The South Korean automotive giant Hyundai’s latest offering, the Exter subcompact SUV, has swiftly taken the Indian automotive market by storm, garnering tremendous popularity and raising anticipation. In just a single month since its launch, the Hyundai Exter has achieved a remarkable feat, selling a staggering 7000 units. This rapid success has fueled speculation: Can the Exter truly dethrone the reigning champion, the Tata Punch, in the competitive micro-SUV segment?
Hyundai’s Exter SUV, which debuted with much fanfare on July 10th, has already secured its place in the record books. Evidently, Indian consumers have embraced its captivating design, feature-rich interiors, and a variety of powertrain options. This resounding success becomes even more noteworthy when considering that the Exter managed to hit the 7000-unit sales mark in just a month.
The Exter’s allure wasn’t confined to the showroom floor alone. Hyundai’s COO, Tarun Garg, disclosed that the Exter recorded an overwhelming number of bookings, totaling an astonishing 16,000 reservations since May. With a daily booking rate of 1,800, it’s evident that the anticipation for the Exter was palpable well before its official launch.
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As Exter sets the sales charts ablaze, it’s worth assessing its competition in the micro-SUV segment. Since its May launch, the Tata Punch, a long-standing segment leader, has managed to sell more than 22,000 units. In the same period, the Citroen C3 and Maruti Suzuki Ignis, Exter’s fellow rivals, lagged behind with sales figures of around 1,500 and 8,900 units respectively.
The Hyundai Exter’s appeal isn’t limited to its sales figures alone. Boasting a unique blend of compactness and ruggedness, the Exter’s design features include skid plates at the front and rear, along with striking body cladding over the wheel arches, exuding strength and dynamism. Its distinctive split headlamp setup with H-shaped daytime running LEDs and LED projectors adds a touch of modernity.
In terms of variants, the Exter offers customers a diverse range of choices, ensuring a perfect fit for every preference. Hyundai has thoughtfully crafted the Exter’s interiors, providing three distinct cabin layouts – Light Grey, Cosmic Blue, and Light Seige. This customization extends to its features, with offerings like a fully digital instrument console, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, automatic climate control panel, and a single-pane sunroof, a first in its segment.
On the safety front, the micro-SUV boasts a comprehensive set of safety features, including six airbags, ABS with EBD, reverse parking sensors, a rear camera, electronic stability control, and hill hold assist, ensuring the safety of occupants in various driving conditions. Additionally, the top-spec SX(O) Connect variant offers Hyundai’s suite of connected car features, enabling seamless connectivity and convenience for tech-savvy consumers.
Under the bonnet, the Hyundai Exter is powered by a reliable 1.2-liter four-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol engine. Customers can choose between a 5-speed manual transmission and a 5-speed AMT gearbox. This engine generates 83 PS of maximum power and 113.8 Nm of torque. For those looking for an eco-friendly option, the Exter also offers a CNG variant, delivering 69 PS of power and 95.2 Nm of torque when operating on CNG mode. This versatility ensures that customers have a wide range of options to suit their individual needs.
To cater to the diverse preferences of customers, the Hyundai Exter is available in nine captivating color options, including Atlas White, Cosmic Blue, Fiery Red, Ranger Khaki, Starry Night, Titan Grey, Atlas Black with Abyss Black, Cosmic Blue with Abyss Black, and Ranger Khaki with Abyss Black. In terms of pricing, the Exter starts at Rs. 5,99,900 (ex-showroom) for the base EX variant, with the top-of-the-line SX(O) Connect variant priced at Rs. 9,31,990 (ex-showroom).
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