By Malusi Msomi

Hyundai’s most affordable SUV offering, the Exter (hyperlink), brings a fresh, eye-catching design to the compact crossover segment. Its boxy silhouette, pronounced air intakes, square headlamps, and distinctive H-shaped LED daytime running lights lend it a bold and somewhat polarizing appearance—this is a design that will divide opinion, much like Marmite.

Inside, the Exter adopts a no-frills approach, but not without modern essentials. Standard features include a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear parking sensors, automatic headlights, and cloth seats. While the interior is heavy on hard plastics, it’s a reasonable trade-off for the segment and price point, and Hyundai makes an effort to add value where it counts.

Under the hood, the 1.2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine produces 61 kW and 114 Nm, mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox driving the front wheels. Around town, the Exter feels sprightly enough, and it returned a respectable 6.0 L/100 km in real-world driving—close to Hyundai’s claimed 5.7 L/100 km. That said, highway driving does reveal the engine’s limitations, requiring more effort to maintain higher speeds.

Priced at R289,900, the Hyundai Exter 1.2 Executive offers solid value for money. It may not have premium finishes or punchy performance, but its charm lies in its distinctive styling, efficient urban performance, and a generous list of standard features for its price. A compelling option for first-time buyers or urban drivers seeking a no-nonsense compact SUV.