Maruti Fronx and Hyundai Exter are crossover versions of a hatchback-based coupe and mini-SUV, respectively. The Fronx was launched in India in 2023, and it is currently in its first generation. The Exter was launched in 2023, a few months after the Fronx and is also in its first generation. Both these cars are available in petrol and CNG variants only. For both the Fronx and Exter, it is their CNG variants that show the best real-world mileage at 24 Km/Kg and 26 Km/Kg, respectively.
The 1.2L naturally aspirated petrol variants of Maruti Fronx and Hyundai Exter are available in manual and AMT transmissions. Their CNG variants are only available in manual transmission. While the Fronx has a 1.2L dual-jet petrol with factory-fitted S-CNG, the Exter has the 1.2L Kappa Naturally Aspirated Petrol with factory-fitted CNG. The Fronx has an additional 1.0L Boosterjet petrol engine as well. In this article, we will take a detailed look at different petrol variants of Maruti Fronx and Hyundai Exter with their mileage, fuel economy and other important specifications.
Table of Contents
Maruti Fronx vs Hyundai Exter Specs
The key specifications of Maruti Fronx and Hyundai Exter are listed in the table below.
| Specification | Maruti Fronx | Hyundai Exter |
| Engine | 1.2 L Naturally Aspirated Petrol1.0L Boosterjet Turbo Petrol1.2 L Dualjet Petrol with CNG | 1.2 L Kappa Naturally Aspirated Petrol1.2 L Bi-fuel Kappa Petrol with CNG |
| Displacement | Petrol: 1197 ccTurbo: 1197 ccCNG: 998 cc | 1197 cc |
| Power | Petrol: 89.73 PSTurbo: 100.06 PS CNG: 77.5 PS | Petrol: 83 PSCNG: 69 PS |
| Torque | Petrol: 113 NmTurbo: 147.6 NmCNG: 98.5 Nm | Petrol: 113.8 Nm CNG: 95.2 Nm |
| Transmission | 5-Speed Manual5-Speed AMT6-Speed AT | 5-Speed Manual Smart Auto AMT |
| Drive layout | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Kerb weight | Petrol MT: 960-970 KgPetrol AMT: 965-975 KgTurbo MT: 1015 – 1030 KgTurbo AT: 1055- 1060 kgCNG: 1050Kg – 1060 Kg | 930-999 Kg |
| Fuel tank capacity | Petrol and Turbo: 37 litresCNG: 55L | Petrol: 37 litresCNG: 60 litres |
The fuel tank capacity of the petrol variants, drive layout, and engine capacity of Maruti Fronx and Hyundai Exter are more or less the same. The CNG capacity of Exter is more than that of the Fronx. When the engine power and torque are compared, the Fronx shows better figures. The Fronx also has a larger kerb weight and an automatic transmission, which is not available in the Exter.
Maruti Fronx vs Hyundai Exter: ARAI Mileage Figures
The ARAI mileage figures are the result of tests under controlled conditions and are used as standard numbers to compare the actual on-road mileage of vehicles. These are not the actual mileage that you will get on the road. The ARAI mileage of Maruti Fronx and Hyundai Exter are given in the table below.
| Engine & Transmission | Fuel Type | Maruti Fronx – ARAI Mileage (km/l) | Hyundai Exter- ARAI Mileage (km/l) |
| 1.2 L Naturally Aspirated MT | Petrol | 21.79 Km/l | NA |
| 1.2 L Naturally Aspirated AMT | Petrol | 22.89 Km/l | NA |
| 1.2 L S-CNG MT | CNG | 28.51 Km/Kg | NA |
| 1.0L Boosterjet Turbo MT | Petrol | 21.50 Km/l | NA |
| 1.0L Boosterjet Turbo AT | Petrol | 20.01 Km/l | NA |
| 1.2 L Kappa NA MT | Petrol | NA | 19.4 Km/l |
| 1.2 L Kappa NA AMT | Petrol | NA | 19.2 Km/l |
| 1.2 L CNG MT | CNG | NA | 27.1 Km/Kg |
The CNG versions of the Maruti Fronx and Hyundai Exter show the best mileage figures. For the petrol variants, it is the Fronx that returns a better mileage for both manual and AMT transmissions. Fronx has better mileage for both NA petrol and Turbo petrol variants than the Exter.
Maruti Fronx vs Hyundai Exter: Real World Fuel-Efficiency
To understand the real-world fuel efficiency of Maruti Fronx and Hyundai Exter, here is the detailed split of the on-road mileage of different powertrains of these cars.
| Maruti Fronx (Petrol) | Hyundai Exter (Petrol) | Maruti Fronx (Turbo) | Maruti Fronx (CNG) | Hyundai Exter (CNG) | |
| City | Manual: 14-16 Km/lAutomatic: 13-15 Km/l | Manual: 12-14 Km/lAutomatic: 11-13.5 Km/l | Manual: 14- 19 Km/lAutomatic: 16-17.5 Km/l | 20-22 Km/Kg | 22-23 Km/Kg |
| Highway | Manual: 18-22 Km/lAutomatic: 17-20 Km/l | Manual: 18-20 Km/lAutomatic: 17-19.5 Km/l | Manual: 19-21.5 Km/lAutomatic: 16 – 18 Km/l | 25-28 Km/Kg | 27-30 Km/Kg |
| Average | 15.5 Km/l | 14.5 Km/l | 15 Km/l | 24 Km/Kg | 26 Km/Kg |
| Tank range | 700-800 Km | 500-700 Km | 700-740 Km | Combined 900-1000 Km | Combined 900-1000 Km |
As expected, the CNG variants return the best mileage on-road. They perform better on both highways and city roads. The Exter shows better fuel efficiency than the Fronx. Among the petrol variants, the NA petrol is the best performer from the Fronx, followed by the turbo petrol from the same brand. Although the Exter performs well, its figures are still lower than those of the Fronx. Regardless of engine type, the manual transmissions in petrol variants deliver better mileage than their automatic counterparts.
Also Read: Hyundai Exter Mileage Comparison: Petrol vs CNG
Maruti Fronx vs Hyundai Exter: Fuel Cost Comparison
The mileage figures do not explain everything unless it is calculated for the fuel cost. To calculate the actual fuel efficiency of Maruti Fronx and Hyundai Exter, let’s take the monthly distance travelled as 1500 Km for both. The average petrol and CNG rates are used here, which are Rs.111 and Rs. 85, respectively. For convenience, let’s split the comparison into two, one for petrol and the other for CNG.
| Maruti Fronx (NA Petrol) | Hyundai Exter (Petrol) | Maruti Fronx (Turbo) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Running | 1500 km | 1500 km | 1500 km |
| Monthly Fuel Use | 96L | 105L | 100L |
| Average Monthly Fuel Cost | ₹ 10,656 | ₹ 11,655 | ₹ 11,100 |
| Average Yearly Fuel Cost | ₹ 1.27 lakhs | ₹ 1.39 lakhs | ₹ 1.33 lakhs |
| 5-Year Fuel Cost | ₹6.39 lakhs | ₹6.99 lakhs | ₹6.66 lakhs |
Among the petrol variants, the Maruti Fronx NA petrol has the best fuel efficiency. The turbo petrol of Fronx is the next best performer, but the total monthly and annual fuel cost is close to that of the Hyundai Exter. However, the 5-year expenses can make a significant difference between them.
| Maruti Fronx (CNG) | Hyundai Exter (CNG) | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Running | 1500 km | 1500 km |
| Monthly Fuel Use | 64 Kg | 60 Kg |
| Average Monthly Fuel Cost | ₹ 5440 | ₹ 5100 |
| Average Yearly Fuel Cost | ₹ 65,280 | ₹ 61,200 |
| 5-Year Fuel Cost | ₹3.26 lakhs | ₹3.06 lakhs |
In the real world, it is the Hyundai Exter CNG that delivers the best mileage and therefore costs less than the Fronx in terms of fuel cost. Their monthly difference is meagre, and their annual difference is noticeable. But it is the 5-year difference that keeps them apart on fuel cost. When the annual fuel of the best petrol variant and the CNG are compared, the savings on the CNG would be almost Rs. 3 lakhs, whether it is the Fronx or Exter.
Also Read: Maruti Fronx Mileage Comparison: Petrol vs CNG
Maruti Fronx vs Hyundai Exter Price
The ex-showroom prices of Maruti Fronx and Hyundai Exter are given in the table below.
| Model | Variant (Base to Top) | Price (Ex-Showroom) |
| Maruti Fronx | Sigma to Alpha | ₹ 6.85 lakhs to 12.88 lakhs |
| Hyundai Exter | HX2 to HX 10 Knight | ₹ 5.81 lakhs to 9.61 lakhs |
It will give you an idea of the initial investment while choosing either of these cars.
Summary
The Maruti Fronx naturally aspirated petrol will be a good option if you prefer the petrol version and are likely to drive frequently on highways rather than in the city. It gives more stability on highways and is safer. For city drivers, the Exter CNG variant will be the best budget-friendly choice as it saves more on fuel cost. The Exter has a more compact body and is easier to park on city roads.
Related Blogs:
Maruti Fronx vs Nissan Magnite: Real World Mileage Comparison
Tata Punch vs Hyundai Exter: Real World Mileage Comparison
Maruti Swift vs Tata Tiago: Real World Mileage Comparison
FAQs About Maruti Fronx vs Hyundai Exter Mileage
Q. Why does the turbo-petrol engine of Fronx perform lower than the naturally aspirated engine?
The turbo-petrol engine uses more fuel to boost performance when the acceleration is harder. During steady driving with less acceleration, it can perform better. The naturally aspirated engine drives smoothly as it is tuned for daily use.
Q. Which AMT will be good for the stop-and-go traffic in the city, the Maruti Fronx or Hyundai Exter?
The Maruti Fronx AMT usually has better performance in heavy traffic on city roads. It can be more fuel efficient with frequent braking and acceleration. The Exter is convenient for driving through the city roads, but its efficiency is largely affected by stop-and-go traffic situations.
Q. Which car is suitable for short daily trips, Fronx or Exter?
For short trips, Hyundai Exter will be the better choice. Its NA petrol engine can perform better under predictable speeds and accelerations than the turbo engine in Fronx. Although it affects the overall mileage, the smaller size of the car is also advantageous for Exter.
Q. Which car is better for highway driving, Maruti Fronx or Hyundai Exter?
The Maruti Fronx will be the better choice for highway driving as it can deliver consistent mileage with fewer gear shifts. It can offer better stability on the road because of its build and can also save you more on fuel costs.
Q. Why is the city mileage much lower than the ARAI while the highway mileage stays closer?
The city roads usually have heavy traffic, forcing you to hit the brakes and accelerate more frequently. It uses more fuel, which reduces its efficiency. On the highways, there are fewer stop-and-go situations and the speed is steadier, resulting in better mileage.
