Comparison: Hyundai Exter vs Maruti Suzuki Ignis

SUVs have become the best-selling body style in the automotive landscape today, accounting for over 45% of new car sales.   As a result of growing consumer demand, car makers have increased their focus on the compact/ subcompact SUV space, which has seen many entrants over the years. This increased popularity has led to the inception of yet another segment known as mini SUVs. Tata’s Punch is the most popular SUV in this segment and Hyundai has decided to enter this space with the new Hyundai Exter, a feature-loaded mini SUV that is based on the Grand i10 NIOS hatchback. There’s a lot of hype surrounding this new Hyundai and how it offers interesting features within a budget where major hatchbacks thrive in India. 

The Hyundai Exter will also take on Maruti Suzuki’s Ignis, a hatchback that has been marketed as an urban SUV with notable ground clearance. The Ignis is a quirky product with a distinct styling that appeals to a younger audience. It has had its success over the years and still manages to soldier on with a petrol engine option. Standing out from the usual crop of hatchbacks, the Ignis is sold exclusively through Maruti’s premium Nexa chain of dealerships, with a price range of Rs 5.80 lakh to Rs 8.30 lakh. Now, the question arises: is the Hyundai Exter a better choice for your money, or is the Ignis still relevant today? We answer these questions by comparing the two cars on paper.

Hyundai Exter vs Maruti Suzuki Ignis: Dimensions

The Hyundai Exter is a mini SUV with an SUV stance, dimensions and boot space. On the other hand, the Maruti Suzuki Ignis is a hatchback with normal hatchback dimensions. Be it height, length, width, or wheelbase, the Hyundai Exter dominates the size comparison by a good margin. It is 115m longer, 20mm wider, and over 30mm higher than the Maruti Ignis. It also features a longer wheelbase of 2450mm over 2435mm which will also translate to better cabin space. And as far as boot space is concerned, the Hyundai leads again with a massive 391 litres of boot space as opposed to the 260 litres of the Ignis. 

Hyundai Exter vs Maruti Suzuki Ignis: Engine & Transmission

Although the Hyundai Exter and the Maruti Suzuki Ignis were poles apart in terms of dimensions and size, they are neck and neck when it comes to powertrain options. Both these cars use a 1.2-litre petrol engine mated to a 5-speed manual or AMT gearbox. Furthermore, the Maruti Suzuki Ignis and the Hyundai Exter also develop near identical figures at 82/83PS with 113Nm of torque. However, Hyundai is one step ahead as it offers a CNG option as well. A CNG also helps the Exter deliver better fuel economy in this comparison with a maximum claimed fuel economy figure of 26 km/kg. At the end of the day, if you’re looking for a frugal CNG option, the answer is unequivocally the Exter. And if you want a petrol car, we suggest you take a test drive of both these cars back-to-back as they match on paper. 

Hyundai Exter vs Maruti Suzuki Ignis: Features & Comfort

Hyundai Exter’s USP is its features list which also incorporates many segment-first features. The Ignis is a well-loaded hatchback but it loses out to the Exter in terms of features and comfort. The Hyundai comes loaded with a sunroof, wireless charger, and a bigger infotainment system. There are also some features that increase the comfort quotient – auto headlamps, rear AC vents, dashcam, connected car features, and even Alexa support. The Ignis offers all the basic features but if you want a car that will impress you with its interesting list of features, it has to be the Hyundai Exter. The new mini SUV punches above its weight and offers features that cannot be found in any other car in its price range. 

Hyundai Exter vs Maruti Suzuki Ignis: Safety Features

Since the Hyundai Exter is a brand new model, it is yet to go under the scrutiny of the Global NCAP. GNCAP has already tested the Ignis which scored a dismal 1-star showing below-average crashworthiness. In terms of safety features, the Ignis covers all the bases with 2 airbags, ABS with EBD, a rear parking camera and ISOFIX support. Meanwhile, the Hyundai comes loaded with clever safety kits such as 6 airbags as standard, and auto headlamps giving it a clear edge in terms of safety. As we mentioned, the Exter is based on the Grand i10 Nios that has scored 2 stars at the Global NCAP. Hyundai has made many refinements to the Exter and hence we expect it to perform better than its sibling when it gets tested later. 

Hyundai Exter vs Maruti Suzuki Ignis: Price Comparison

Moving on to the pricing, it‘s obvious that the Maruti Suzuki Ignis is the more affordable car. Prices for the Ignis start from Rs 5.84 lakh going all the way to Rs 8.30 lakh for the range-topping version. In contrast, the Exter is priced from Rs 6.00 lakh to Rs 10.10 lakh. Apart from the base variant, the Exter is clearly dearer by almost Rs 1 lakh over the Ignis. But if you are looking at the base versions of both cars, the Exter stands out by offering real value at that price point. 

Summary

The Hyundai Exter is hard to fault on paper. It is big in size, has ample road presence, and comes with a large boot. It also features a powerful engine with a CNG option and is loaded to the brim with features and a safety kit that can only be seen in more expensive cars. It is also inarguably the most feature-loaded car under Rs 10 lakh in India today. So, if you are a buyer who is looking for something big on everything, the Exter is a brilliant choice. And if you are confused between the Exter and the Ignis, we suggest you read on.

Let’s say you want a small city car that is easy to drive around and park with a small footprint – the Ignis with an automatic gearbox is an excellent choice for this. It also suits someone who is looking for a secondary car that can do the city duties. The Ignis will also impress first-time car buyers, as it is an easy car to drive with dimensions that won’t overwhelm you. Plus, it is the cheaper car here by a good margin, something you cannot ignore. 

However, if you want the best car in the comparison and one that scores in all areas, it has to be the Hyundai Exter. Yes, it is more expensive than the Ignis, but the Exter makes up for that by offering nifty features, a large boot and a ticket to the esteemed SUV club.