We get behind the wheel of the surprise package that is the Hyundai Inster – the South Korean brand’s smallest EV…
Once in a while I get to road test a new car I know little about, and it proves to be something of a revelation. The cute, all-electric Hyundai Inster is one such vehicle.
Based on the Hyundai Casper, which is a small petrol-engined car sold in South Korea, it also shares a stretched version of the platform used by the Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10. In other words, the Inster has good genes.
Priced from £23,505, it’s an entry level EV competing with the likes of the Dacia Spring, Citroen e-C3, Leapmotor T03, Renault 5 E-Tech, Fiat Grande Panda and BYD Dolphin.
Measuring just 3,825mm (length), 1,610mm (width) and 1,575 (height), it’s at the smaller end of the scale compared to its rivals, yet it’s one of the most spacious cars in its class, thanks to a 2,580mm wheelbase and wheel-in-each-corner design.
Dinky and distinctive, it’s an SUV-style city car with just a hint of the Suzuki Ignis – especially at the rear.
With its friendly face, jacked-up ride height, curved panels, boxy wheel arches and innovative lighting design, there’s also a great choice of 10 cool colours, including Sienna Orange and a matte Amazons Green.
A crossover variant, the Inster Cross, follows later this year. It offers a more rugged look, and comes with bigger bumpers, more lower cladding and a standard-fit roof rack.
First impressions of the Hyundai Inster’s interior are just as good. It’s quirky, as you can see, but it’s also clever and incredibly versatile.
For instance, all four seat backs fold down, while the rear seats can slide forwards and backwards by 16cm, providing ample legroom for rear passengers or extra boot space, depending on your needs.
Even with the rear seats pushed all the way back, there’s still a 238-litre boot. Slide them all the way forwards, and the boot opens out to 351 litres, which is good for a city car.
Up front, the gear selector is set behind the steering wheel, freeing up space on the centre console. The front seats are styled to look like a bench, with cupholders and a phone-sized storage slot in the central area.
Standard equipment includes a 10.25-inch driver’s display and a central 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It’s not over minimalist like some EVs either, so there are physical buttons too.
The clear and responsive system is familiar from other Hyundai models, and naturally there’s also Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
The cabin is narrow but there’s plenty of space for occupants up front, and thanks to the high roof, taller drivers should have no problem getting comfortable, with tilt and reach adjustment in the steering wheel, and a centre armrest.
One of the reasons I like the car so much is down to the driving position. If like me, you prefer not to feel perched (a common problem in EVs), then you’ll enjoy the Inster because the driver’s seat can be lowered enough to make you feel more involved with the car.
The only disappointment in my test car was that there was no height adjustment for the front passenger’s seat.
Elsewhere, the cabin seems well put together and some interesting materials (many recycled) have been used to break up the hard, scratchy plastic surfaces.
The Inster gets a choice of two batteries — a Standard range 42kWh version paired with a 96bhp electric motor (11.7s, 0-60mph), which gets 203 miles of range, or a Long range 49kWh with 229 miles of range and a more powerful 113bhp electric motor (10.6s, 0-60mph).
I tested the latter, and though performance isn’t sizzling on paper, it’s more than adequate with the instant torque capable of surprising more powerful cars off the line.
More importantly, it’s smooth, refined and easy to drive, while the relatively soft suspension set-up soaks up bumps and potholes well.
There are four drive modes (Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow). As ever, Normal offers a good balance of power and economy. Eco dulls the driving experience, and Sport sharpens the throttle response, but is probably best left for short bursts of fun because it will use up more battery power.
Incidentally, drive modes can be selected via a button on the steering wheel, just like a Porsche!
The front-wheel drive Inster is in its element in town, where it’s perfect for zipping in and out of lanes, and visibility is great for manoeuvring.
It’s also fun out on the open road too. Sure, there’s body lean in faster bends, but it’s well-controlled, there’s ample grip and the steering is light and direct.
The brakes on my test car were on the sensitive side, but even that is much better than the spongy brake feel of so many EVs these days.
I achieved an impressive average 4.3 miles per kWh efficiency over mixed roads, and I suspect the range of the 49kWh car could nudge 200 miles, with a bit of sensible driving in the summer. It’s worth noting that the Inster is fitted with a heat pump as standard, which will help with efficiency and range, especially in the colder months.
Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) is also available, allowing owners to power external devices using the car’s battery, via an internal socket or an adapter fitted to the car’s charging port
When you have to charge, overnight at home will be cheapest. If you have to stop off, peak rapid charging speed for the Long range battery is a modest 85kW, which means a 30-minute 10-80% charging time via a suitably rapid connection.
The five levels of brake regen on offer, conveniently adjusted via the steering wheel paddles, will help eke out miles when coasting and on downhill stretches. An ‘i-Pedal’ (one-pedal mode) is available for around town and the clever auto-regen mode adjusts braking based on traffic conditions and road grade.
The Inster hasn’t been tested by Euro NCAP yet, but from a technology point of view it’s fitted with Hyundai’s comprehensive suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), including Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW) and High Beam Assist (HBA).
Oh, and like all Hyundai models, it comes with a reassuring five-year unlimited mileage warranty, while the battery is covered for eight years/100,000 miles.
Verdict: Put simply, the adorable Hyundai Inster oozes character and is one of the best city EVs on the market. Cute, affordable, well-equipped and super-efficient, its clever interior is versatile and surprisingly spacious.
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