Korea's Raize rival? 2023 Hyundai Exter crossover unveiled in India

The subcompact crossover segment has been hot recently, with automakers rushing to enter the market.

We have the likes of the Toyota Raize and Kia Stonic, both of which are dominant forces in the local market for their segment.

Hyundai wants a piece of the action, as it has recently unveiled the Exter crossover in India.

While the Exter was initially teased with a few renderings and photos, new images from the South Korean automaker reveal what the crossover looks like. More pictures will be released in the coming days.

A boxy yet tough design

Hyundai has taken a different styling approach with the Exter.

Instead of sharp angles and lines, it goes with a boxier, squared-off appearance similar to what you would find on traditional sport-utility vehicles (SUV). 

Like many of Hyundai's newer crossovers, the Exter has its headlights in the middle of its bumper. What you find on the top are its H-shaped LED daytime running lights.

The greenhouse of the crossover is also vast as it has plenty of glass to go around, giving the driver and passengers a great view of the road thanks to its tall windows and high roof. 

To complete its SUV-like appeal, the Exter has body cladding around the vehicle, with roof rails reserved for higher variants. 

Something to note is that the rear of the vehicle will carry an H-pattern for its taillights and will come with a design similar to what was seen on the axed Hyundai Venue. 

Unfortunately, no images are available yet for the interior of the Exter.

Still, we expect it to resemble what you see in the brand’s bigger crossovers, such as the Hyundai Creta and the Hyundai Tucson. This could mean large digital displays and a minimalist dashboard.

Available with LPG power

Here is why we call it a Toyota Raize rival in the making as they both have 1.2-liter engines under the hood.

The difference here is that, unlike the Raize, the Exter has a 1.2-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine and even has an LPG-powered motor with the same displacement.

It opens up the crossover to more affordable fuel options compared to other cars that are either hybrid or run purely on fossil fuels. As for its transmission options, the Exter can be had with either a 5-speed manual or an automated manual transmission. 

Something to note, though, is that Hyundai has yet to release the power figures for both 1.2-liter engines. However, we suspect it will be close to the 100 PS mark or above to compete with the other vehicles in its class.

The Hyundai Exter will slot underneath the Creta crossover in size and price.

Do you think the new Hyundai Exter would be a hit in the local market, if it were brought here?

Did you like the story? Make sure to give it a 5-star rating if you do.