Hyundai Exter vs Maruti Fronx: Space And Practicality Compared

The Fronx may exude a more premium look, but can the Exter secure victory in this showdown with its extensive list of features? Let's find out…

In India, the desirability of owning an SUV has increased significantly over the past few years. The shape appeals to a lot of buyers as it looks rugged, offers good road presence, and has a more practical ground clearance. 

Two mass-market examples are the Hyundai Exter and the Maruti Fronx. While the Hyundai Exter is a micro SUV that shares its underpinnings with the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, the Maruti Fronx is a crossover SUV based on the Maruti Baleno. Although the Fronx is a bigger and more premium offering than the Exter, its Delta+ variant and the Exter’s SX (O) variant are similarly priced, and they also feature the same capacity 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engines.

If you have a budget of Rs 10 lakh, which one is better suited for you? We’ve compared them in terms of space, practicality, and features to answer that question.

Looks

Before we begin, let’s acknowledge the fact that both cars are essentially elevated hatchbacks. However, when it comes to sporting a more SUV-like appearance, the Exter takes the lead. Hyundai’s micro SUV boasts a traditional boxy design, and its upright road presence contributes to its SUV appeal. However, the headlight setup with H-shaped DRLs, and the rear LED tail lamps which are again connected by a black strip with a parametric pattern makes the Hyundai Exter too quirky for some people.

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On the other hand, the Fronx doesn’t exude as much of an SUV vibe as the Exter, instead leaning towards a crossover design. Elements such as side body cladding and roof rails give it a more rugged appearance than its hatchback counterpart, the Maruti Baleno. Furthermore, the Fronx' design draws considerable inspiration from the Grand Vitara, which would likely be appreciated by many due to its more stylish appeal compared to the Exter. Another advantage the Fronx holds over the Exter is its larger 16-inch wheels, compared to the 15-inchers on the Hyundai micro SUV.

In general, the Exter will be more appealing to those who prefer a more SUV-like stance. However, the design of the Hyundai Exter is somewhat polarising due to its quirky elements. On the other hand, the Fronx boasts a more upmarket and premium appearance, which will likely be appreciated by a broader audience. 

Interior

The interior of the Hyundai Exter closely resembles that of the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios. Compared to the Maruti Fronx, the Exter's dashboard appears simpler. Despite hard plastics being utilised throughout, the quality, fit, and finish are deemed acceptable at this price point.

On the other hand, the Fronx maintains its premium appearance on the inside. It shares its interior with the Baleno, featuring a multi-layered dashboard design that imparts a more upmarket feel. In contrast to the Exter's black interior, the Maruti crossover incorporates maroon inserts on the dashboard and door panels. Speaking of fit and finish, the Fronx also achieves comparable levels of quality.

Features

We are comparing the SX (O) variant of the Exter with the Delta+ variant of the Fronx. Both models come equipped with a touchscreen infotainment system supporting Android and Apple CarPlay, electrically adjustable and foldable ORVMs, automatic AC, auto headlights, and a tilt-adjustable steering wheel.

Hyundai Exter SX (O): Features on board Hyundai’s micro SUV include an 8-inch touchscreen system, a digitised instrument cluster which supports wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, automatic AC, driver seat height adjustment, and not to forget, an electric sunroof as well. 

The features list doesn’t end here; the Exter also gets a tyre pressure monitoring system, a wireless phone charger, cruise control, rear AC vents, and ambient footwell lights. These amenities give the Exter a significant edge over the Fronx. However, it's worth noting that the Exter still lacks wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a feature expected in this price range. 

Maruti Fronx: While the Delta+ variant of the Fronx may not be as feature-loaded as its own Alpha variant, it still comes with a smaller 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, an analogue instrument cluster with a small MID (multi-information display), automatic AC, electrically adjustable ORVMs, and steering-mounted audio controls.

Overall, the Exter provides a comprehensive range of features compared to the Fronx at a similar price point. However, there are some missing features that one might expect at this price point. On the other hand, the Fronx includes everything necessary, but in this comparison, the Exter emerges as a better choice over the Fronx in terms of its equipment list.

Safety

While the Exter is well-equipped with safety features, the Fronx' Delta+ trim may disappoint. Hyundai's micro SUV boasts six airbags, a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), electronic stability control (ESC), and a rear parking camera. In contrast, the mid-spec Fronx is limited to two front airbags and lacks a rear parking camera. These omissions, considering the nearly Rs 10 lakh price tag, leave customers wanting more. Talking about their safety ratings, neither of these SUVs have undergone crash testing yet. 

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Practicality

Both, the Exter and Fronx, offer good practicality, providing two cup-holders at the front, bottle-holders on all four doors capable of accommodating 1-litre bottles, and a dedicated space for keeping your smartphone. However, the Exter holds an advantage in this department, featuring extra storage alongside the handbrake, storage on the dashboard, and even a cooled glovebox.

When it comes to charging ports, the Exter’s SX(O) trim is equipped with a C-type charging port at the front, along with power outlets for both front and rear passengers. In contrast, the Fronx’ Delta+ gets a 12V power outlet and a USB charging port in the front, but lacks both USB-A and USB-C charging ports at the rear.

Boot Space

Though, on paper, the Exter offers more boot space than the Maruti Fronx, in a practical situation the Fronx can accommodate three suitcases easily due to its depth. Meanwhile, the boot loading lip is not too high, and the rear seats have a greater recline angle, due to which it can’t fit larger suitcases, and luggage has to be packed in smaller bags.

Rear Seat Comfort

Hyundai Exter: First of all, the cabin of the Hyundai Exter feels airy and offers a good sense of space. The Exter offers good headroom and the backrest angle is relaxed, but the point to note here is that it has flat seats and doesn't hold you that well. When it comes to shoulder room and seating 3 people at the back, the Fronx, being 55 mm wider than Hyundai’s micro SUV, offers better space. 

Maruti Fronx: While Fronx provides ample shoulder room for three occupants in the rear, it falls short in terms of headroom. If a person over six feet tall sits in the rear seat, their hair will touch the roof. If the backrest angle was more, it could further enhance the overall seating comfort.

Both the Exter and Fronx provide almost equal thigh support on their rear seats. However, the Exter only features two adjustable headrests at the rear seats, whereas the Fronx comes with an additional middle headrest.

Ride Comfort

Between the Exter and the Fronx, it's the Fronx that offers a more comfortable ride, while also providing a sense of stability on the road when navigating sharp corners. The suspension setup on the Fronx is well-balanced, offering the best of both worlds. It manages to absorb the sharper bumps well and also insulates you over speed breakers. At high speeds, it remains stable and offers good confidence to the driver. 

Compared to the Maruti Fronx, the Exter has a stiffer suspension setup and it doesn’t feel as comfortable or plush as the Fronx on bad roads. Though it does remain stable on highways, in city limits you feel the sharp bumps more inside the Exter. Also, at higher speeds, you also feel more of the body roll, which is pretty obvious due to the Exter’s tall SUV-like profile and smaller wheels. 

Engine & Performance

Before we get into which one feels better in terms of performance, let’s have a look at their powertrain details:

Both cars are equipped with naturally aspirated petrol engines of equal capacity, with the Fronx being slightly more powerful than the Exter. While the output figures don't show a significant difference on paper, you can feel the distinction in real-world performance.

The Fronx’ petrol engine feels more tractable than that of the Exter. In city limits, the Fronx offers better low-end torque than the Exter. The difference becomes more noticeable as you take them on the highway. The Exter doesn’t feel as alive as the Fronx, and even for making small overtakes inside the Exter, you need to plan first and then downshift. The Fronx, on other hand, doesn’t require too much downshifting for small overtakes on the highway. 

Price & Verdict

While the Hyundai Exter boasts a comprehensive list of features and provides excellent headroom for practicality, it falls behind the Fronx in terms of cabin feel, ride comfort, and engine performance. 

So, which one should you buy? The answer is straightforward. If you prioritise a traditional SUV look with an abundance of features, then the Exter should be your choice. However, if you're not a fan of the quirky design elements – like the Exter’s – and premium cabin features, a well-balanced ride, and engine performance matter more to you, then the Fronx is undoubtedly the better choice.

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