Hyundai Exter: Should You Wait For It Or Go For One Of Its Rivals?

The Exter will be positioned below the Hyundai Venue as a direct rival to the Tata Punch

Update (10/07/23): Hyundai has launched the Exter at a starting price of Rs 5.99 lakh (introductory, ex-showroom).

Hyundai Exter, the latest offering from the Korean manufacturer, will be entering the Indian market in July as a direct rival to the Tata Punch and as an alternative to some premium hatchbacks and subcompact SUVs. With its bookings open and various details out, you might be on the fence about choosing between the Exter and its rivals. Here’s a short breakdown to help you decide if the Hyundai is worth waiting for:

Tata Punch: BUY For A 5-star Safety Rating And Good Features

The only direct rival to the Hyundai Exter is the Tata Punch. This micro-SUV from the Indian manufacturer comes with an 88PS, 1.2-litre petrol engine with a choice of a 5-speed manual and AMT options. In terms of features, it gets a 7-inch touchscreen display, a semi-digital instrument panel, automatic climate control, cruise control, dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, rear defoggers, rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera. Also, the micro-SUV holds a five-star Global NCAP crash test safety rating (as per older tests). The compromise with the Punch would be its not-so-smooth engine which is good for city driving, but mediocre on the highways.

Nissan Magnite/ Renault Kiger: BUY For A Bigger Size And Good Crash Test Scores

If you want a little bigger SUV for you and your family, you can go for either the Renault Kiger or the Nissan Magnite. Both subcompact SUVs get a 72PS, 1-litre naturally aspirated engine and a 100PS, 1-litre turbo-petrol unit. They come with features like an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, digital driver’s display, wireless phone charger and even a sunroof. However, the fully-loaded variants of these subcompact SUVs are not expected to be within a comparable range of the Exter. So, consider them primarily for their bigger size and safety (4-star Global NCAP safety rating as per older tests.) Furthermore, compared to the Hyundai SUV, here you will have to make a compromise on the cabin quality as well.

Maruti Fronx: BUY For Premium Looks And Space

Another model you can consider is the Maruti Fronx,  a crossover model without any direct rivals in the country. With the Fronx, you’ll get more space in the cabin and premium looks, even though limited to lower variants that will be closer to the prices of the Exter. So, you will likely be compromising in terms of features. The only engine option you can consider is the 1.2-litre petrol unit making 90PS/103Nm with choice of manual and AMT, while higher variants get a 1-litre turbo-petrol engine.

Hyundai Venue/ Tata Nexon/ Kia Sonet/ Maruti Brezza: BUY For A Diesel Engine And More Space

If you are looking for an ‘SUV’ with a diesel engine, you can stretch your budget and go for the Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon or Kia Sonet. For prices similar to the Exter, you can expect only the lower-spec petrol-powered variants, which includes the Maruti Brezza as well. While compromised on features, you will get the benefit of roomier cabins and in some cases, more performance as well.

Maruti Swift/ Hyundai Grand i10 Nios/ Maruti Baleno/ Toyota Glanza/ Hyundai i20: BUY For Affordable Prices

You can also consider buying any of these hatchbacks at similar prices if you are willing to let go of higher ground clearance and SUV styling. In the case of the Swift and i10, you can save some money too while still getting feature-rich variants. With the exception of the Hyundai i20, these hatchbacks also get the option of CNG powertrains.

Hyundai Exter: HOLD For SUV Appeal, Premium Features And A Smooth Engine

If you were not quite convinced by any of the aforementioned models, you should wait for the Hyundai Exter’s prices and variant-wise details. Hyundai will offer it with an 83PS, 1.2-litre petrol engine along with a CNG powertrain at launch. This engine is smooth and performs well in both city and highway conditions, as experienced in the Grand i10 Nios. The Exter also gets premium looks and is well equipped in terms of safety features which include six airbags as standard along with other features like ABS with EBD, electronic stability control (ESC), tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and a rearview camera. Now, its entire feature list isn’t out yet but premium features like a sunroof and a dash cam have been confirmed while a large touchscreen infotainment system, cruise control and more are also expected.

Also Read: Hyundai Reveals The Rear Design Of The Exter Ahead Of Its Launch

Let us know which of these models you’re planning to go for in the comments section below.