• Hyundai’s upcoming Exter compact SUV will be a global vehicle and is likely to be the segment’s most capable vehicle with terrain modes and other traction-related features.
• The Exter SUV is expected to have a boxy and upright stance similar to the Venue, and will be powered by a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, while higher variants may include a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, competing against other sub-compact SUVs such as the Tata Punch and Citroen C3

Hyundai’s upcoming compact SUV will compete with vehicles such as the Punch and the upcoming Fronx. While Hyundai has officially named the upcoming car Exter, the vehicle has been spotted testing in heavy snow. The vehicle was spotted testing in a foreign country because it will be a global vehicle.

The new Hyundai Exter is likely to be the segment’s most capable vehicle. Hyundai may include terrain modes and other traction-related features to make the vehicle more capable. In fact, Hyundai teased that the compact SUV will be capable of traversing a variety of terrains.

The Exter SUV, which was spotted by Moto.ES, is expected to have a boxy and upright stance similar to the Venue, but it will be smaller in size. Despite being heavily camouflaged in spy shots, some design elements, such as the split headlamp assembly, similar to the Venue, with LED daytime running lights and LED projectors in the top-end trims, have been revealed. Furthermore, higher-end Exter variants are expected to include features such as 15-inch machined alloy wheels, roof rails, LED inserts in the tail lamps, and a single-pane sunroof.

The Hyundai AI3 sub-compact SUV will be built on the K1 small car platform, which is already used by other Hyundai compact models such as the Grand i10 Nios and Aura. Despite being of comparable size to the Korea-only Hyundai Casper, the AI3 will have its own design language. Unlike the Casper, the AI3 will take a more conservative approach, with a boxy and upright stance similar to the Venue. The AI3 and the Venue, on the other hand, will have completely different designs, and the new AI3 may incorporate Hyundai’s “sensuous sportiness” design philosophy.

Interior and Powertrain of Hyundai Exter SUV

The interior of the Exter is expected to include modern features such as a touchscreen infotainment system, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. It could also have a start-stop button, a wireless charger, and leather upholstery. The cabin is expected to have dual-tone black and beige upholstery, as with many Hyundai vehicles.

The Exter is expected to be powered by a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine capable of producing 83 PS and 114 Nm of torque. The standard gearbox will be a 5-speed manual, with a 5-speed AMT available as an option. The higher variants of the vehicle may also include a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which is already available in the Venue.

The Exter will compete against other sub-compact SUVs such as the Tata Punch and Citroen C3, as well as lower-spec, naturally-aspirated variants of compact SUVs such as the Nissan Magnite, Renault Kiger, and the upcoming Maruti Suzuki Fronx.