Exter

Overview

The Exter took the micro-SUV formula and leaned hard into practicality. The boxy rear end hides a 373-litre boot that beats most hatchbacks and several larger SUVs on this list, the seats are high enough to slide into without folding yourself in half, and 185 mm of clearance means a rutted service road stops being an occasion. For a first-time buyer who wants the SUV stance and the loading space on a tight budget, the argument is unusually direct.

Safety equipment is the second pillar and it is genuinely class-leading on paper: six airbags, ABS with EBD and stability control are standard across every variant in this listing, which is more basic crash kit than several costlier cars provide. The 1.2-litre petrol with 83 bhp and 114 Nm is the proven, easy-to-service unit from the wider Hyundai hatchbacks, and the automated manual at the top of the range removes the clutch from a city commute.

The two costs are pace and structure. With the air conditioning on and four adults aboard, the little 1.2 works hard to move the Exter’s considerable kerb weight, so highway overtaking needs planning and altitude hurts it noticeably. And while six airbags are standard, the body structure carries a two-star Global NCAP adult score, so the equipment list flatters a safety result that is only average. Buy the Exter for its boot, its stance and its standard kit; accept that its engine is the least exciting part of the package.

• 373-litre boot in a micro-SUV body
• Six airbags and stability control standard
• High seating position and 185 mm clearance