The Exter has been selling well, with over 200,000 sold in India since it first came out. Hyundai says the updates are for people in cities and families with young children, giving them a more modern style and better inside comforts, but without changing the basic way the car works.
Hyundai has also given the Exter the same names for its different versions that it uses on its newer cars. The price increase isn’t very big compared to the old model, and it’s mostly because of the cosmetic improvements and new equipment, not because of any changes to the engines.
Exterior Changes and Design Enhancements
The look of the Exter is now stronger and more straight up and down. It has a wider grille that’s been darkened, updated trim around the bumper, and a new decoration in the middle. The ‘Exter’ name on the back is now connected to the LED daytime running lights, making the front look cleaner, although the lights themselves haven’t changed.
Looking at the side of the car, there’s thicker plastic around the wheel arches, new 15 inch diamond cut alloy wheels and new decorations on the C pillar. At the rear, a spoiler that’s split into two parts and a redesigned tailgate make the car look sportier. You can now get the car in two new colours: Golden Bronze and Titanium Black Matte, giving buyers more to choose from.
Interior Upgrades and Comfort Features
The inside of the car definitely feels more high quality. It’s done in a two-tone scheme of dark navy blue and grey, and the dashboard has a 3D carbon fibre effect. The seats have new, partly-fabric beige covers and a better texture, and the driver now has a folding armrest for more comfort when driving.
Even small improvements have been made to how the driver uses the car: you can now adjust the height of the seat and the headrests in the back are adjustable on all versions. The steering wheel is D-shaped, the pedals are metal, and the overall inside trim is more luxurious, making the Exter feel more refined.
Technology, Connectivity and Safety
Hyundai has added some equipment. It’s the first car in its class to have a dashcam built in, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (using a separate adapter). The back seat passengers now have a Type-C USB port, and the car can do over 60 “Bluelink” things which connect to the car, and over 300 voice commands that work even without an internet connection.
Safety is still important. All versions come with six airbags, electronic stability control, hill-start assist (to stop you rolling back on hills) and central locking. Better versions have a camera for parking in the rear and lights that turn on automatically. Maps and the entertainment system software can be updated wirelessly, keeping them up to date.
Powertrain, Practicality and Variants
Under the hood, the Exter still uses the 1.2 litre, four-cylinder Kappa petrol engine which produces 83 horsepower and 114 Nm of torque, and is available with a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. Hyundai points out that this is the only four-cylinder petrol engine in the very small SUV class, and it runs more smoothly.
A factory installed dual-cylinder Hy-CNG Duo option is still available. This runs on petrol and compressed natural gas, and produces 69 horsepower and 95 Nm of torque, while also making good use of the space for the boot. Petrol versions have a 391 litre boot, and CNG versions have 225 litres. On the CNG versions, the spare tyre is now stored under the car to make the boot more usable.
The updated Exter is designed to be even more attractive through its updated style, nicer materials inside, and worthwhile extra features, but still has the engines people are used to that are also good on fuel. If you’re looking for a small SUV with newer technology and more comfort that doesn’t cost too much, the new Exter is a good option.
