citroen C3. The Hyundai Exter will be offered in five variants: EX, S, SX, SX(O), and SX(O) Connect, with bookings now open for a token of Rs. 11,000.
What’s New
Visually, the car has an SUV-like appearance with sharp muscular lines, wide wheel arches, thick cladding, and roof rails. At the same time, the styling follows the company’s worldwide design language, as seen on the Ioniq 5 and Verna. The automobile has a squared-off appearance, with a clamshell-style bonnet, H-pattern LED daytime running lights, and projector headlights in rectangular, chrome-bezel housing. There’s also a blacked-out Parametric Grille with ‘EXTER’ lettering above it, a cladded front bumper, and a false silver skid plate.
Hyundai will equip the Exter with diamond-cut alloy wheels, roof rails, and dual-tone color schemes. The car’s back has not been revealed, but previous spy photos indicate that it will have connected taillamps with LED illumination, a floating-style roof design, a muscular hatch, and a robust rear bumper.
The car will be available in six monotone and three dual-tone exterior colors, including two new ones, Cosmic Blue and Ranger Khaki, as shown in these photos.
The Hyundai Exter will be powered by a 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine that is E20 fuel-ready and will be available with a 5-speed manual transmission or an optional Smart Auto AMT (Automatic Manual Transmission). There will also be a 1.2-litre Bi-fuel Kappa petrol + CNG engine with a 5-speed manual gearbox.
Price & Variants
The Hyundai Exter micro-SUV has an introductory pricing range of Rs 6 lakh to Rs 10.10 lakh (ex-showroom). They are competitive in the entry-level varieties, while the better-equipped top variants command a premium above their competitors.
Hyundai offers the Exter in seven variants: EX, EX(O), S, S(O), SX, SX(O), and SX(O) Connect.
Design and Styling
amid the effort to build a new identity amid a sea of me-too SUVs, the Exter ingeniously draws on the quintessential toughness of old-school SUVs while embracing current design influences. What you get is a vehicle that sticks out with its boxy design while surprising with detailed nuances. The parametric grille is more than just a grille; it’s a statement in high-gloss black that foreshadows what’s to come. The H-shaped DRLs introduce a character that is instantly recognized even at a distance. Let us not overlook the polarizing yet intriguing pseudo-skid plates.
While purists may scoff at the faux rivets, it’s an attempt, albeit a flimsy one, to give the Exter a more rugged demeanor. The color options are also worth mentioning; if you choose Ranger khaki with an abyss black roof, you’re not just driving; you’re making a statement.
Safety
The Exter prioritizes safety, featuring dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, and a tire pressure monitoring system as standard. The top trim level improves safety with side and curtain airbags, hill-start assist, and a dashcam, which is a unique feature in this market. However, the lack of advanced driver-aid technologies, such as lane-keeping assist, is obvious.
Performance & Engine
While the raw power ratings may not frighten larger SUVs, the Exter’s engine layout is carefully developed for best weight distribution and efficiency. From rapid overtakes to hill climbs, the Exter performs nicely, making you reconsider what you may expect from a car in its category. Another area in which this car excels is fuel efficiency, with wallet-friendly mileage ratings that will pleasantly surprise you. In essence, the Exter’s engine is the little engine that could, combine strong and economical performance without sacrificing either.
In a car segment where engine performance is sometimes sacrificed for affordability and practicality, the Hyundai Exter seeks to debunk such conventional knowledge. Its 1.2-liter petrol engine produces 82 horsepower and 113 Nm. You won’t mistake it for a high-performance beast, but it’s more than capable of handling city commuting and highway sprints. The throttle response is tuned to strike the ideal mix between economical fuel usage and quick acceleration. Even in stop-and-go traffic, the engine rarely feels strained or weak, so you’ll never feel out of your element even when surrounded by larger, more powerful vehicles.
Interior & Features
As you enter its cabin, the atmosphere displays a certain democratic luxury. The 8-inch infotainment screen features Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and built-in navigation. Who would have imagined ambient sounds of nature in a micro-SUV? Well, the Exter has seven acoustic profiles to improve your driving experience. Customization options include a variety of seat, trim, and piping colors. The leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob not only look fantastic but also feel quality to the touch. Hyundai’s Bluelink technology, which includes more than 60 connected functions, is the cherry on top of an already laden cake.
Which Variant to buy?
If you want to save money without sacrificing vital features, the mid-tier model finds a good balance. For those prepared to spend more money on extras like the dashcam and Bluelink technology, the top-tier model is the way to go.
| Pros | Cons |
| •Rugged SUV-like looks •High seating and tall windows offer good driving confidence •Excellent feature list with exclusives like a dashcam and sunroof | •Looks are polarising •Drive lacks the thrill and offers a turbo-petrol engine choice. •Safety rating remains to be seen |
Verdict & Value for money
The Exter knows its audience well and that makes the job easier for us. It gets a lot of things right, like the cabin experience, space, practicality, comfort, ease of drive, and boot space. And the features list is so good that it will be very hard to beat it in under Rs 10 lakh. However, the Exter is lacking excitement when it comes to driving and it looks like it’s trying too hard to be an SUV. And while it has the safety tech loaded to the gills, the crash test rating remains to be seen. If it can get four stars, then the Exter would become the frontrunner for a small family car in the budget.
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