Hyundai Exter

There is one feature that nobody was expecting with the Hyundai Exter, and it’s the paddle shifters that you get with the AMT variant. But before that, let me quickly run you through the engine and gearbox options. You have the same 1.2-litre, naturally aspirated, four-cylinder engine from the Venue, Nios, and the Aura. The four-cylinder engine is as refined and quiet as ever. There is hardly any buzz at normal operating RPMs, say between 1,500 and 3,000rpm. The only time you will feel this engine working hard is when the car is loaded with three or four people and you want to get somewhere quickly.  

So that’s pretty much it when it comes to this engine. It’s a familiar engine that we have grown to like for its refinement and linear power delivery. Now coming to the AMT gearbox, the highest praise that I can give it is that it doesn’t take away anything from the driving experience. In fact, it is extremely smooth when you are driving using part throttle. It upshifts at 2,000rpm and you will barely have the car rocking front and back. So, you will never feel that obvious head nod when shifting through the first three gears.  

All in all, the Exter with the AMT gearbox feels just right for driving around town. However, when you need to reel into a gap in traffic or overtake a long vehicle, then that’s where it gets a little tough. There is a lot of delay between you flooring the throttle fully and the gearbox reacting to it and then downshifting. So usually that would be the end of it in every low-power AMT car but here you can eliminate some of that lag and frustration by quickly using the paddle shifters. 

The Exter rides quite well for its size. The noise insulation is good, so there isn’t a lot of road or wind noise filtering into the cabin. The suspension is also decently quiet when it’s doing its job. As for the actual ride, it’s nice and flat and there isn’t a lot of up and down movement once you are up to speed. It’s just that at low speeds it’s a bit bouncy over speed humps and sharp undulations.

As for the steering, this one has a good amount of weight to it and responds quite linearly. It is not the quickest though – going three and a half turns lock-to-lock – but we like how it’s perfect for its job. Plus, the steering doesn’t need to be constantly worked on the highways and has a good progressive nature at city speeds.

The Exter’s design evokes strong opinions. After all, it’s a funky take on the micro SUV formula, so pretty much whatever angle you look at it from, it will have your attention. And this is despite the fact that it’s not any longer than the Nios because the wheelbase and the length of the Exter are exactly the same. It is, of course, noticeably taller as well as wider than the Nios and comes with more ground clearance. 

With its split headlamp setup, gloss black panelling on the hatch, H-shaped LED DRLs, and taillights,  the Exter will have your attention when you see it for the first time. However, I have to say that it’s not the most cohesive design out there. The upright stance and the squared-off wheel arches look nice, but then you also have the 15-inch wheels that look small and, to be honest, the front end of this car looks puny next to the massive cabin section that follows it.

The Exter borrows its cabin from the Nios but for some variation, Hyundai is offering different colours for the seat pattern and dashboard inserts. Although, I have to add that they do not amount to any drastic visual changes. Where the Exter really stands out is in the quality and fit and finish, which is very good for this segment. Like every other Hyundai model, the quality of plastics is impressive even lower down the cabin. I also like the solid feedback you get from the knobs around the main display, the climate control panel, and how heavy the air vents feel when you use them.  

The Exter is a micro SUV but there is nothing micro about the amount of space it has. At the front, the sense of space is decent despite having an all-black cabin. In fact, for a compact car, it’s quite tall, so, getting in and out of the Exter is very easy. And once you are in, you will find the front seats to be nice and supportive with just the right amount of cushioning. 

Moving to the rear, headroom is more than adequate and most people will be happy with the legroom, too. There is also good back support from the seatback. Even though the shoulder room isn’t particularly great, I like how high the seating is. And because it’s at a certain angle, there is adequate under-thigh support as well, so that’s good.  

Coming to the features on this top-spec SX (O) Connect variant, you get a fully digital instrument cluster, a wireless charging pad, a sunroof, a very slick infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear AC vents, cruise control, a cooled glove box, and climate control. The Connect variant also gets a dual-view dash cam and over-the-air updates for the connectivity features. 

For safety, the biggest highlight is that all the variants of the Exter come with six airbags and ABS. Other safety features include a tyre pressure monitoring system, a rear-view camera, automatic headlamps, keyless entry, and three-point seatbelts for all seats.

The Exter is yet another outcome of Hyundai hitting almost all the right notes. As a small crossover, it has all the makings to become a popular choice in its segment. It’s got the looks, the features and the convenience of a well-sorted automatic car. Okay, so maybe it’s not particularly fun to drive and honestly, I am not a fan of how it looks, but for every other need or purpose, the Exter makes for an easy recommendation.  

Pictures by Kapil Angane