India’s love affair with SUVs continues, accounting for over half of the country’s car sales in 2024. This growth is fueled by the demand for versatile vehicles that can handle both city commutes and occasional adventures. However, considering India’s dense urban areas, a new breed of compact SUVs, the “micro-SUVs,” has emerged. In this space, currently dominated by just two players, the Hyundai Exter, and the Tata Punch, the Exter seems to be struggling to find its footing.
The sales figures paint a clear picture. Since December 2023, the Punch has consistently outsold the Exter by nearly double the margin, you can see the data visualized in the chart below.
| Month | Hyundai Exter Sales | Tata Punch Sales | ||
| Dec 2023 | 7,516 | 13,787 | ||
| Jan 2024 | 8,229 | 17,978 | ||
| Feb 2024 | 7,582 | 18,438 | ||
| Mar 2024 | 8,475 | 17,547 | ||
| Apr 2024 | 7,756 | 19,158 | ||
| May 2024 | 7,697 | 18,949 | ||
Priced competitively at around ₹ 6.13 Lakh, both the Exter and the Punch should be neck-and-neck in sales. However, the Punch consistently outsells the Exter. What’s driving this trend?
Styling
Punch takes a bolder design approach, favoring a trendy aesthetic that appeals to a wider audience. Exter, while aesthetically pleasing from the front, struggles to capture attention with its rear design.
Power Play
The Exter utilizes the same 1.2L, 4-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine as the Grand i10 Nios, Aura, and Venue. While its 82 BHP output surpasses some rivals like the Citroen C3, Nissan Magnite, and Renault Kiger, it falls short of the segment leader, the Tata Punch (87 BHP), and the Maruti Fronx (89 BHP).
Safety Concerns
While the Exter hasn’t been crash-tested by Global NCAP yet, its platform shared with the Grand i10 Nios, which received a disappointing 2-star rating, raises safety concerns. In a market increasingly prioritizing safety, this is a significant drawback. On the other hand, Tata Punch impresses in independent safety evaluations, achieving a top score of 5 stars for adult occupant protection and a strong 4 stars for child safety in Global NCAP crash testing.
Space Advantage, But Is It Enough?
The Exter does boast a larger boot space (391 L) compared to the Punch (366 L). However, this advantage seems to be outweighed by other factors.
Seating Advantage
Compared to the Exter, the Punch caters better to the needs of elderly drivers. The Punch’s higher seating position and wider door openings make entry and exit less strenuous, while the car’s overall sturdiness inspires confidence behind the wheel.
Despite packing a more refined engine, along with a wealth of features, and a spacious interior, the Exter struggles to match Punch’s established presence and focus on practicality. What do you think holds the Exter back?