New Hyundai Inster revealed: a tiny EV with a big secret
June 27, 2024 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
This is the new Hyundai Inster, and this dinky EV is a lot more practical than its appearance would suggest.
- New Hyundai Inster revealed
- Funky-looking small EV
- Clever interior with loads of space
- Up to 220 miles of range
- On sale in the coming weeks
The new Hyundai Inster is here, and it provides buyers with a small, affordable EV which doesn’t compromise on space. It’s around the same size as a Hyundai i10, however it has over 100 litres more boot space than that car.
As well as a practical interior, the Inster has up to 220 miles of range and there will be a rugged-looking Inster Cross version at a later date. For now though, the standard car will go on sale in the coming weeks.
New Hyundai Inster design
A lot of electric cars look pretty bland, but that’s not a criticism you can level at the Hyundai Inster. It’s based on a petrol-powered model called the Casper, something which is exclusive to Korea, and it’s a funky little thing.
Up front you have some friendly-looking circular headlights with pixel-style eyebrows, the latter of which is inspired by other Hyundai EVs like the Ioniq 5. The boxy side profile may also put you in mind of the Suzuki Ignis.
This particular Inster is sitting on 17-inch alloy wheels, however entry-level models will have 15-inch steel wheels with plastic covers. A set of 15-inch alloys sits in the middle of the range.
There are more pixels to be found at the rear of the car, and the circular lamps further down mimic those found at the front. At some point down the line there will also be an Inster Cross, which will offer jacked-up styling for a more rugged appearance.
New Hyundai Inster interior and practicality
The Hyundai Inster isn’t a big car, coming in at around the same size as a Kia Picanto or Toyota Aygo X. Despite this, it manages to offer TARDIS-like interior space.
Just look at the amount of legroom you get for starters, and those seats can recline for added comfort. You can also slide the rear seats back for more legroom, or forward to increase the already huge boot space.
With the rear seats all the way back you have 280 litres of space, which is already more than a Hyundai i10 or Kia Picanto has to offer. Slide them forward though and you have 351 litres, exactly the same as the much larger Volkswagen Polo. You can also fold those seats completely flat and treat you Inster like a van, or you can even fold the front seats flat as well to get an airbed in for a night of camping.
Moving back up front and the dashboard looks just as funky as the exterior. The light materials and warm ambient lighting make the cabin appear more airy and spacious, and you get a 10.25-inch infotainment system and a 10-25-inch digital driver’s display.
New Hyundai Inster batteries, range and performance
The Hyundai Inster is aimed at people who do a lot of city driving, and as such it has a pretty small 42kWh battery as standard. This gives you 186 miles of range which should be plenty for nipping around town.
If you need to venture slightly further then there’s also a Long-Range model with a 49kWh battery. When fitted with 15-inch alloy wheels this car will do 220 miles on a charge, 21 miles more than the new Citroen e-C3 can manage. You can charge at 120kW using a DC fast charger which will get you from 10-80% charged in around half an hour.
Powering the Inster is a single 97hp electric motor on the front wheels, rising to 115hp if you get the larger battery. Neither will win you any drag races, with the most powerful car doing 0-62mph in 10.6 seconds, but it should be nippy enough around the urban jungle.
How much is the new Hyundai Inster?
Prices for the new Hyundai Inster haven’t been announced just yet, however this car is likely to be taking on the Citroen e-C3 in terms of cost. This means a figure of around £22,000 seems likely. You’ll have to wait until sales start in the coming weeks to find out for sure though.
Looking for an easy way to change your car? Then Carwow is the place to go. You can sell your old car for a great price, and get the best deals on a new one. All through our network of trusted dealers and all from the comfort of your home. Tap the button below to get started today.