First Torque: Hyundai Exter

Ho Hum, another compact SUV comes to market. Well, very little of ‘Ho Ho’ and a lot more of ‘Hmm’ as the Hyundai Exter joins the fray in the sub-compact SUV segment, priced to be a disruptor in the segment by offering high levels of specification through the range.

Starting it off is the Exter 1.2 Premium manual at R269 900 and it finishes with the 1.2 Elite at R334 900 with the AMT version just below the top spec – but it is not merely pricing that counts with this little car and the slightly futuristic shape with a flat roofline allows for significant interior leg and headroom to set it apart from its competition.

Competitors across the price range include the likes of the Renault Kiger, Suzuki Ignis and Nissan Magnite – even putting in some challenge in the higher specification versions to the Chery Tiggo 4 and Suzuki Fronx.

And yes - we do have some Exter models listed, so check it out

However, in terms of dimensions the Exter is 3 815 mm long, 1 710 mm wide, 1 631 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2 450 mm. Against the competition only the Ignis is slightly shorter but it wins out totally in terms of height.

Although I am not the world’s tallest person, I tried out the rear seat on the launch drive and was completely comfortable, even with the front seat adjusted for a taller driver than me. Equally, headroom was not constrained by a downward sloping roofline threatening to turn me into a hunchback as the kilometres rolled by.

The front entrance height is 813 mm and the rear 904 mm, making the process of getting in and out both comfortable and easy and it has boot space of 290 litres rising to 1 275 litres with the rear seats folded.

Affordability is everything so check out our finance calculator

Including the delightfully named ‘Tomboy Khaki’, the Exter comes in a range of solid and two-tone colours and Bosung Kim, senior manager for Product Planning at Hyundai described the Exter as: “. . . and energetic design featuring extra space and comfort as well as being technologically advanced.

“It is a modern, confident and well-balanced package with the Executive version developed specifically for buyers looking for both affordability as well as high-tech features and comfort in the ‘A’ segment of the market.”

Research engineer for MPV and Small Vehicles at Hyundai, Jeonghwan Lee said:”We went for a strongly differentiated look to encompass family and lifestyle needs with the idea of the spirit of the design creating a ‘little giant’.”

Despite its squarish appearance the Exter has a drag co-efficient of only 0,34 so it slips through the air quite efficiently and the launch drive on the 1.2 Executive manual 5-speed returned a fuel consumption of 5,9 l/100 km with good portions of that fighting headwinds in the Cape Town area.

The 1 197 cc inline four-cylinder petrol engine produces 61 kW at 6 000 r/min with peak torque of 114 Nm at 4 000 r/min driving the front wheels through an impressively slick-shifting five-speed gearbox which, like most other ‘fivers’ on the road could really with an additional gear – but that would somewhat shift the price point.

Hyundai pins the acceleration from rest to 100 km/h at 12,6 seconds with top speed at 165 km/h and those numbers are more than competitive against the opposition and realistically more than enough for the class in which the vehicle is placed.

Certainly, driving it in traffic and on open roads was both easy and comfortable with some downshifts needed as momentum dwindled on steep uphill slopes – this followed by a quick pickup of speed and a dashboard reminder to shift to a higher gear.

Insure your pride and joy by clicking here for the best deal

The Exter is positioned to compete in South Africa's largest automotive segment, which has accounted for nearly 38% of sales this year and Hyundai has put five derivatives on the road at launch and Stanley Anderson, Sales, Operations and Commercial Director at Hyundai Automotive South Africa, says: “Its elegant design and spacious interior are sure to capture attention. More than just good looks, it meets the needs of modern entry-level buyers while setting new benchmarks for compact crossovers.” 

Its design includes a modern front end, dynamic profile and sporty rear, characterised by unique elements such as the signature H-shaped LED daytime running lights positioned above halogen headlights.

Additional design highlights include prominent silver skid plates, 15-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels for the Executive and Elite variants and muscular wheel arch cladding.

Related Content: Hyundai refreshes i20 range

Standard features across the range include driver seat height adjustment, a 290-litre boot capacity and optional sunroof for the Elite variant. Advanced tech elements include a digital instrument cluster and an 8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

Hyundai has manufactured the car using Advanced High Strength Steel to enhance durability and reduce noise. Safety features include six crash bags, Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), Hill Assist Control and rear parking sensors across all variants.

Hyundai offers a 7-year/200 000 km warranty, a 3-year/45 000 km service plan and roadside assistance for 7 years or up to 150 000 km.

Pricing

Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with

proudly CHANGECARS