Hyundai Exter vs Hyundai i20: Segments Apart

Many carmakers in India are focussing on the subcompact and compact SUVs in the country, as patrons demand an affordable, small yet spacious, feature-loaded and fuel-efficient car. It won’t be wise to state anything about the fuel efficiency of these two vehicles as it is a subjective topic because some owners were able to achieve good mileage and some were not from these two vehicles.

As far as the sales are concerned, especially in this comparison, the i20 boasts to be among the bestselling Hyundai cars. That is because, the i20 has been in the market for years now, while the Hyundai Exter is a newly added iteration. It will take some time to prove its worthiness in the market.

So, let’s see how the Hyundai Exter stacks up against its sibling, the Hyundai i20. Let’s read on.

Specifications

Before diving straight into the figures, let’s start with the platforms that these two Korean vehicles are based on. The Hyundai Exter is underpinned by the Hyundai-Kia K1 platform that also underpins the Grand i10. On the other hand, the Hyundai i20 is based on the Hyundai-Kia K2 platform that underpins the Hyundai’s Verna, Venue, Alcazar, and other Kia cars, such as the Carens, Seltos and the Sonet.

Now, as far as the figures are concerned, the Hyundai Exter is available in petrol and CNG only. As for the petrol version, it is powered by a 1.2-litre Kappa, four-cylinder, naturally-aspirated engine, which is tuned to churn out 81.80 bhp at 6000 rpm and 113.8 Nm of peak torque at 4000 rpm. In parallel, the CNG iteration of the Exter works in tandem with the said petrol engine but delivers a lower engine output. That said, the Exter CNG pumps out 67.72 bhp at 6000 rpm and 95.2 Nm of peak torque at 4000 rpm.

For reference, the Exter CNG price starts from Rs 8.24 lakh, onwards.

The petrol version can either be had with a five-speed manual and an optional five-speed AMT. In parallel, the CNG version is exclusive to the five-speed manual transmission.

Check out the Exter price list here.

Engine

On the other hand, the Hyundai i20 is powered by the same 1.2-litre Kappa engine as the Hyundai Exter but has a slightly different state of tune. It has only one engine on offer. If you buy the manual version, this hatchback will generate 81.80 bhp at 6000 rpm and 114.7 Nm of peak torque at 4200 rpm. And, if you buy the IVT (also called CVT), the power will get a bump, making 86.76 bhp at 6000 rpm, while retaining the torque figure.

For your reference, you can also check out the N-Line version of the Hyundai i20. Check out the variant-wise i20 price list here.

In terms of fuel efficiency, the Hyundai Exter’s mileage ranges between 19.2 km/l and 27.1 km/kg. On the other hand, the Hyundai i20’s mileage ranges between 20.28 km/l and 21 km/l. All are ARAI-certified mileage figures. In addition, it is worth noting that the real-world mileage figures will vary with the engine and transmission combination, the local traffic conditions and individuals’ driving styles.

Further, both the vehicles have a 37-litre fuel tank capacity.

Suspension, Brakes and Tyres

Before proceeding, it is worth noting that most of the Indian-focussed vehicles are engineered by keeping the conditions of Indian roads in mind. And, in the case of Hyundai, they have understood the Indian market as well as their demands, as a result, they are among the top players in the Indian automotive industry.

That said, their locally-produced vehicles in India have their suspension setups tuned as per the Indian roads. So, as for the Hyundai Exter, it stands on a McPherson Strut at the front and a coupled torsion beam axle with gas-filled shock absorbers at the rear. The same suspension setup is there in Exter’s hatchback counterpart. Since the Exter is a new iteration, it is recommended that you check out the Exter review.

As mentioned earlier, these vehicles are designed to meet the conditions of Indian roads. They can soak the undulations and sail through the bumps from potholes

Further, the braking duties are taken care of disc-drum brakes in both Hyundai cars.

The top variant of the Hyundai Exter has a tyre profile of 175/65 R15, while the top variant of the Hyundai i20 has a tyre profile of 195/55 R16.

Dimensions

As far as the dimensions are concerned, the Hyundai Exter has a length of 3815m, a width of 1710mm, and a height of 1631mm, and it sits on a wheelbase of 2450mm.

On the other hand, the Hyundai i20 has a length of 3995mm, a width of 1775mm, and a height of 1505mm, and it sits on a wheelbase of 2580mm. For your reference, a longer wheelbase indicates more legroom, so it should be safe to say that the Hyundai i20 will offer more leg space than the Exter will do.

Check out the Hyundai i20 price here.

The Hyundai i20 is dimensionally bigger than the Exter SUV, except for the height. Since the Hyundai Exter is a sub-four-metre SUV, it will have a higher height, while the i20 will have a low roof height because it’s a hatchback.

Further, in terms of their ride heights, the Hyundai i20 has a ground clearance of 170mm, while the Hyundai Exter’s ground clearance is rated at 185mm.

Plus, the Hyundai Exter offers more practicality, as it has a boot space of 391 litres, while the i20 hatchback has a boot space of 351 litres.

Features

When someone talks about a Hyundai car, it is taken for granted that the concerned vehicle will have a long list of features. However, it is worth noting that the features mentioned here belong to the top variant of these two vehicles. So, let’s talk about the Hyundai Exter’s exclusive offerings, first.

Once you step inside that sub-compact SUV, you will be welcomed with a monotone interior (in black) and fabric plus leatherette upholstery. Other standalone features include a manual anti-glare IRVM, a reverse camera (w/o guidance), front cabin lamps, an analogue tachometer (semi-digital instrument cluster), etc. It also has an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit. Unlike the Hyundai i20, this SUV has a projector with xenon lights at the front.

In contrast, the Hyundai i20 will offer more features since it is positioned above the Hyundai Exter. That said, it will offer an auto-dimming IRVM, a reverse camera with guidance, an adjustable steering wheel (tilt and telescopic), and an artificial leather upholstery with a dual-tone interior. Unlike the Exter, the i20 facelift boasts a driver armrest with storage, a sunglass holder, power windows, an electric tailgate release, and cabin lamps (front and rear). It also boasts an adjustable cluster brightness, a gear indicator, a fully digital instrument cluster, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with GPS and iPod compatibility. Last, but not least, the Hyundai i20 also has connected car technology that lets the owner access the live location, last parked location, geo-fencing, emergency calls, and other relevant information. It also offers ambient lighting and has a two-way rear seat adjustment.

Interior

However, the common offerings include a tyre pressure monitoring system, a single-pane sunroof, child-seat anchorages, auto HVAC, cabin-to-boot access, rear parking sensors, 12V outlets, and magazine holders. They also have a cooled glove box, cup holders, electric ORVMs, a rear wiper, automatic headlamps, a wireless charger, voice command, multi-function steering wheel, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Further, on the safety front, both have traction control, ABS with EBD, speed-sensing door lock, child-safety lock, hill-hold control, ESP, and six airbags. In addition, the top variant of the Hyundai Exter also has a dual-view dashcam.

Prices and Variants

The Hyundai Exter is sold in five trims: EX, S, SX, SX (O) and SX (O) Connect. It has a total of seventeen variants. The Hyundai Exter price starts at Rs 6 lakh for the base variant, the EX Petrol MT, and goes up to Rs 10.10 lakh for the top variant, the SX(O) Petrol Connect DT AMT.

In parallel, the Hyundai i20 is also sold in five trims: Era, Magna, Sportz, Asta, and Asta (O). It has a total of twelve variants. The 2023 Hyundai i20 price starts at Rs 6.99 lakh for the base variant, the Era Petrol MT, and goes up to Rs 11.16 lakh for the top variant, the Asta (O) IVT DT.

All are ex-showroom prices in Delhi, as of September 2023. Please note that these prices are subject to change without any prior notice to the customer. You can, however, visit the autoX website to access the latest location-based price list for your dream vehicle. For more, visit our website or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. So, stay tuned!

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