Car Expert ReviewsThe Exter joins us for a near 3000 km road trip, and has us pleasantly surprised
You wouldn’t think to take Hyundai Exter car a designed for city driving, like the Hyundai Exter car, on a lengthy road trip. But that’s exactly what we did. We learned a few interesting things about the car from our brief, seven-day trip, which included spending so much time with it. Let’s address each one separately.
The Comfort Level
The seats on the Exter will feel cozy and supportive for people of average build. We didn’t experience any aches, pains, or numbness during the nearly five hours we were together. That being said, you will find yourself “spilling out” of the front seats if you are an XL. You would like your shoulder blades and back to have a little bit more support. Similarly, the Exter’s integrated headrest won’t feel adequate if you’re tall. You might want to think about getting a neck cushion.
We did miss an armrest up front on longer trips. Hyundai would have been able to provide a little bit more storage as a result. Regarding space, there’s really nothing to be unhappy about. Large windows and a high seating position ensure that you never feel crowded inside the cabin.
Relaxed? Yes. Powerful? No!
The Exter was more than comfortable maintaining a constant speed of 100 kmph for the duration of the journey. Although it is capable of reaching much higher speeds, the engine is constantly under stress.
From an efficiency perspective, it would rather you cruise at a slower speed of 75–80 kmph. But it really struggles to make quick overtakes at these speeds. We had to shift into third or occasionally even second gear in order to pass other vehicles.
The cabin is comfortable due to its quiet engine and well-managed road, wind, and tire noise. This will get you 50–60 km/h on Indian highways, which is a respectable pace of travel.
In terms of fuel efficiency, a leisurely drive on the highway will yield 16–17 km/l. Increase the speed and you could reach 13–14 km/h.
Technology Pack
The Exter’s 8-inch touchscreen is user-friendly. Unfortunately, it is wired even though it has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Your phone is constantly charged while traveling at 100% capacity, which is bad for the battery life of the device. This could have been resolved with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
You can charge four devices with the wireless, two type-A, and two type-C chargers. The wireless charger is a little sluggish, and it can barely hold a charge while your phone is streaming music. Additionally, since the majority of new phones now come with a type-C cable, we wish that the type-C port was the one that enabled Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The top-spec model comes with an integrated dashcam, which is fantastic for taking pictures and recording moments in case of emergency. This is a really handy feature when traveling.
Enjoy Yourself!
The Exter’s exceptionally smooth ride is another feature. It pretty much flattens everything at low speeds with minimal movement within the cabin. At triple-digit speeds, it feels substantial and stable; high speed stability is also noteworthy. On the other hand, the car will feel bouncy during the recovery if it hits expansion joints or bumps at highway speeds. The rear seats intensify this feeling.