Late last year Hyundai launched the new Exter compact crossover in SA as the brand’s cheapest SUV. Voted India’s car of the year in 2024, it competes in the entry level A-SUV segment below the larger Hyundai Venue.
From my weeklong impressions of driving the compact but capable newcomer, the Exter could help the Korean brand reclaim some of the market share it has lost to cut-priced Chinese marques such as Chery and Haval in recent years.
For starters, the Exter is a striking looker that stands out on the road. Its chunky shape and prominent Parametric grill make it pop, as do H-shaped LED daytime running lights and squared-off wheel arches. Giving it SUV-like vibes are front and rear silver skid plates and black wheel arch covers.
Built in Chennai, the Exter has a 3,815mm length and 1,170mm width, making it 180mm shorter and 60mm narrower than the Venue. That sounds tiny, but the wheelbase is just 50mm shorter, so there’s not a major difference in the Exter’s legroom, which is impressively spacious and takes four adults comfortably.
The Exter’s 290l boot is notably smaller than the Venue’s 343l cargo hold, but it’s enough for a few tog bags or a reasonable amount of shopping. The boot contains a nearly full-size spare wheel, and luggage space can be expanded by folding down the one-piece rear backrest.
Powering the entire five-model Exter range is a 1.2l four-cylinder petrol motor developing 61kW and 114Nm driving the front wheels via a five-speed manual or a five-speed automated manual transmission (AMT.)
The outputs may look meek but a low kerb mass gives the car a good power-to-weight ratio, making it punch above its weight when you drive it.
The engine feels torquey and doesn’t require harsh revving to generate decent acceleration, and short gearing makes for a little car that flits eagerly through suburban roads.
It also comfortably maintains the speed limit and more on the freeway, though its short gearing makes it rev high while cruising, and it could do with a sixth gear to make it a more economical open-road car. That said, the test car’s 6.8l /100km combined town/freeway consumption was respectably frugal (Hyundai claims 5.7l).