Hyundai to introduce its Tata Punch rival, Exter soon

Hyundai has officially confirmed its micro SUV, Exter to rival the Tata Punch in the segment.

As per a HT Auto report, the Exter is expected to be a petrol-only offering, given the low demand for small diesel cars at the moment. While a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol would fit the bill from the Grand i10 Nios, it needs to be seen if Hyundai will offer the 1.0-litre turbo petrol as well on the Exter.

However, a report from Autocar India suggests that Hyundai may also offer a 1.0-litre turbo petrol unit that was offered in the Nios earlier, but was recently discontinued. That engine is still a part of some offerings like the Hyundai Venue, and puts out 118 bhp & 172 Nm of torque.

Transmission choices may include a manual and automatic, while an iMT would be an interesting addition as well. Expect the SUV to be feature-loaded as all Hyundai cars are with connected tech, a large infotainment screen, LED lighting, and more.

Speaking on the announcement, Tarun Garg, COO - Hyundai Motor India. said, 'We are proud to announce the name of our new SUV -Hyundai Exter that exemplifies the pulse of Gen Z buyers while empowering them with a smart mobility solution to fuel their wanderlust. Hyundai Exter is the eighth model in our lineup with an SUV body style and we are confident that this new member to our family will provide further fillip to our growth in SUV sales."

Production of the Hyundai Exter is expected to begin by July 2023, and the vehicle might go on sale in August. It will be the most affordable "SUV" Hyundai has to offer and will be less expensive than the Venue.

Hyundai will be hoping that the extra functionality of an SUV would give the Exter all it needs to take the budget market space after failing at the entry-level budget car category with new Santro. They have to remove the car from the market. It might also be crucial for Hyundai's efforts to maintain its second-place ranking in India.