The Hyundai Exter and the Grand i10 Nios are close cousins. They share the same 1.2-litre petrol engine, the same gearbox choices and even the same CNG kit. One is a small SUV with a tall stance, the other is a compact hatchback that is easy to park. So when the engine is the same, does the mileage also stay the same? Not quite. Let’s look at the claimed figures, the real-world numbers and what each car will cost you to run every month.
Table of Contents
Hyundai Exter vs Hyundai Grand i10 Nios: Specifications
Both the Hyundai Exter and the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios use Hyundai’s 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine. You get a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT with petrol, and a 5-speed manual with the factory-fitted dual-cylinder CNG kit. Here is how the key numbers line up.
| Specification | Hyundai Exter | Hyundai Grand i10 Nios |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1.2L Kappa, 4-cylinder petrol (1197cc) | 1.2L Kappa, 4-cylinder petrol (1197cc) |
| Power (petrol) | 83 PS @ 6,000 rpm | 83 PS @ 6,000 rpm |
| Torque (petrol) | 113.8 Nm @ 4,000 rpm | 113.8 Nm @ 4,000 rpm |
| Power / torque (CNG) | 69 PS / 95.2 Nm | 69 PS / 95.2 Nm |
| Transmission | 5-speed MT, 5-speed AMT (petrol); 5-speed MT (CNG) | 5-speed MT, 5-speed AMT (petrol); 5-speed MT (CNG) |
| Fuel tank | 37 litres petrol; 60 L (water equivalent) dual CNG cylinders | 37 litres petrol; 60 L (water equivalent) dual CNG cylinders |
| Body style | Compact SUV | Hatchback |
On paper, the drivetrain is identical. The difference comes from the body. The Exter is taller and boxier, so it pushes more air at speed and carries a little more weight. The Nios is lower and lighter, which helps it sip less fuel, especially on the highway.
Also Read: Hyundai Exter vs Hyundai Grand i10 Nios: Full Comparison
Hyundai Exter vs Hyundai Grand i10 Nios: ARAI Mileage Figures
ARAI figures are recorded in a lab under fixed test conditions. They are good for comparing one car with another, but they are almost always higher than what you get on real roads.
Interestingly, the Exter has the higher claimed figure despite being the bigger car. The CNG versions of both cars claim the same 27 km/kg.
| Variant | Hyundai Exter | Hyundai Grand i10 Nios |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2 Petrol MT | 19.4 km/l | 18 km/l |
| 1.2 Petrol AMT | 19.2 km/l | 16 km/l |
| 1.2 CNG MT | 27.1 km/kg | 27 km/kg |
Note: Claimed figures can change when a car is updated for new emission norms, so check the brochure of the exact model year you are buying.
Hyundai Exter vs Hyundai Grand i10 Nios: Real World Fuel Efficiency
Claimed numbers are one thing, but what matters is the mileage in daily traffic. Here are the real-world figures from road tests. The mixed figure assumes an even 50:50 split between city and highway driving.
| Version | City | Highway | 50:50 mixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exter petrol MT | 9.21 km/l | 14.77 km/l | 11.3 km/l |
| Exter CNG MT | 22.8 km/kg | 30.3 km/kg | 26.0 km/kg |
| Grand i10 Nios petrol MT | 13 km/l | 16.21 km/l | 14.4 km/l |
| Grand i10 Nios petrol AMT | 13.76 km/l | 16.61 km/l | 15.1 km/l |
| Grand i10 Nios CNG MT (expected) | 21.5 km/kg | 25.5 km/kg | 23.3 km/kg |
In petrol form, the Grand i10 Nios is clearly more efficient in the real world. Its manual returned about 13 km/l in the city against roughly 9.2 km/l for the Exter manual. On the highway the gap shrinks, but the Nios still stays ahead. The lighter, lower body of the hatchback makes the difference here, even though the Exter has the higher lab figure.
With CNG, things turn around. The Exter CNG did very well in testing, with about 22.8 km/kg in the city and 30.3 km/kg on the highway. The Nios CNG figures are based on typical owner ranges of 20–23 km/kg in the city and 24–27 km/kg on the highway, so treat them as expected numbers. Either way, CNG is the cheapest way to run both cars.
Also Read: Hyundai Exter Mileage Comparison: Petrol vs CNG
Hyundai Exter vs Hyundai Grand i10 Nios: Fuel Cost Comparison
To keep things simple, we assume you drive 1,000 km a month (12,000 km a year) with an even mix of city and highway driving. We use reference prices of ₹100 per litre for petrol and ₹85 per kg for CNG. Fuel prices vary by city, so your numbers may be slightly different.
| Version | Mixed mileage | Cost per km | Monthly (1,000 km) | Yearly (12,000 km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exter petrol MT | 11.3 km/l | ₹8.81 | ₹8,814 | ₹1,05,769 |
| Exter CNG MT | 26.0 km/kg | ₹3.27 | ₹3,267 | ₹39,200 |
| Grand i10 Nios petrol MT | 14.4 km/l | ₹6.93 | ₹6,931 | ₹83,168 |
| Grand i10 Nios petrol AMT | 15.1 km/l | ₹6.64 | ₹6,644 | ₹79,727 |
| Grand i10 Nios CNG MT (expected) | 23.3 km/kg | ₹3.64 | ₹3,643 | ₹43,721 |
On petrol, the Grand i10 Nios manual saves you around ₹1,883 a month, or close to ₹23,000 a year, compared with the Exter manual. If you drive mostly in the city, that gap will be even bigger.
Switch to CNG and the running cost of both cars drops to about ₹3–3.6 per km. That is less than half of what the Exter petrol costs to run. If your daily drive is long and a CNG station is close by, the CNG version of either car makes the most sense.
Hyundai Exter vs Hyundai Grand i10 Nios: Price Comparison
The Grand i10 Nios is the more affordable of the two, which makes sense since it sits a step below the Exter in Hyundai’s line-up. Here are the ex-showroom prices in Delhi.
| Car | Approx. ex-showroom price (Delhi) |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Exter (petrol) | ₹5.81 lakh – ₹9.65 lakh |
| Hyundai Exter (CNG) | ₹7.00 lakh – ₹9.47 lakh |
| Hyundai Grand i10 Nios (petrol) | ₹5.60 lakh – ₹8.09 lakh |
| Hyundai Grand i10 Nios (CNG) | ₹7.33 lakh – ₹7.83 lakh |
The base versions are only about ₹20,000 apart, so the price overlap is large. The Exter costs more at the top end because it offers extra features such as a dual-tone roof and the Knight Edition. If you want the SUV look and higher seating, the Exter is worth the extra money. If you want the lowest running cost on petrol and an easy car to park, the Nios is the better buy.
Buying used? A used Exter or Grand i10 Nios can save you a good amount of money. Spinny Assured cars come with a 200-point inspection, a 1-year warranty, fixed pricing and a 5-day money-back guarantee. Before you buy, check the inspection report and the service history of the car.
Summary
The Exter and the Grand i10 Nios share the same engine, but they behave differently at the pump. On petrol, the lighter Nios gives clearly better real-world mileage and lower running costs. On CNG, both cars are very cheap to run, and the Exter CNG did especially well in testing. Choose the Nios if you want a cheaper, more efficient petrol hatchback. Choose the Exter if you want an SUV-style car and plan to run it mostly on CNG.
Related Blogs:
Tata Punch vs Hyundai Exter Real World Mileage Comparison
Hyundai Grand i10 Nios vs Hyundai i20 Real World Mileage Comparison
Hyundai Grand i10 Nios vs Tata Tiago Real World Mileage Comparison
Maruti Fronx vs Hyundai Exter Real World Mileage Comparison
FAQs about Exter and Grand i10 Nios Mileage Comparison
Q. Which gives better mileage, the Hyundai Exter or the Grand i10 Nios?
On petrol, the Grand i10 Nios gives better real-world mileage, about 14.4 km/l in mixed driving against about 11.3 km/l for the Exter manual. On CNG, both cars are close, with the Exter doing slightly better in tests.
Q. Do the Exter and Grand i10 Nios have the same engine?
Yes. Both use the 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine with 83 PS and 113.8 Nm. The CNG versions make 69 PS and 95.2 Nm.
Q. What is the ARAI mileage of the Hyundai Exter?
The Exter claims 19.4 km/l (petrol MT), 19.2 km/l (petrol AMT) and 27.1 km/kg (CNG).
Q. Which is cheaper to run every month?
If you drive 1,000 km a month, the Nios petrol MT costs about ₹6,931 against about ₹8,814 for the Exter petrol MT. The CNG versions of both cost roughly ₹3,000–3,600 a month.
Q. I drive mostly in the city. Should I pick the Exter or the Nios?
If you will run on petrol, the Nios is the better pick for city use as it is more efficient in traffic and easier to park. If you have easy access to CNG, either car works well, and the Exter gives you the SUV feel.
Q. Is the CNG version worth it in these cars?
Yes, if you drive a lot. The CNG versions cost less than half as much per km as the petrol versions. The trade-off is a smaller boot because of the CNG cylinders and a small drop in power.
