Hyundai Exter : Traffic in the morning moved at a snail’s pace as I drove towards Hyundai’s experience center on the outskirts of Gurugram.
It was like any other Monday morning in the NCR; the roads were a cacophony of honking, cutting lanes and other vehicular mayhem.
That’s when I saw it – the new Hyundai Exter in a sumptuous Ranger Khaki hue, deftly squeezing between traffic-sized holes in traffic that appeared impossibly minuscule for an SUV to manoeuvre through.
My instant reaction: “That little thing’s certainly not guzzling gas like the gas-guzzlers inching around it.”
Now, two weeks later, after an official reveal, I can say our first gut feeling was well-founded.
But there is something startling about the Exter and that’s that Hyundai has managed to make a truly affordable SUV with all the right stuff – and by stuff I mean “damdar mileage” or “powerful mileage” as the company so arrogantly and accurately called it – without making you feel like you’re driving a compromise.
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Hyundai Exter Budget-freindly Prices That STALLED Occasions they go WHAAAAAT!
Let’s get right down to it and talk about what everyone wants to know – the Exter’s price. Priced at an introductory level of ₹6.05 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base variant to ₹10.10 lakh for the feature-loaded range topping versions, Hyundai has strategically given it a price range that it takes on everything between premium hatchbacks to the entry-level SUVs.
“We have been following the market closely,” Rajesh Kumar, a Hyundai dealer I have known for years, told me when I stopped by his showroom last week.
“Millennials are after SUV styling and presence, but they are mostly offered hatchback cars within their price range. The Exter fills that hole perfectly.”
Aggressive pricing also pits the Exter directly against the Tata Punch, Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger, along with the lure of tempting prospective buyers who are looking to upgrade to more premium hatchbacks like the Maruti Baleno or Toyota Glanza.
On a three-day test in a mid-spec Exter S(O) model, a number of bystanders were genuinely amazed when I told them the rough price bracket. “That’s it?” was the typical response — often accompanied by something like “Looks more expensive.
Hyundai Exter The Mileage King That Doesn’t Look Like One
The number that everyone is excited about though is the Exter’s listed fuel economy.
The 1.2-litre petrol engine offers an ARAI-certified mileage of 19.4 kmpl when mated to a manual transmission and 19.7 kmpl when combined with AMT. There is also a CNG variant that offers a highly efficient 27.1 km/kg.
But even numbers tell only part of the story. What struck me during my time with the car was how it managed to pull off this efficiency feat without feeling underpowered or compromised.
The Exter was able to maintain a smooth 100-110 kmph on the highway the entire stretch from Delhi to Jaipur without feeling stressed.
Over taking was smooth with 83 PS (82 bhp) and 113.8 Nm of torque and required only a down shift to pick up speed in quick time.
“We’ve tuned the engine’s torque curve in keeping with Indian driving conditions,” explained Vikram Singh, a Hyundai technical representative I spoke to.
“We tuned the power delivery to have excellent response in stop-and-go traffic, while at the same time having peak performance for highway-speed cruising.”
In urban areas (where the Exter will arguably be seen most), the light clutch is a pleasure to use and shifts are sharp.
The AMT, though not as involving to drive, makes for a more relaxed experience, being two-pedal-friendly without a huge drop in fuel efficiency –suitable for the city everyman.
And how did it fare in real-world driving? In my mixed driving cycle -comprising both bumper-to-bumper Delhi traffic, a few highway stretches and the rest in between -the manual Exter returned around 16.5 kmpl, which is quite a good number for the conditions it was driven in (and for someone who’s not always gentle on the throttle).
Hyundai Exter SUV Looks Without the SUV Thirst
That is quite enough power to cause go-ev tastyright through to the bottom of the range, and yet still manages to maintain visuals proportions that give the Exter a profile that seems more imposing than it actually is.
At just 3,815mm long and 1,710mm wide, it’s smaller than many luxury hatchbacks, but with 215mm ground clearance and an upright stance it has classic SUV presence.
Up front, the car sports Hyundai’s parametric grille and unique T-shaped LED daytime running lights.
The look is further ruggedized by squared-off wheel arches and black cladding, and roof rails (non-functional on base trims) do a good job polishing off the SUV look.
“Young buyers need something unique,” said Ananya Gupta, a design consultant I spoke with at an auto expo earlier this year.
When I showed her pictures of the Exter, she nodded. “The proportions work. Despite being small, it’s not a cheap or compromised version.”
This affordability of SUV-looks without SUV-thirst seems to be working for the audience as well.
Two distinct groups of young buyers I saw came in the dealership talking fuel economy as one of the prime considerations, soon followed by looks.
Hyundai Exter Good Looking Car Decent Amount Of Room On The Inside
One of the biggest surprises unfolds as you enter the Exter. The compact exterior belies a deceptively roomy interior, and various clever design and packaging features mean that it’s lighter and more spacious inside than you’d imagine.
At 6 feet, I had plenty of clearance and was quite comfortable in the driving position. And the back seats can actually hold two real live human beings in something other than tortuous positions.
It may be a squeeze for longer trips — there are three and the seats aren’t roomy — but it works, especially for shorter trips.
“We benchmarked internal space versus one category above,” Singh told me when we spoke. “The rear has a flat floor and, for the not overly tall, the high roof means better use of space than you’d think.”
There’s also a cavernous boot to enjoy so gone are the days of trying to fit a weekend’s worth of luggage for four into a little hatchback. Split rear seats in a 60:40 configuration provide extra versatility when required.
One of those colleagues, on a coffee run, commented en route that “this doesn’t feel like a budget car on the inside,” which really says a lot about what Hyundai has done here in terms of combining affordability with perceived quality.
Hyundai Exter Features That Pull Their Weight
It’s in its feature listing, however, where the Exter truly defies any preconceived notions about what a budget SUV can (and can’t) offer.
The highest spec versions come with equipment that would not be out of place in cars that are priced at several lakhs higher.
The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system functions via wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and is snappy and responsive without being slow and draggy, which is sometimes a common problem found in this class. The digital instrument cluster is quite informative and looks premium.
The safety aspect is also impressive, as there are six airbags being offerred even on the mid spec versions, which is an enormous factor in an increasingly safety concerned market.
ABS (4-channel) with EBD (electronic brake force distribution), electronic stability control (ESP ) with TCS (traction control system), HAC (hill-start assist control) and TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) complete the safety package.
An unexpected downpour during my test drive resulted in the automatic headlamps and wipers (on higher models) being switched on with minimal delay, nifty little extras that all add up to an improved driving encounter.
“Today’s value-conscious customers do not want to compromise on features,” Kumar said at the dealership. “They’re price-sensitive, but they’re also very savvy to what’s out there in the market.”
Hyundai Exter The ownership experience: There’s more to it than the purchase price
Although the headline price grabs your attention, Hyundai is pushing the total cost of ownership – specifically the running costs – as one of the main reasons to buy one.
It’s not just those miles you still have the after sales peace of mind of a 3-year/unlimited kilometer warranty and options to extend at super affordable rates. 10,000km service intervals are a good compromise between convenience and maintenance.
“We continue to observe growing interest in the Exter CNG option, particularly from those who drive more than 50 kilometers every day,” added Kumar.
“The sums add up – the higher purchase price is serviced by running costs which are approximately half that of petrol.
This attention to total affordabilty rather than simply asking price feels very much in tune with shifting consumer habits, not least from the growing number of youngsters checking TCO before reaching a decision.
Hyundai Exter The Road Ahead
Bookings of the Exter have been opened and deliveries are expected to start soon, and the car seems like a potential game-changer in the compact SUV space.
First clear results of customer interest show mid-spec models are “unsurprisingly” driving the most initial sales, according to dealer sources, as they are seen as offering the best mix of specification and price.
With fuel costs spiraling, the Exter isn’t just another small SUV – it’s a tempting combination of urban chic and hatchback practicality for both urbanites and small families.
Breaking for the last time on the bike now immobile (thanks to yet another Delhi traffic jam) I saw the trip computer showing an average of 16.8 kmpl despite what it went through in the hands of a bumbling octogenarian that the Exter has for my brain.
The young couple in the car beside me-spanning and sweating through their ancient hatchback with no power climate control-kept giving my Extera the stink eye.
That, perhaps, is the most telling measure of the Exter’s promise – it leaves you thinking there might be something even better out there, not obsessing over whether or not you can afford it.
