Hyundai Exter : The Compact SUV shaking up Indian market

Hyundai Exter, the new entrant from the South Korean automobile behemoth, has been doing the rounds in the Indian automobile industry for the last many weeks.

Compact SUVs that are going to revolutionize the demand for vehicles that can pack up the functionality of an SUV but remain compact for easy city driving. Positioned below the highly popular Hyundai Venue, the Exter is aimed at those who desire an SUV’s bold design and features without the hefty price tag.

A new compact SUV by Hyundai Exter for the youthful, urbane customer brings out a fresh new design, with unparalleled technology and strong performance. Here we discuss everything about Hyundai Exter, from its design philosophy and features to how it would be placed in the highly competitive Indian market.

Bolder Design Language

Hyundai has always posited a model behind cars that make an impression, and its latest creation, the Exter, can be no exception.

The SUV sports an assertive and dynamic design in a manner which reaches to the heart of Hyundai’s ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ philosophy – forceful lines and streamlined elements emphasizing a sporty character.

The Exter sports a unique grille at the front, with Hyundai’s signature cascading pattern flanking it. Slender LED headlights soothe these sleek curves and bold daytime running lights.

The DRLs take the shape of a stunning “H” pattern, making the Exter look unlike anything else. The front bumper is muscular and gives the SUV a commanding road presence. Skid plates at the bottom add to its rugged appeal.

The Exter offers a side profile with sharp edges on its wheel arches in a squared-off design. One would expect those alloy wheels to be a little too large for this model. Meanwhile, crisp shoulder lines define the SUV shape even when the vehicle is static.

Roof rails and cladding around the wheels add to the credentials of the Exter as an SUV; an option for the roof offers contrasting shades that allow personalization of the vehicle.

The Exter carries the lead from the front into the rear, where it sports an exciting tail lamp design replicated in the “H” pattern seen in the DRLs.

A good-sized rear bumper, integrated with skid plates and rear fog lamps, rounds off the look, with the Exter carrying itself off as a cohesive, premium, and adventure-ready design.

Interior: Comfort, Space, and Technology:

Inside the Hyundai Exter, you find a cabin that’s felt spacious in its straight-forward offering of comfort and practicality. The Hyundai Exter is a compact SUV, but, when it comes to offering passengers ample room to stretch out, it really does great utilization of all available interior space.

The dashboard is built in an outright driver-centric approach, but with a mix of premium materials and soft-touch surfaces that improve the overall look and feel in the cabin.

Seats are set up to provide comfort during long drives while featuring generous cushioning and support on both sides for the driver and passengers. Hyundai also focused on making the interior space as ample as possible and ensuring, besides an excellent headroom, that legroom is rather good, especially at the back seats.

The Exter is packed to the rafters with features and designed for the very tech-conscious buyer. At the heart of the dashboard is an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system supporting Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

Back from the steering wheel is a digital instrument cluster that provides all the key driver information in nice, crisp, readable format.

Hyundai has crammed the Exter full of the latest features meant to cater to today’s driving requirements.

First, a wireless charging pad, multiple USB ports, and a rear-view camera all help in making for more effortless parking maneuvers in tighter spaces. The Exter is one of very few cars in this class offering a sunroof, further benefiting the interior ambiance.

Talking about its storage, it is equipped with good numbers of cubby spaces, a glovebox, and a nice-sized boot. Thus, this car will be a great option for people who often travel with luggage or require space for shopping bags.

Performance and Engine Options

The Hyundai Exter under the bonnet offers two powertrain options that are equipped to give good performance with adequate fuel efficiency.

1. Kappa Petrol Engine: The naturally aspirated engine devors round 83 PS of power, alongside 113.8 Nm of torque, proving that it is a super great highway cruiser as well as an equally good city commuter.

Coupled with either the 5-speed manual transmission or Hyundai’s Automated Manual Transmission (AMT), this power train indeed provides good responses and decently smooth performance.

It very well suits the task of scouring through the traffic of any metropolis. The Exter with this engine is going to provide a mileage of approximately 19-20 km/l, likely making it probably the most fuel-efficient car in the class.

2. 1.2 Litre Bi-Fuel (CNG + Petrol) Engine: Hyundai has an option for the CNG variant for Exter to aid green-emission and cheaper fuel this variant produces a little lesser power at 69 PS but compensates with very good mileage with 25-30 km/kg making it an attractive option to those who prioritize running costs and environmental friendliness.

The suspension system in the Hyundai Exter is tuned to offer an extremely comfortable ride and to soak all bumps and rough patches of road easily. The light steering has been making it even easier to maneuver crowded streets and parking lots.

Safety Features

Hyundai hasn’t compromised on safety with the Exter. Safety features abound in this SUV that make it one of the safest cars of its kind.

Standard safety provisions include dual airbags, ABS with EBD, and rear parking sensors. Hyundai has stuffed the Exter with safety features that are usually reserved for higher segments. These include;

Six airbags on top versions

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

Hill Start Assist

Vehicle Stability Management (VSM)

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

The safety provisions enable the vehicle to give maximum protection to occupants in different driving conditions.

Positioning in the Market and Competition

Hyundai Exter is a compact SUV. It competes in one of the most fiercely contested segments, which have seen fastest growth in recent years. Main competition for Exter includes Tata Punch, Maruti Suzuki Ignis, Renault Kiger, and Nissan Magnite.

Hyundai has positioned the Exter below Venue and, therefore, makes the vehicle relatively more affordable for buyers who would require styling and functionality of a real SUV without over-extending their budget. Priced starting at ₹6-9 lakh (ex-showroom), the Exter is a competitively priced feature pack.

Another sphere where Exter is essentially powerful is brand value. Hyundai, in its journey across India, has entrenched reliability and quality along with excellent after-sales services. And hence, the Exter benefits from it over some of its competitors.

Not to forget, Hyundai’s spread dealership and service network across the length and breadth of the country would leave no stone unturned to provide easy access to service and support to the customer, thereby multiplying the ownership experience.

Conclusion for the Future of the Hyundai Exter

Hyundai has once again shown their capabilities in knowing the market trends as they launched the Exter. Being one of the fastest-growing car segments in India, compact SUV is now going to wear the badge of having audacious design, classy modern technology, and competitive pricing that can easily compare with others as being the best available competitor.

As the buying preference changes with a hike towards SUVs, especially compact ones for which affordability, style, and practicality are being considered and weighed in contrast with fuel efficiency, Hyundai Exter indeed has a big market share waiting for it.

Therefore, younger urban buyers who can opt for a modern, feature-packed SUV without shelling out a hefty amount would look at this model as an optimum buy in the near future.

This CNG variant reflects Hyundai’s intent to provide more green options, which should attract buyers looking for options that are friendly to the environment and to their wallets through running costs.

The Exter would thus be an important move by Hyundai as it strides to increase its share of pocket space in the hatchback SUV segment.

Since it boasts exquisite design lines, with good connectivity, performance, and safety features on tap, it could be said that the Hyundai Exter is in line for favorite status among India’s urban drivers.

Be it a SUV for daily city grind or a comfort and style vehicle for the weekend getaway, Hyundai’s Exter represents one such attractive balance of both.

Indeed, with its very competitive pricing and a brand name like Hyundai behind it, the Exter is certain to be the harbinger in changing the face of the compact SUV segment while making things tough for its rivals in the years to come.