Test drive report Hyundai Inster: Cute electric car for 24,000 euros*

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This post is likely to appeal not only to Generation Z: With the cute mini SUV Inster, Hyundai is now launching its first electric compact car. The cool vehicle starts well below 25,000 euros (26.280 USD).

*approx. 25.229 USD

Finally, the flow of model policy seems to be heading in the right direction. While the mobility transition has largely been an exercise for the affluent, more affordable electric vehicles are now becoming available to the general public. After the Dacia Spring, Citroen ë-C3, and Renault 5 E-Tech Electric, Hyundai is now entering the affordable electric car market with the Inster. The cute mini-SUV will start at well below 25,000 euros (26.280 USD). Hyundai also promises attractive leasing rates, as the clean little car is meant to improve the Koreans' CO₂ balance.

On Korea's roads, the four-door has been driving since 2021 as a combustion engine under the name Casper. For fear of absurd wordplay, the electric version is called Inster in our market, and it is built for the global market at the Korean plant in Gwangju.

Two power levels

As a pure electric vehicle, the Inster is extended. It grows by 23 centimeters to 3.8 meters(approx. 9,06 in to 12,5 ft), with the wheelbase increasing by 18 centimeters to 2.5 meters (approx. 7,1 in to 8,2 ft). There will be two power levels and two battery sizes available, as well as the "Inster Cross" trim level later on, enhanced with some aesthetic off-road details. In its base version, the always front-wheel-drive Inster has 71 kW and a 42-kWh battery on board. Its energy is supposed to be sufficient for about 320 kilometers (approx. 199 miles). The more powerful version comes with 85 kW, a 49-kWh battery, and a promised range of 370 kilometers (approx. 230 miles).

The Inster design has the potential to be a class hit. It's a city-friendly mix of compact car and SUV elements with ultra-short overhangs. At the front, narrow LED lights are complemented by round daytime running lights beneath them. The charging port is invisibly hidden in the black front, behind a cover. Boldly flared wheel arches with plastic cladding and an aluminum roof rail add robustness to the four-door from the side. The rear is characterized by a pixel-optic light strip, reminiscent of the Ioniq 5 and 6. Nine colors are available, including cute pastels or stylish matte finishes. Those who wish can also order the roof in black and enhance the cool car with 17-inch alloy wheels. Standard are 15-inch steel wheels.

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High-quality equipment

You notice immediately upon entering that nothing here is cheaply made. Once again, it becomes clear that Hyundai takes the compact car segment seriously. The seating position in the front feels slightly higher, and the driver and passenger seats are styled like a continuous bench. They are optionally heated and ventilated. The second row can be moved 16 centimeters (approx. 6,3 in), allowing for more trunk space or more legroom.

The cockpit consists of two 10.25-inch displays. Regeneration levels can be adjusted via paddles, and the driving modes Sport, Normal, Eco, and Snow can be selected via a button on the steering wheel. In the center under the dashboard is a collection of switches that allow direct access to the most important functions. This ensemble is already familiar from the Kona or Tucson.

Many standard features

The Inster also benefits from a dip into the corporate parts bin, including an inductive charging pad and ambient lighting that bathes the interior in 64 different colors. Many safety, comfort, and assistance systems are surprising to find in a mini of this price range. The list is longer than the car itself, and standard features include blind spot warning, parking sensors at the front and rear, collision warning, and a lane-keeping assist. For an additional charge, there's a 360-degree camera, an intelligent cruise control, unlocking and starting via smartphone, or the practical Vehicle-to-Load function, which provides bidirectional energy to e-bikes, music boxes, and electric grills.

Many of the small Inster ideas are also clever and smart. Tables can be fixed to the back of the front seats, and the door panels are customizable. Additionally, all rear seatbacks can be folded down with one hand to create a flat 2.20-meter-long lying surface (approx. 7,2 ft).

E-competence at a high level

Once the power flows, the Inster story becomes serious. Here, too, the junior benefits from the family's e-competence. The drive works so seamlessly as if powering cars had been commonplace for a long time. The top version we drove with 85 kW is a sensible choice, especially since the large battery it is paired with comes quite close to meeting the range promise. Additional soundproofing and impeccable workmanship bring pleasant tranquility to the mini SUV, and the chassis tuning feels confident. The low center of gravity combined with the comparatively long wheelbase gives the Inster a well-balanced road presence and reasonable comfort. The rest is accomplished car manufacturing, which Hyundai handles no worse than VW, who still has its customers waiting about a year for the ID 2.

For charging, the Koreans are using a 400-volt architecture. 800 volts, as with their electric siblings, would have exceeded the budget. At a fast charger, energy flows into the battery at a maximum of 85 kW. Charging from 10 to 80 percent takes about 30 minutes. The onboard charger supports up to eleven kW (3-phase) at a wallbox. Here, it takes four and a half hours for all cells to be fully charged.

That's the cost of the Hyundai Inster

Hyundai offers the electric compact car Inster at prices starting from 23,900 euros (approx. 25.124 USD). The variant with the more powerful drive and larger battery costs an additional 1,500 euros (approx. 1.577 USD). The basic equipment Select, which can be combined with both powertrains, includes an infotainment system with navigation, automatic climate control, smart key, leather steering wheel, electric exterior mirrors, and four electric windows.

The Trend equipment, which costs an additional 2,000 euros (approx. 2.102 USD) and thus at least 26,000 euros (approx. 27.331 USD), includes seat heating for the foldable front seats, a sliding and foldable rear bench seat, parking sensors, a rearview camera, a smartphone charging pad, 15-inch alloy wheels, and a vehicle-to-load preparation.

The higher-end trims, Cross and Prime, are only available in combination with the more powerful drive variant. The Cross version starts at 29,100 euros (approx. 30.590 USD). Its features include different exterior elements as well as a steering wheel with LED pixel lighting, a roof rail, ambient lighting, and 17-inch alloy wheels. A glass sunroof can be ordered for an additional charge. The top version, Prime, costs 30,100 euros (approx. 31.641 USD) and also includes the efficiency package with a heat pump and battery heating system, as well as the assistance package with blind spot warning, exit warning, cross-traffic alert, 360-degree camera, and rear parking assist with emergency braking function.