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Hyundai Exter bags prestigious ‘Indian Car of the Year’ award

In a moment of triumph for Hyundai India, the Hyundai Exter has clinched the prestigious Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) 2024 award, asserting its dominance in the competitive automotive landscape. This subcompact SUV outshone its rivals, securing the top spot in the ICOTY, while the Honda Elevate and Toyota Innova Hycross jointly secured the second runner-up position. The first runner-up title was claimed by none other than the Hyundai Exter itself.

Hyundai Exter bags prestigious ‘Indian Car of the Year’ award
Hyundai Exter

The ICOTY Jury, consisting of eminent Indian automotive journalists from various publications and media houses, including Auto Today magazine, played a crucial role in determining the winner. With 18 esteemed jury members, including notable figures like Yogendra Pratap, Editor of Auto Today, and Rahul Ghosh, Associate Editor of Auto Today, the evaluation process was comprehensive and unbiased. Each juror was allotted a total of 25 points to distribute among the contenders, ensuring a transparent and fair assessment. No single car could receive more than 10 points from a jury member, underscoring the commitment to impartiality.

The Hyundai Exter has emerged as a robust performer in the subcompact SUV segment and has significantly contributed to Hyundai’s success in this category. In a fierce competition that included strong contenders like the Maruti Suzuki Jimny, the Exter demonstrated its prowess, securing the top spot. Meanwhile, the runner-up position was claimed by the Maruti Suzuki Jimny, while the Honda Elevate and Toyota Innova Hycross jointly earned the second runner-up accolade. Other notable participants in the race for the ICOTY 2024 included the Citroen C3 Aircross, Hyundai Verna, Mahindra XUV400, and the MG Comet.

Hyundai Exter bags prestigious ‘Indian Car of the Year’ award

Under the hood, the Hyundai Exter boasts a 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering a robust 83bhp and 113.8Nm of torque. The powertrain is complemented by a versatile 5-speed manual transmission (MT) or an automated manual transmission (AMT).

Hyundai has also introduced a CNG variant, slightly reducing the power to 69 Bhp and 95.2 Nm of torque. The Exter stands out with a feature-rich offering, including LED lighting, a sunroof, climate control, dashboard camera, rear-AC vents, and a wireless charger, among other amenities.

Hyundai Exter bags prestigious ‘Indian Car of the Year’ award
Hyundai Exter

Hyundai’s victory in the ICOTY 2024 not only underscores the brand’s commitment to innovation and excellence but also reinforces the Hyundai Exter’s standing as a standout performer in the Indian automotive market. The Exter takes on the Tata Punch, a micro SUV that’s currently the sales champion in the segment. Next year, Tata Motors plans to launch an electric variant of the Punch, which will be positioned as the most affordable electric SUV from the Indian car brand.