Hyundai is basking on the glorious success of Exter which has garnered over 75,000 bookings since it was launched over two months ago. As a result, waiting periods for the new micro SUV have increased significantly. To counter the demand, the Korean manufacturer is trying to increase its supply by ramping up its production by 30%.
Despite the ramp up in production, the waiting periods of Exter have increased as high as up to 8 months. Waiting periods of Exter in prominent urban centres of the country are mentioned below.
| City | Exter Waiting Period |
| Chennai | 4 months |
| Bengaluru | Up to 8 months |
| Mumbai | 3 months |
| Delhi | 4 months |
| Pune | 3 months |
| Kolkata | 3.5 months |
| Hyderabad | 4 months |
The Exter is placed below the Venue in Hyundai’s SUV lineup in India with prices starting at Rs 6 lakh (ex-showroom). The extensive waiting period hampers the plans of prospective buyers of Exter looking to bring this car home during the ongoing festive season. Let us look at some of the alternatives one can look for, if the waiting period for Exter seems too much.
Hyundai Exter alternatives
Tata Punch– Waiting period: 6 weeks
Tata Punch is a direct rival to Hyundai Exter in every way. Both are entry-level models to their respective SUV lineups and have a similar starting price of Rs 6 lakh (ex-showroom). They also have a similar set of features and engine specs which make them a direct competition. The good part for Punch is that its waiting period extends up to six weeks which is way lesser than Exter.
Citroen C3– Waiting period: 4-5 weeks
Although Citroen refrains from branding it as an SUV, its tall stance and high ground clearance lend it an SUV appeal. Hence, it can be considered as an alternative to Exter. Although the French crossover is priced at a slight premium starting at Rs 6.16 (ex-showroom), it has a low waiting period of around a month, i.e. 4 to 5 weeks.
Maruti Suzuki Ignis– Waiting period: 8 weeks
Like the Citroen C3, Maruti Suzuki Ignis is a hatchback on stilettos with a boxy profile. Ignis undercuts the prices of Exter by a few thousand bucks with a starting price Rs 5.84 lakh (ex-showroom). The tall-boy hatch from Maruti has a waiting period of up to 8 weeks depending on the variant one opts for.
Maruti Fronx– Waiting period: 24 weeks
Prospective buyers can also look into Maruti Fronx. Its crossover styling and high riding stance might appeal to many looking to buy Exter. Although a segment above Exter, with prices starting at Rs 7.46 lakh (ex-showroom), it gets a good set of features. Like Exter, Fronx also gets an option of a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with similar output. The Maruti crossover has a waiting period of up to 24 weeks.
Hyundai i20– Waiting period: 14-16 weeks
For those who have fixated their minds on buying a Hyundai, the i20 could be the next best alternative. The premium hatch recently received a mid-cycle facelift and is loaded with features. The standard model gets the same engine specs as the Exter, with prices starting at Rs 7.70 lakh. It has a waiting period stretching up to 16 weeks, depending on the variant.
(Disclaimer: The above-mentioned waiting periods are tentative and may vary from place to place. They do reflect official data from the manufacturers)