We had a green Exter with manual transmission for our long-term test but Hyundai took it back for the seventh edition of their Great India Drive, saying we would be reunited with the car in Coimbatore. As fate would have it, we were assigned this bright blue Exter at the flag-off but it was an AMT.
Over the next few days, we drove that car through two tiger reserves and then all the way back to Pune. On the forest roads leading to Bandipur, the Exter was the correct car to be in thanks to its compact dimensions. The narrow roads required most cars to slow down a fair bit when there was oncoming traffic but the Exter could squeeze through comfortably and the AMT spared me the task of shifting gears every now and then. I did not spend all my time in the automatic mode, though, because whenever there was a downhill section, it was better to use the manual option to make the most of engine braking. Overheating of the brakes, thereby leading to loss of brake pressure, is one of the most frequent causes of accidents in those regions.
Having spent nearly 2,000 kilometres behind the wheel of this car, I am quite pleased with the transmission. The fuel-efficiency figures for the manual and the AMT were quite close but the latter was easier to live with in Pune’s traffic conditions. So, we requested Hyundai to let us continue our long-term experience with this car and Hyundai obliged. More about it in the next update.
Edit: 29-05-2024
Driven: 12,605 km
Like: Space
Dislike: Fuel-efficiency
Over the past few months, the space the Exter offers is something that stood out for us. It seats five adults in reasonable comfort and there is ample room in the boot for luggage. As an urban runabout, the Exter makes a strong case for itself because it is just the right size to meet the needs of a small family. Furthermore, we have not found it lacking on the highway either. It is comfortable to cruise at triple-digit speeds on the highway.
The AMT works well for the most part but does not deliver instantly when we need to make a quick overtake. We usually work around it by running the transmission in manual mode. One thing that could be improved is the accuracy of the range prediction. After a drive of 20 km, the indicated range drops by as much as 40 km. Better calibration would be welcome.
Our Exter recently completed 10,000 km and we had it serviced. When the service manager asked us if there was any specific issue that we would like to raise, we had nothing to say because the car has been extremely reliable so far. Hyundai’s service was prompt and we received the car back the same day.
Edit: 21-09-2024
Driven: 15,516 km
Like: Refinement, handling
Dislike: NA
Early September is an auspicious time because of the Ganesh festival. It had been years since I drove back to my home town for this occasion, so the family and I set off in the Exter towards the southern tip of the Konkan coast. Space was not a concern and the Exter carried us in comfort throughout the journey. What impressed me this time was the car’s performance, handling, and fuel efficiency. We drove on highways, went up and down hills, and even threaded our way through small seaside towns. At the end of a trip that was nearly 1,300 kilometres long, the Exter returned 15 km/litre (overall). Not only is it a considerable improvement on the previous trip (possibly due to servicing), it is also extremely admirable for a car that carried a family with the air-conditioning on throughout the journey (because it was raining).
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