Should you go ahead and buy the recently-launched Maruti Suzuki Fronx or wait for sometime for the Hyundai Exter to launch? Is it early to decide? Let’s make it easier for you by comparing these two against each other.
From the front, it has flat bonnet with a big Hyundai logo on it and the three-tier design nose. It has H-shaped LED DRLs that are connected via a black strip that could possibly be a connected LED light bar for the top variant. The headlamps are square shape that are projector headlamps and could be an LED for top variants. Then there is the body cladding finished in matte black all over the car to contribute towards the Exter’s looks. Moving to the side, you’ll realize the SUV has boxy shape. The doors seems to be big to accommodate easy in’s and out’s of the SUV. The alloy wheels, roof rails, and A and B-pillars has the dual-tone treatment. It has an upright tailgate with the rear windshield slightly tilted, shark fin antenna at the top, small roof-spoiler, flat and tall rear bumper with dual-tone finished. The taillamps has an H-shaped in them with a big black panel with big Hyundai logo at the center, it could feature connected LED light bar for the taillamps in top variants.
As for the Fronx design at the front, it is inspired from their own mid-size SUV, Grand Vitara. It has LED DRLs with tri-rounded LED projector headlamps below the DRLs . The bumpers of the fronx front and rear are finished in faux silver skid plate. It has body cladding all over the car with 16-inch diamond cut alloy wheels and non-functional roof rails. Moving to the rear, it has LED taillamps with connecting LED light bar and a little spoiler at the top.
As for the Exter, it’ll have the 8-inch infotainment system that’ll be free-standing stand out on the dashboard with two-spoke multi-function steering wheel with digital instrument cluster. The gear selector will not be placed between the two front seats but instead it will be integrated with the console which will be positioned slightly vertically for each reach. The door handles are finished in chrome and ambient lighting.
As for the Fronx, it has 9-inch infotainment system placed above the AC Vents and at the sides, AC Vents are positioned horizontally. The Fronx has been given the option for the dual-tone dashboard. It has three-spoke multi-function steering wheel with Analog instrument cluster and TFT display, and has no sunroof on offer, unfortunately. It has a two USB-ports at the rear and one at the front. It has fabric seats on offer with rear seats having 60:40 split. It also has 6-speaker Arkamys sound system.
As per the dimensions of the Exter, expect the length to be around 3800mm, width of 1595mm, and height of 1575mm with a 2400mm wheelbase. It’ll have fuel tank of 35 litres and ground clearance of 170mm. The Fronx however measures 3995mm in length, 1765mm in width, and 1550mm in height with a wheelbase of 2520mm, It also has a 37 litres fuel tank and ground clearance of 190mm. So, in dimensions, the Fronx is bigger and wider than the Exter.
| Hyundai Exter | Maruti Suzuki Fronx | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1.2-litre Kappa Engine | 1.2-litre Dual Jet, Dual VVT |
| Displacement | 998cc | 1199cc |
| Power | 81.8 bhp | 87.29 bhp |
| Torque | 113.8 Nm | 113 Nm |
| Transmission | 5-speed MT, 5-speed AMT | 5-speed MT, 5-speed AMT |
When it comes to engine options, both the Hyundai Exter and Maruti Fronx comes with a 1.2-litre petrol engine. The Exter has a 1.2-litre Kappa Engine produces 81.8 bhp and 113.8 Nm of torque paired to a 5-speed Manual Gearbox, and 5-speed Automatic Gearbox. The Fronx on the other hand is mated to a 1.2-litre Dual Jet, Dual VVT engine that puts out more power than the Exter, that is 87.29 bhp and 113 Nm of torque paired to a 5-speed Manual and 5-speed Automatic Gearbox.
| Maruti Fronx | |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1.0-litre turbo BoosterJet Petrol |
| Displacement | 998cc |
| Power | 98.69 bhp |
| Torque | 147.6 Nm |
| Transmission | 5-speed MT, 6-speed AT |
Other than the petrol engines, the Fronx one more option as well, a turbo engine. The Fronx has 1.0-litre BoosterJet Petrol engine which is turbo petrol engine that puts 98.69 bhp and 147.6 Nm of torque paired to a 5-speed Manual Gearbox and 6-speed Automatic Gearbox.
| Hyundai Exter | |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1.2-litre Bi-Fuel (CNG) |
| Displacement | 1197 |
| Power | 67.72 bhp |
| Torque | 95.2 Nm |
| Transmission Type | 5-speed MT |
The Exter doesn’t has an turbo petrol engine on offer, but it has a CNG engine on offer. The Exter has a 1.2-litre Bi-Fuel (CNG) engine that puts out 67.72 bhp and 95.2 Nm of torque mated to a 5-speed Manual Gearbox only, no Automatic Gearbox on offer.
Hyundai Exter will come with numerous features such as digital instrument cluster, 8-inch infotainment system, automatic climate control, wireless charging, sunroof, rear AC vents, Type-C USB Charging ports both front and rear, voice control, ambient lighting, cruise control, cooled glovebox, connected car tech, height adjustable driver seat, and 15-inch alloy wheels. In safety, it’ll come equipped with six airbags, ABS with EBD, Tyre-Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), hill-hold assist, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), ISOFIX anchorages, and reverse-parking camera with sensors.
Maruti Fronx also hosts a lot of features such as 9-inch infotainment system, automatic cruise control, wireless charging, height adjustable driver seat, rear AC vents, connected car tech, voice control, 16-inch alloy wheels, USB charging ports both front and rear, and leather-wrapped steering wheel. In Safety, it gets six airbags, 360-degree camera with reverse parking sensors, ABD with EBD, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), ISOFIX anchorages, and Heads-up Display (HUD).
| Model | Price (ex-showroom) |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Exter | Expected Rs. 6 lakh |
| Maruti Suzuki Fronx | Rs. 7.46 lakh – Rs. 13.13 lakh |
The Maruti Suzuki Fronx starts at Rs. 7.46 lakh for the entry-level Sigma variant and goes up to Rs. 13.13 lakh for the top variant, Alpha Turbo DT Automatic. As for the Exter, it is expected to start at Rs. 6 lakh.
In the end, the question is which SUV to buy? Exter or Fronx? Wait for Exter or buy Fronx now? As a matter of fact, you can buy the Fronx given that it has a powerful engine than the Exter, bigger in dimensions than the Exter as it’ll offer more comfort and plus it’s got some better safety feature like the 360-degree camera. However, if you’re looking for an SUV smaller than the Fronx, affordable, and possible has good fuel efficiency similar to the Fronx, then Exter is the right choice for you and it’s worth waiting for a little while.