Hyundai Exter vs Maruti Ignis: Which One to Choose?

Hyundai and Maruti Suzuki are two of the most popular carmakers in India, offering a range of products across different segments. Hyundai has launched its urban SUV Exter which is likely to compete with Maruti Ignis. Booking for the The Exter will will start on July 10, 2023, while the facelift of Ignis is expected to be launched later this year. Both of them compete in the A-segment SUV space, which is currently dominated by the Tata Punch. When it comes to Hyundai Exter vs Maruti Ignis, Let’s see how do they stack up against each other in terms of design, features, performance and price? Let’s find out.

Hyundai Exter Vs Maruti Ignis : Design

The Exter and the Ignis have very different design philosophies, reflecting their respective brand identities. The Exter is based on the same platform as the Grand i10 Nios and the Aura sedan, but features a distinct design and styling that reflects its outdoor and adventurous personality. The Exter sports a bold front fascia with a large cascading grille, sleek LED headlamps, fog lamps and skid plates. The side profile showcases flared wheel arches, roof rails, black cladding and 15-inch alloy wheels. The rear end features wraparound LED tail lamps, a spoiler, a shark fin antenna and a faux diffuser.

The Maruti Suzuki Ignis, on the other hand, is based on the same platform as the Wagon R and the S-Presso, but has a more quirky and funky design that appeals to the young and trendy customers. The Ignis has a boxy shape with a chrome grille, round LED headlamps with DRLs, fog lamps and skid plates. The side profile has black cladding, roof rails and 15-inch alloy wheels. The rear end has LED tail lamps, a spoiler and a chrome garnish.

The Hyundai Exter measures under 3.8 meters in length and has over 180mm of ground clearance, making it suitable for Indian road conditions. It also has a wheelbase of 2450 mm, which ensures ample legroom and boot space for the passengers and luggage. The Exter is also 16mm taller and has a 5mm longer wheelbase than the Ignis. The height of the Exter is 1,631mm, while the width is yet to be revealed by Hyundai.

The Ignis measures 3,700mm in length, 1,690mm in width and 1,595mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,435mm and a ground clearance of 180mm. The Ignis has a smaller footprint than the Exter, but still offers decent space inside.

Hyundai Exter Vs Maruti Ignis: Features

The Exter and the Ignis are both loaded with features that enhance their appeal and convenience. The Exter comes with a host of first-in-segment features that include a voice enabled Smart Electric Sunroof, a Dashcam with Dual Camera that boasts of front & rear Camera, a 5.84 cm (2.31”) LCD Display, Smartphone app based connectivity and Multiple Recording Modes. The Dashcam allows users to capture pictures and videos from both front and rear camera, and supports different recording options like Driving (Normal), Event (Safety) and Vacation (Time lapse).

The Exter also offers best-in-class legroom and boot space, thanks to its long wheelbase of 2450 mm. The interior of the Exter is youthful and spacious, with a dual-tone dashboard, a connected type 20.32 cm (8”) HD infotainment system with digital cluster and up to 60 connected car features, a 4.2-inch digitised driver’s display, cruise control, wireless charging and auto AC. The seats are upholstered in sporty semi-leatherette material.

The Ignis also offers some unique features that make it stand out from the crowd. These include roof-mounted speakers, dual-tone exterior colour options, sliding rear seat and puddle lamps. The interior of the Ignis is colourful and funky, with a dual-tone dashboard, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, steering mounted controls, automatic climate control and push-button start/stop. The seats are covered in fabric material.

Hyundai Exter Vs Maruti Ignis Performance

The Exter and the Ignis are both powered by a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that produces 83 PS of power and 114 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 5-speed AMT. The Exter also offers an optional CNG kit with the same 1.2-litre petrol engine, but with lower output figures. The CNG variants will be available only with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

The Exter and the Ignis are expected to offer similar performance and fuel efficiency, as they have the same engine and transmission options. However, the Exter will have the advantage of offering a CNG option, which will appeal to the cost-conscious customers who want to save on fuel bills. The Exter will also be the first sub-compact SUV to offer a factory-fitted CNG kit.

Exter and Ignis Price

The Exter is expected to be priced in the range of Rs. 6.00 – 10.00 Lakh (ex-showroom). It will be available in 15 variants with 2 transmission options: Manual and Automatic. The Exter will also offer 5 colour options: Polar White, Typhoon Silver, Titan Grey, Fiery Red and Aqua Teal.

The Ignis is priced in the range of Rs. 5.84 – 8.62 Lakh (ex-showroom). It is available in 7 variants with 2 transmission options: Manual and AMT. The Ignis also offers 9 colour options: Nexa Blue, Glistening Grey, Silky Silver, Pearl Arctic White, Turquoise Blue, Lucent Orange, Nexa Blue with Black Roof, Nexa Blue with Silver Roof and Lucent Orange with Black Roof.

The Ignis is cheaper than the Exter by around Rs. 1 Lakh for the base variant and around Rs. 1.4 Lakh for the top variant. However, the Exter offers more features, more space and more variants than the Ignis. The Exter also offers a CNG option, which the Ignis does not.

Verdict

The Exter and the Ignis are both attractive and feature-rich sub-compact SUVs that cater to different tastes and preferences of the customers. The Exter is more suited for those who want a bold and adventurous SUV with impressive dimensions, innovative features and a CNG option. The Ignis is more suited for those who want a quirky and funky SUV with a smaller footprint, roof-mounted speakers and dual-tone colours. Both of them offer decent performance and fuel efficiency with their 1.2-litre petrol engines and manual/AMT options.

Ultimately, the choice between the Exter and the Ignis will depend on the budget, needs and style of the customers. Both of them have their own strengths and weaknesses, and both of them will face stiff competition from the Tata Punch, which is already a popular choice in this segment.