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My Week With The Hyundai Exter: Not Your Average Compact Crossover

My Week With The Hyundai Exter: Not Your Average Compact Crossover

Author: By Tomas Yoko
Date: 2025-04-28

Let me tell you about my week long fling with the new Hyundai Exter. Spoiler alert: I might be a little smitten.

This little beauty snuck up on me, honestly. At first glance, it was just another compact crossover in a sea of them, right? Wrong. After day one, I was already making excuses to pop to the shop, just to get behind the wheel again.

The 1.2-litre engine isn't going to win any drag races, but that's not the point. What it lacks in brutish power, it makes up for in sipping fuel like my uncle at an open bar - cautiously and making it last. I averaged just over 5.8 litres per hundred, without even trying, which means my wallet wasn't cringing every time I passed a petrol station.

Road clearance on the Exter? Chef's kiss Ample clearance to handle those crater-sized potholes that seem to multiply overnight on our roads. And parking? So easy I could probably do it blindfolded (legal disclaimer: please don't try this).

Inside, it's like a TARDIS - mysteriously bigger than physics should allow. The tech inside doesn't make you feel like you've settled for the budget option either. The infotainment system actually understands what I'm saying, which is more than I can say for some humans I know.

Here's the truth - South Africans love a car that can handle our "interesting" road conditions while not emptying our bank accounts. The Exter ticks those boxes and throws in some personality for good measure.

If you're shopping in this segment, do yourself a favor and test drive the Exter. Just don't blame me when you find yourself making excuses to drive to places you could easily walk to.