I got the keys to the Hyundai Exter around the same time last year, which officially makes it the longest-serving long-term vehicle in the TURBOCHARGED garage. And with good reason. It was handed over to me right as the monsoons hit, and the little Hyundai handled everything the season threw at it, rains, broken roads, waterlogging and more, with absolute composure.
And here we are again. The pre-monsoon showers in Pune have started, and as always, the city’s gone haywire. Flooded streets, hour- long traffic snarls, crumbling infrastructure, the works. But having something that helps you navigate all this in comfort? That’s a blessing. And the Exter has been exactly that for me.
I picked it up from my colleague just in time, right before Pune saw record-breaking pre-monsoon rainfall. Most of the city was waterlogged. Now, taking a small car into those conditions would normally be a dicey move. But the Exter surprised me, yet again. It drove through waterlogged roads and hidden potholes without breaking a sweat. It’s also taken on tracking car duties for our shoots, and it’s been doing that job like a pro. Compact, nimble, frugal and with decent boot space. It’s hard to complain, really.
If there’s one thing I wish it had, it was wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. But guess what Hyundai has rolled out a wireless conversion module, and I’m now trying to get my hands on one for our long term Exter.
