With the thriving SUV market in India, many consumers prefer vehicles with SUV-ish characteristics — higher ground clearance, better practicality, and a taller stance. These elements are trickling into more affordable segments as well. Take a look at the likes of the Tata Punch, Citroen C3 and the Maruti Suzuki Fronx. It is time that Hyundai steps up to something in this space, and the spanking new Exter SUV is the answer from the South Korean auto giant. The Exter has been revealed digitally ahead of its launch and you can book one for yourself for a token amount of Rs.11,000. However, can it live up to the hype? Here are five reasons why the Exter could be a bestseller in its segment.
While most of the information about the Exter remains a secret, Hyundai did announce the powertrain options which will be available with its upcoming micro SUV. For starters, there will be one engine option: the 1.2-litre naturally aspirated four-pot, paired with either a five-speed manual gearbox or an AMT. This is the same engine that powers the i10 Nios, the Aura, the Venue, and might put out the same 82bhp and 114Nm of torque. In addition to that, the CNG variants will get the same engine with only the five-speed manual option. Sadly, there is no turbo engine as an option with the Exter yet. Given that inline three-cylinder engines under the hood of the Punch and the C3 are not the most refined in the business, Hyundai’s choice to stick a four-cylinder in the Exter could serve them well.
All the current Hyundai cars, even the ones at a budget price point, offer a cabin experience that is more upmarket than its competitors. As for the Exter, Hyundai did not reveal the interior. But considering it is a budget offering, we can expect the build quality to be similar to the i10 Nios hatchback. So there could be a two-tone interior theme with fabric seats as standard. The higher trim levels could likely get leatherette seats with more seat colour options. The majority of the cabin should be equipped with hard plastics, which is on par with the segment. However, please note that the cabin layout could be different from the i10 Nios and the Aura.
Looking back at the last 10 years, you’ll realise that Hyundai has always offered best-in-class features in whichever segment they enter. Look at the Creta, look at the Venue – both SUVs raised the bar for what we could expect in terms of creature comforts at their respective price points. It is only natural to assume that the Exter will do the same. There could be modern touches inside the cabin, like a bigger infotainment display and a fully digital instrument console. Also, we can assume it will get features such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, along with wireless charging, connected car tech, and powerful speakers.
Hyundai SUVs in general hold similar design language throughout their lineup. The Venue shares some of the design cues with the Creta and the Creta does the same with the Alcazar and the Tucson. Even if you take a look at the Exter, you will get the Venue-esque vibes in terms of how it looks. Tata does it too – the Punch shares a resemblance to the Harrier and the Safari. As does the C3 and C3 Aircross. But the Hyundai’s playfulness, coupled with the ubiquity of its more upmarket SUVs could rub off well on the Exter’s sales.
Hyundai cars are known for good resale value and the Exter could make things even better. The majority of the Exter’s competitors do not offer great value in the used car market, mainly because of reliability issues. Also, with Hyundai’s better warranty coverage, the Exter could have more popularity in the used car market compared to the Punch and the C3.