FIRST LOOK: Hyundai INSTER - inside the £22k city car that’s set to be a huge hit | Electrifying

#hyundaiinster #hyundai #electriccars

Anyway, the new Hyundai INSTER is based on Hyundai’s existing small city car - the Casper. The Casper is currently only sold in Korea (in my opinion, Casper would have been a better name to stick with!), which is also where it’s built as part of a joint venture with one of the local manufacturers. And that’s what allows Hyundai to reduce costs.

Speaking of which, Hyundai hasn’t confirmed pricing, yet, but the INSTER is expected to cost from around £22,000 - a similar amount to its arch nemesis, the Citroen e-C3.

It's not going to be fast, mind… The 95bhp, 42kWh INSTER will take 11.7sec to get to 62mph. The bigger 49kWh car gets a whopping 113bhp, for a slightly less embarrassing 0-62mph time of 10.6 seconds.

Thanks to a long(ish) 2.58m wheelbase means that the INSTER has pretty good space in those back seats, and you can even add an optional setup that allows the seats to slide and recline, so that you can prioritise more boot space or legroom. If you do add that option, though, you can only seat two people in the rear seats – rather than the three that you can squeeze in if you stick with the standard seats. As with the front seats, the rear seats also fold flat, but they only seat two people.

Join Ginny as she takes a close look around the new INSTER. Is this going to a winner when it arrives in the UK? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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Our reviews are written by some of the most experienced reviewers in the business and will even help you find the perfect new or used car.

[sevensixtysteve]

I don't know about the target demographic but I think this will be a hit across all age groups. It looks cool, has really thoughtful design touches and really well integrated tech. Small, light and more affordable, this is a great example of what EVs should be - fantastic job by Hyundai.

[garrycroft]

This is what the Honda e should have been. ❤ Hyundai has nailed it. 😮🎉

[younggarethr]

I'm going to have to apologise to Hyundai. I'm in my mid fifties and I love this car and feel it could replace my 4 year old Kona EV. The future is looking very bright.

[darrenaitcheson]

Notwithstanding the potentially divisive exterior look, Hyundai Group has nailed it yet again.

[medman]

I just fell in love with the inster, and it's not limmerence. Never mind the demographic audience for this vehicle, hyundai just ticked almost all the boxes of my wishlist what I need an compact EV to be to have value. I think this EV has appeal for all dempraphocs. Hyundai just blew the competition away in my view with other brands in this segment based on specs and features, as standard, interior en exterior, alone. If the 49 kwh can achieve all weather all season range of 186 miles between 20 and 80% soc I'm sold! Hoping the 49 kwh version will be well below 25000 euros incl taxes. If so it is true value for money than the competition. The eC3 basically only has the comfort suspension going for it, the fiat 500e has only the iconic design going for it for a hefty comparative price, the compact byd maybe has more style a slightly more interior stle but far less fully specced than the inster, the id2all may be a close competitor but will likely have a heftiger pricetag and slightlynless features, maybe only competing on slightly better performance specs, the honda ev has better front interior design for a hefty price butbwoth much less range and size, the Dacia is too basic for the price and performance and looks relatively expensive for the price, renault 5 looks lackluster in terms of total package compared to the Inster EV, but you're paying mainly for design and modern nostalgia (which will likely be more niche now in my view

[sbomorse]

This is so cool. It's going to sell so well in the UK. They've finally realised cheap electric cars don't need to be boring and that interior especially looks nicer than anything under £30K. Glad to see it also has all of the tech you expect from a more expensive car, including the heat pump as standard, it's going to be a much better proposition than the E-C3 and the new Fiat Panda. I don't think anything is going to come close for the money. I'd even choose this over the BYD Dolphin etc.

[yingmustang]

So perfect! I really like this Hyundai! It has the looks of the cute Suzuki Ignis ( what not to like) and the practical and size of a Honda Jazz! It's a mini IKEA mpv! its also got the Ioniq 5 steering wheel. That a big + point, because you always touching it! 😂

Standard Range
Battery: 42 kWh (LG Chem)
Power: 71, 1 KW (97 pk)
Torque: 147 Nm
0-100: 11, 7 s
Topspeed: 140 km/u
300+ km range
DC charge is still unknown, but also 10-80% in about 30 minutes
1.300 kg


Long Range
Battery: 49 kWh (LG Chem)
Power 84, 5 KW (115 pk)
Torque: 147 Nm
0-100: 10, 6 s
Topspeed: 150 km/h
355 km range (met 15-inch wheels)
85 kW DC charge
1.400 kg

For the nerdy around us! ❤

[Drewbydrew]

Yet another car I _adore_ that won't come to North America, so I will never own one. Looks amazing. Hyundai _please_ bring this to Canada!

[jamesmccormack]

They may be aiming for the younger customers, however I think this will sell well across all age groups, from younger to smaller families and older I can see it serving all them well and appealing to them.

[mikeymike]

What a brilliant, brilliant car. It's basically a FIAT Panda EV, only cooler.

[jamespaul]

Wonderful overview, Ginny. It's nice to see a light coloured interior which helps the car feel more spacious and cooler on sunny days. Most Kia and Hyundai cars in North America have basic black interiors.

[rickybryan]

I like that you talk about each other. Was stunning that Jack fitted the back seat

[PaulMeier-cuds]

Completely agree that this is the sort of EV car which manufacturers should be making at an affordable price point. It is much harder to do this well than do all the “premium” stuff. I admire what Citroen have and also Dacia. I hope this sells well.

[MrLongraphics]

I have had a 2019 Kona EV, a 2022 Kona EV, and now the 2024 Kona EV. All amazing cars with the latter unbelievably amazing! It looks like the Inster will have a big impact on those switching to an electric vehicle. It's affordable, well made and very roomy inside. Hats off to Hyundai with yet another great car!

[shroomyesc]

Looks like a brilliantly practical little car and also not skimped on the equipment either which is great! I know lots of people who have stepped up to a segment above what they want/need only because the equipment they want isn't available in the smaller car. I used to have a first generation A-Class, this certainly has more rear legroom but the versatility of the interior reminds me of that.

[Gazinet]

It looks a cute Hippo from the front. Love it.

[mystisith]

I love that the seats are foldable 💯 & that they didn't try to sell it as a 5 seater. Families of 5 with a single car are rare and that's not the kind of car they would buy anyway. Cargo space is what gives the versatility.
The name is the only thing I don't like but I'm also not a gen Z so... Well done Hyundai.

[mrRTvids]

I have a Kona 39kwh (2020), since the last 3 years and its been my only and main car. With the average maximum range of 250km (155miles) and its been perfectly fine. Inster with its +200miles range would be a nice upgrade for me to be honest :). I absolutely love my Kona and its long warranty.

[DMulabiTalejan]

The simple legroom-Vs-bootspace slider is amazing. We have talked about this many times. You see a nice car but with cramped backseat priotising bootspace. The seats should slide for tall people who dont need boot space. Very simple yet a major utility value.

[jamiep]

One of the best New City Cars arriving in the UK later this year 😊