Hyundai Motor India recently made a foray into the entry-level SUV segment with the all-new Exter, which comes at an introductory price of Rs 6 lakh. In terms of pricing and positioning, it goes up against the Tata Punch, which has been dominating the segment since its launch. While we have already conducted a spec-based comparison between both models, here we will identify its most value-for-money variant.
So, let’s start with the specifications. As we all know, the new Hyundai Exter comes with two fuel options – 1.2L petrol and CNG. The gasoline unit, available with a 5-speed manual and an AMT gearbox, delivers a claimed power of 83bhp and 114Nm of torque. The power and torque figures of the CNG version are slightly lower than the petrol motor, and it is available with a manual transmission only.
In terms of proportions, the new Exter measures 3815mm in length, 1710mm in width, and 1631mm in height. The micro SUV has a wheelbase of 2450mm and offers a fuel tank capacity of 37 liters (petrol) and a 60-liter water equivalent (CNG). You get 391 liters of boot space. The carmaker has provided 6 single-tone and 3 dual-tone exterior paint options.
Variant-Wise Price & Features
Hyundai Exter EX – Rs 6 lakh
Engine – 1.2L petrol-MT
Exterior – LED taillamps, front and rear skid plates, body-coloured bumpers
Comfort & Convenience – 4.2-inch MID digital instrument cluster, multiple regional UI languages, front power windows, manual AC, adjustable rear headrests and driver seat height adjustment.
Safety – 6 airbags, rear parking sensors, ABS with EBD, central locking, seat belt reminders, 3-point seat belts for all seats, keyless entry, hill start assist (EX (O) only), electronic stability control (EX (O) only) and vehicle stability management (EX (O) only).
Verdict: The entry-level E variant of the Exter offers features that make it easier to live with and best suited for budget-conscious buyers.
Hyundai Exter S – Rs 7.27 lakh – Rs 8.24 lakh
Engine – 1.2L petrol-MT/AMT and 1.2L CNG-MT
Exterior – Electric folding wing mirrors (AMT only), 14-inch steel wheels with covers.
Comfort & Convenience – 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice recognition, steering mounted controls, 4 speakers, rear power windows, rear AC vents, USB Type-C port at the front, electrically adjustable wing mirrors, day/night IRVM, rear parcel tray,
Safety – Tyre pressure monitoring system
Verdict: With Rs 1.27 lakh – Rs 2.24 lakh pricing over the EX trim, the Exter S trim offers multiple valuable features that truly justify the value over the base trim in prices. Moreover, it’s the most affordable automatic variant in the model line-up.
Hyundai Exter SX – Rs 8 lakh – Rs 8.97 lakh
Engine – 1.2L petrol-MT/AMT and 1.2L CNG-MT
Exterior – Projector headlamps, shark fin antenna, 15-inch dual-tone alloy wheels.
Comfort & Convenience – Paddle shifters (AMT only), sunroof.
Safety – Rear parking camera, Isofix mounts, rear defogger, cruise control (petrol only).
Verdict: The SX proves to be the most value-for-money variant of the micro SUV, and the premium is painless to justify.
Hyundai Exter SX (O) – Rs 8.64 lakh – Rs 9.32 lakh
Engine – 1.2L petrol-MT/AMT
Exterior – Automatic headlamps, 15-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, rear wiper and washer, luggage lamp
Comfort & Convenience – Wireless charger, smart key for keyless entry, keyless go, leather wrapped gear knob and steering wheel, cooled glove box, footwell lighting.
Safety – Rear parking camera, Isofix mounts, rear defogger, cruise control (petrol only).
Verdict: The SX (O) is our recommended variant. It will cost you under Rs 10 lakh (of-course ex-showroom), and offers some additional comfort and safety features over the SX.
Hyundai Exter SX (O) Connect – Rs 9.32 lakh-10.00 lakh
Engine – 1.2L petrol-MT/AMT
Exterior – Front and rear mudguard
Comfort & Convenience – 8-inch touchscreen with BlueLink, dashcam, ambient sounds of nature, OTA updates for map and infotainment and Home to car link with Alexa.
Verdict: For the price premium of Rs 68,000 over the SX (O) trim, the SX (O) Connect offers you some extra goodies. It is surely a value upgrade if you don’t have budget issues.
