When we talk about SUVs, what comes to mind are those big and brawny vehicles such as the Land Cruiser, G-Class or even the mighty Range Rover. SUVs are always known for their massive size and presence on the road. Indians are huge fans of SUVs, but these Land Cruisers and G-Classes are not to everyone's taste and budget. So as the demand increased, Indian automakers started shrinking the SUVs, resulting in different segments such as mid-size SUVs, compact SUVs and sub-four meter SUVs.
Compared to rival brands, Hyundai caters to an extensive customer base for SUVs in India. The Korean automaker has a full range of SUVs in its portfolio in India; they have covered nearly every segment apart from one, which was the micro-SUV market. Yes, there is a market for such vehicles and the only real presence there was of the Tata Punch! But now, Hyundai wants a piece of that cake and, as a result, has launched the all-new Exter. Does it have the oomph to take on the Tata Punch and sweep away the market? That is what we are going to find out in our first-drive review.
Overall boxy exterior design is reminiscent of old-school SUVs
While it does share its underpinnings with the Grand i10 Nios, the overall exterior design of the Exter speaks different volumes. What's visible is a nice boxy design reminiscent of the old school SUVs and carries forward quite a few unique exterior design features. Elements such as the H-Shaped DRLs, the parametric grille finished in gloss black, and the faux front skid plate make it look like an SUV. One thing I noticed and instantly disliked is the fact the front skid plate has fake rivets. I must especially mention the brand's colour options because the Exter stands out from the sea of other vehicles in the Ranger khaki paint with an abyss black roof.
Also Read: Hyundai Exter Bags Over 11,000 Bookings
The plastic cladding around the wheel arch make it look quite butch
Moving to the side, what's impressive is that even though the alloys are only 15-inches, it does package the look quite well, and the cherry on the cake is the plastic cladding on the wheel arches making the Exter look quite beefy. Just like on the grille, the parametric design is on the C-pillar, and that theme is carried forward on the inside of the dashboard. Before moving to the rear, the one thing I noticed was the design of the rear doors. It might seem excessive to some, but I understand why Hyundai has added those creases to the body. It makes the car look wider than it is and aids in making the appearance a bit larger.
The tall stance at the rear does make the car's appearance taller than it is
Hyundai's always known for its bold design language, and the rear end of the Exter is the most prominent. The tailgate is upright and carries the parametric design finished in gloss black. The taillights, too, have an H-shaped detail like the front DRLs. Just like the front, the rear too has this fake skid plate which I know why Hyundai has added to make it look like an SUV, but to me, it looks a bit overdone.
The 8-inch infotainment screen is the same one found in the Grand i10 Nios
Step inside the Exter, and frankly, would it even be a Hyundai if it wasn't feature loaded to the gills with tech and features? In its top-spec guise, you get a sunroof, an 8-inch infotainment screen with built-in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and in-built navigation, a segment-first feature. Moreover, you have a wireless charger, a type-C and type-A port and a cooled glove box. It also features infotainment with multi-language UI support (10 regional and 2 international languages) and Ambient Sounds of Nature with 7 acoustic profiles that enrich user experience. Also, in the top-spec model, Hyundai offers its Bluelink technology with 60+ connected features free for the first three years.
Also Read: Hyundai Exter: 5 Things To Know About The Newly Launched Micro-SUV
The Exter is loaded to the gills with segment-first features
Hyundai offers a whole range of customization options for customers to spec the interiors however they like. There are three interior seat colours, trim colours and seat piping colours to choose from. Also, the name Exter is embossed in the front seats, the fabric used on the seat is unique, and the steering wheel and gearknob are wrapped in leather to make the interiors feel premium.
Customers can opt between three different interior colour options
When you talk about the actual space on the inside, it is just like the Grand i10. I am 6ft tall and fit quite comfortably in the front seat set to my driving position. Furthermore, the seat height can be adjusted, and so can the steering be tilted upwards or downwards to aid comfort. But I personally feel that Hyundai could have offered tilt and telescopic steering to complete the ergonomics. Also, another noteworthy fact is that the quality of plastics isn't the best, but there are striking elements in the interiors, such as the painted AC controls and blower, the 3D design on the dashboard and the small cubby hole that sits between the dashboard and the glovebox.
Back seats feel extremely airy and spacious due to the large windows and sunroof
Swing open the doors to the rear, and from the moment you sit in the back seats, you are going to appreciate the fact that the cabin feels quite airy due to the large windows and the sunroof. The knee room and headroom are commendable due to the ingress in the front seat and the roof to improve the interior space. Ferrying three passengers in the back is quite an easy task owing to the decent shoulder room. Still, the occupant in the middle seat will have to make do without a headrest. What I did notice when I sat at the back is that the seat back is reclined at an angle that could cause long journeys to be slightly cumbersome, but that is something I felt personally.
391 litre boot capacity with the option to fold the rear seats
Looking at the overall interiors, it does feel like a Hyundai, and there are a lot of plastic bits and bobs. But keep in mind that the Exter is not a very expensive car, so I cannot expect soft-touch leather at certain places. For what it is, it feels like a pretty good deal. One interesting thing about the Exter is that you get a built-in dashcam in the top-trim, which is something I wish more automakers adopt as it helps increase road safety awareness.
Also Read: Hyundai Exter vs Rivals: Specification Comparison
Offers 6 airbags as standard across all variants
Something that will attract the masses towards the Exter is that 6 airbags and ABS are offered as standard across all variants. Couple it with the fact that ESC, Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) are on offer in all the variants apart from the base-spec Exter, bringing a huge sense of relief to potential customers. Additionally, Hyundai offers the TPMS, three-point seatbelts for all passengers, parking sensors with reverse camera, a dashcam, ISOFIX anchor points and seat belt reminders for all occupants really justifies the importance Hyundai has given while developing the Exter.
It can also be opted with a 1.2-litre motor that runs on CNG
Powering the Hyundai Exter is the same mill as the Grand i10 Nios. This 1.2-litre four-cylinder motor churns out a maximum power of 82 bhp @6000 rpm and 113.8 Nm @4000 rpm. It comes with either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT gearbox. While I didn't get to experience the manual, I was truly impressed with the AMT gearbox offered in the Exter. What is remarkable about this AMT is that it offers paddle shifters for additional drivability, and it's also a segment-first feature.
AMT feels quite smooth to drive, with seamless shifts when cruising on the highway
Talking about the overall driving dynamics, I was quite impressed with the Exter. Owing to the suspension setup, the SUV tackles the undulation and bumps on the road decently. Unlike other Hyundai's, which have a soft suspension, this feels very planted when you're out on the highway, which induces confidence to cruise at speed limits without feeling like you are not connected to the vehicle's steering. With disc brakes in the front and drum brakes at the rear, you'd expect the Exter's braking duties to be alright. But there were a few instances where I had to firmly apply the brakes, and the bite the brakes offered induced confidence in the brakes in general.
The suspension is extremely planted, and the brakes offer a decent bite
Diving more into the AMT gearbox, what charmed me was the smoothness of the shifts. On my drive, I was primarily cruising at 70-80 kmph, and while shuffling between gears, that typical jerk you experience in AMTs is barely noticeable. Yes, when I did push the throttle to overtake or swift starts off the line, that jerk becomes quite prominent, but the moment you ease off the throttle, it goes back to its seamless shifts.
Ground clearance of 185mm
Here is where the Exter wins top marks since the brand claims that the SUV can get a mileage of 19.4 kmpl in the manual and 19.2 kmpl on the AMT. Bear in mind that these figures aren't determined by the driving conditions and are only stated by the brand. But an extremely impressive number is 27 km/kg that Hyundai says the CNG variant of the Exter can deliver. While that number might be tough to achieve in the real world, with the constant hike in fuel and CNG prices, even getting a figure of 20 to 25 km/kg is admirable.
Might be a pricy option but feels value for money
As I mentioned at the start of this review, the micro-SUV segment was primarily dominated by the Tata Punch compared to the Citroen C3. But now, with the launch of the Exter, things will soon heat up quite a bit in this segment and will also become much more engaging. Now with regards to pricing, Hyundai has priced the Exter between Rs 6 lakh to Rs 10.10 lakh, which makes it a bit more expensive compared to the Punch, which is priced between Rs 6 lakh to Rs 9.52 lakh (ex-showroom, India). Still, it makes justifiable sense for the features offered and the car that it is.
Prices range between Rs 6 lakh to Rs 10.10 lakh (ex-showroom, India)
If you are in the market and have a budget of under Rs 10 lakh, the Exter offers quite a complete package compared to other vehicles. Yes, it might be on the pricier side, if you need to break it down to a simple value-for-money proposition, the Exter can surely throw quite a few Punches (pun intended) at its competitors.
