Bangalore: As announced, the Hyundai Motor Company on Monday launched its much-awaited small segment SUV, Exter, in the Indian market at a starting price of ₹5,99,900, whereas the top-spec variant is priced at ₹10 lakh. This SUV comes equipped with an engine that delivers an impressive power output of 81.86 bhp and a torque of 113.8 Nm, available in both the manual transmission (MT) and automated manual transmission (AMT) variants. For the CNG version, the engine generates a power of 68 bhp and a torque of 95.2 Nm.
The Hyundai Exter has reportedly set a new benchmark for safety with six first-in-segment standard airbags, three-point seatbelts, and seat belt reminders. Advanced electronic safety features like active stability control and hill start assist are included. The Exter boasts 26 standard safety features and offers over 40 advanced safety features, ensuring comprehensive protection for occupants.
Hyundai’s Exter Prices
| Trims | Prices (Manual) | Automatic | CNG |
| Ex | ₹6 lakh | — | — |
| S | ₹7.27 lakh | ₹7.97 lakh | ₹8.24 lakh |
| SX | ₹8.00 lakh | ₹8.68 lakh | ₹8.97 lakh |
| SX-O | ₹8.64 lakh | ₹9.32 lakh | — |
| SX-O Connect | ₹9.32lakh | ₹10.00 lakh |
*Ex-showroom price
11,000 Exter already booked
Automobile experts say that Hyundai Exter shares its underpinnings with the Grand i10 Nios and Aura, comes with both petrol and CNG fuel options, and is available in five trims – EX, S, SX, SX(O) and SX(O) Connect. The Hyundai motors claimed to have received over 11,000 bookings for the Exter, of which AMT variants make up for around 38%, while factory-fitted CNG trims account for 20%.
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Power and fuel economy
The Exter is powered by a 1.2-litre, naturally aspirated, four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 83hp and 114Nm of peak torque that is shared with other models such as the Nios, i20 and Venue. Gearbox options include either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT. In the CNG-spec, it produces 69hp and 95.2Nm, and gets just the manual gearbox option.
Barring the base-variant, all petrol variants are available with both MT and AMT gearboxes, while the CNG kit can be had on the mid-spec S and SX trims. The three SX trims also get paddle shifters with the AMT gearbox.
The company officials claimed that Hyudai exter had a fuel economy 19.4kpl for the manual and 19.2kpl for the AMT; the factory-fitted CNG option offers a much superior fuel economy of 27.10kpl in comparison.
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Exter’s exterior design
Like newer Hyundais, the Exter follows the brand’s parametric design language, which is evident in the textured detailing on the C-pillar and the tail-gate garnish, as well as the overtly flared wheel arches. What’s unique to the Exter is the new H-pattern LED treatment for daytime running lamps and tail-lamps.
As per the company’s press release, the Exter might be the brand’s smallest SUV, but it still has the typical SUV styling cues with boxy proportions, an upright nose, thick body cladding, prominent front and rear faux skid plates, and roof rails. Higher-spec trims of the Exter come equipped with 15-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, and can also be had in dual-tone colour options. Hyundai offers six solid colours, three dual-tone colour options and three interior colour options.
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It measures 3,815mm in length, 1,710mm in width and 1,631mm in height along with a wheelbase of 2,450mm and ground clearance of 185mm.
Exter’s interior
The SUB comes with dashboard design carried over from the Nios and Aura with some additional key features. First, it gets an all-black colour scheme instead of the grey/black or bronze/black interior seen on the Nios and Aura, respectively. The Exter also gets a fully digital instrument cluster with a 4.2-inch MID, which is seen in more expensive Hyundais like the i20 and Verna.
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The patterned effect on the dashboard, door pads and around the gear lever has also been carried over. Higher variants get semi-leatherette seat upholstery finished in dual-tone black and olive-green shades. It, however, misses out on an armrest for the rear seats.
Hyundai Exter features
On the features front, the biggest talking points are two segment-first features – a single-pane sunroof and a factory-fitted dashcam with dual cameras (front and rear). Other features include automatic projector headlamps, keyless entry and go, an 8-inch touchscreen, automatic climate control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless charging, in-built navigation, connected car tech, voice-activated commands in multiple languages and over-the-air (OTA) updates.
Safety features
Safety features include six airbags, ESC, hill assist control, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors and camera, three-point seatbelt and seatbelt reminders for all seats, and ISOFIX anchorages. These are available as standard on the SX, SX(O) and SX(O) Connect trims, but can also be had as optional extras on the lower-spec E and S trims.
Hyundai Exter rivals
The Exter is intended to be a direct rival to the Tata Punch, Citroen C3 and Maruti Suzuki Ignis. For its price, it will also see competition from lower variants of the Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger.
