HYUNDAI INSTER ELECTRIC HATCHBACK 85kW Cross 49kWh 5dr Auto

Hyundai brings a splash of fun and versatility to the small EV market with this car, the Inster. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

Choosing a really cheap small EV doesn't necessarily mean you have to choose a really boring one. Or so Hyundai thinks anyway. For proof, check out this car, the Inster. It's supposed to be fun. It's certainly practical. And if you're shopping in this segment, it might just be what you're looking for.

Background

At last, after years of waiting, the major makers are beginning to address the most affordable end of the EV market. Stung into action by the Dacia Spring and the Citroen e-C3, Hyundai has brought us this, the Inster. In case you're wondering, the name isn't short for 'Instagram'. Instead, the Korean maker claims it's a mix of the words 'intimate' and 'innovative'. You might think it more logical for the brand to have once more used its familiar IONIQ tag (IONIQ 2?). But apparently that nameplate's reserved for Hyundais with the group's advanced 800V EV platform - and there's nothing like that here. What this car actually should be called is the 'Casper' because a petrol-powered Korean market Hyundai of that name is what the Inster is based on, though for this EV variant, an extra 180mm of length has been inserted into the wheelbase. Which as we'll see is significant because the very young and very old customers being targeted here are getting a small EV more internally versatile than any of its rivals. Sounds interesting. Let's take a closer look.

Engines and Tech Spec

When you choose really budget priced small EV, the main thing you tend to have to compromise on is EV range. So it's a pleasant surprise to find that the mainstream 42kWh Inster claims a 203 mileage figure. For segment perspective, a Citroen e-C3 (44kWh) claims 199 miles but a Dacia Spring (26.8kWh) just 137 miles. A 'Long Range' Inster variant is also offered, but because its 49kWh battery is hardly any larger than that of the standard model, it doesn't go much further (229 miles). So the main reason you'd choose the 'Long Range' version is instead that it swaps out the standard model's fairly lethargic 97PS electric motor for a supposedly perkier 115PS unit which makes 62mph in 10.6s (as opposed to 11.7s). In reality, you probably won't actually notice much performance difference between the two variants because the torque figure (147Nm) is the same either way. Top speed is 87mph for the standard car or 93mph for the 'Long Range'. And both get a standard heat pump, which draws heat from the ambient air so that in cold weather, the climate system draws less on battery power. Expect the tall, glassy body to make urban manoeuvring easy. And there's the usual wide range of Hyundai standard camera safety features. Add up what you get and the price premium over the equivalent Citroen and Dacia EV models isn't difficult to justify.

Design and Build

Hyundai calls the Inster's exterior 'charismatic', with its high nose and boxy proportions. Some will think it ungainly. Others will like the combination of friendliness and ruggedness. Size-wise, it's 3.8m long, 1.6m wide and 1.6m tall (so somewhere between its two main rivals, the Dacia Spring and the Citroen e-C3). Which makes it 230mm longer than the Korean market petrol-powered Casper model this Inster EV is based on. There are 15 or 17-inch wheels. And pixel lights at the rear (a Hyundai EV signature touch). Hyundai hopes it'll all make you feel quite adventurous. To that end, there's pseudo-SUV-style body cladding, roof rails and scuff plates at both ends. And, as on the Casper, the rear door handles are hidden in the C-pillars. There's an even more overtly-styled Cross variant if you want the full lifestyle effect. The cabin though, is the thing that might really sell the Inster to you. The front section has no centre console, creating a 'walk-through' design enabling passengers to get out on either side. The front seats merge into a kind of bench, with occupants separated by a fold-down armrest. They view a pair of 10.25-inch dashboard screens for infotainment and instruments. The latter panel can feature the brand's usual useful blind spot system, which projects a camera image of your rear quarter view onto the screen as you indicate. Avoid base trim and your Inster can be really versatile, with a fold-flat front passenger seat and rear seats that slide and recline, so you can prioritise either leg room or boot space. Almost all of the Inster's 180mm wheelbase length increase over its Casper donor model is to the benefit of rear passengers. Even tall folk will be able to relax behind other front-seated tall folk. And if the front passenger seat is folded flat, they'll be able to use it as a foot rest and imagine that they're in a limo. The rear door cards and front seats also feature attachments which can be used for a range of accessories - like a table, a wallet and a photo album. Where the sliding bench rear seat is fitted, boot capacity can vary between 238 and 351-litres.

Market and Model

The Inster range starts with '01' trim, available with either the 42kWh 97PS drivetrain or the 'Long Range' 49kWh 115PS package. '01' trim starts from around £23,500 and includes 15-inch alloy wheels, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, rear parking sensors, a rear view camera with dynamic parking control, smart cruise control with stop/go, automatic headlights and a 'smart' key with keyless entry. Inside, there's a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, air conditioning with climate control, a leather steering wheel and a 10.25-inch central touchscreen display with navigation, plus 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' along with Bluelink-connected car services with over-the-air updates, If it's the 'Long Range' version you want, ideally you'd find another £1,250 more for the plusher '02' trim level that gives you all this car's clever versatility features. Just under £27,000 gets you an Inster '02' 49kWh 115PS model that comes with of 17-inch alloy wheels, front parking sensors, LED projection headlamps and LED rear lights, privacy glass and roof rails. Interior enhancements include LED multifunction steering wheel lights, ambient lighting with a choice of 64 colours, fold-flat front seats and a sliding rear bench. The '02' also includes heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, automatically dimming rear view mirror and a wireless charging pad. If you want to go even further, there's the top off road-themed Cross variant, which only comes with the larger 49kWh battery and costs £28,745, £3,000 more than the standard model. This comes with bespoke 17-inch alloy wheels, distinct front and rear bumpers, unique Cross side skirts and embossed black claddings, with body coloured door mirrors and exterior door handles. Customers choosing the '02' specification can also further personalise their Inster with the option of a black contrast roof and door mirrors. And with the '02' and the 'Cross', there's an optional 'Tech Pack' comprising a 'Vehicle2Load' internal 3-pin plug and a Digital Key system that allows the vehicle to be unlocked and started with a compatible smartphone.

Cost of Ownership

We gave you the EV range figures in our 'Driving' section; Hyundai quotes an efficiency stat of 15.1kWh per 100km. Let's get to the charging figures. The Inster DC charges at up to 120kW and connected up to rapid DC charger, this Hyundai will recharge from 10 to 80% in around 30 minutes. At home, 11kW AC charging allows a full charge of the bigger battery in 4 hours and 35 minutes. The charge port is located in the nose. With top '02' trim, there's the option of 'Vehicle2Load' technology which enables you to plug in external devices to the car, like, say a camping lamp, or charging for an electric scooter or drone. Hyundai includes a heat pump across the line-up as standard to preserve the range of the nickel-manganese-cobalt batteries. There are the normal low BiK Benefit-in-Kind taxation advantages to buying an EV, along with savings in VED road tax and city congestion charges. As usual with a Hyundai, you can budget ahead with pre-paid servicing plans. And all Inster models come with Hyundai's 5 Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty, an 8 Year/100,000 Mile High Voltage Battery Warranty, a 5 Year Annual Health Check, a 3 year MapCare navigation update program, a Roadside Assistance package, and a 12 Year Anti Corrosion Warranty. Rival brand Kia claims to better the five year warranty package by offering a similar seven year deal, but there, you're limited to 100,000 miles.

Summary

If you're irritated by the on-trend name, then this probably won't be your sort of car. But if you can get beyond that, there's actually a lot to like about the Inster. You don't pay a whole lot more than would be needed for really basic budget EVs from Dacia and Citroen and in return, you get a small car with a versatile cabin that's significantly more usable. That practicality necessitates the high-sided chunky looks, which won't be to everyone's taste, but you can see why Hyundai thinks this may help this car reach beyond the conventional small EV market. The Inster might just do that. And shows that a really cheap small EV could be a slightly more interesting proposition than you might have thought.

Body Glass

Automatic windscreen wipers with rain sensor

Electric front windows with anti-trap mechanism and one touch control

Electric rear windows

Privacy glass - Rear windows and tailgate

Rear wiper

Windscreen auto defog function

Brakes

Anti-lock brake system (ABS)

EBD - Electronic brakeforce distribution

Electric parking brake

Electronic stability control

Front ventilated disc brakes

Hill start assist control (HAC)

Rear solid disc brakes

Carpets/Rugs

Floor mats

Communication

Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition

eCall emergency call system

Over the air software updates (OTA)

Roadside assistance

Smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

Wireless phone charging pad

Driver Convenience

Blind spot collision avoidance assist

Blind spot view monitor

Drive mode selector

Driver status monitor with in cabin camera (ICC)

Forward collision avoidance assist (FCA 1.5) - Car,pededstrian,cycle and junction turning

Front parking sensor

HDA - Highway Drive Assist Level 1.5

Intelligent speed limit assist

Lane departure warning

Lane follow assist

Lane keep assist

Leading vehicle departure alert (LVDA)

Parking Collision Avoidance Assist-Reverse (PCA-R)

Parking system with rear camera and guidance system

Power assisted steering

Rear parking sensor

Smart cruise control with stop and go functionality

Surround view monitor

Driver Information

10.25" touchscreen centre console display with satellite navigation

Driver supervision instrument cluster with 10.25" LCD display

Driving Mirrors

Automatic dimming rear view mirror

Body coloured door mirrors

Door mirror indicator lights

Electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors

Power folding door mirrors

Engine

Battery heating system

Shift by wire (SBW) - Column mounted shifter

Entertainment

DAB Digital radio

Front and rear speakers

Front USB Type C charger

Front USB Type C port

Rear USB Type C charger

Speakers - Tweeters

Steering wheel audio,phone and cruise controls

Exterior Body Features

Black painted wheel arch inserts

Body Colour Exterior Door Handles

Electric one touch opening glass sunroof

Grille with pixel pattern

Rear roof spoiler with integrated brake light

Rear side wing doors

Roof rails

Exterior Lights

Automatic headlights with dusk sensor

Front and rear LED turning signals

High beam assist

LED daytime running lights

LED full projection headlights

LED rear lights

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Heat pump

Single zone climate control

Interior Features

12V power outlet in front console

4 Map pockets in the doors

Artifical leather wrapped steering wheel

Cloth upholstery

Driver front seat back panel

Front illuminated open tray

Heated steering wheel

Height/reach adjustable steering column

Luggage board

Luggage shelf

Metal paint effect interior door handles

Rear centre armrest with double cupholders

Steering wheel design with LED pixels

Interior Lights

Ambient interior lighting

LED centre interior light

LED front interior light

Luggage compartment LED lighting

Packs

Cross exterior design pack - Inster

Trailer wiring package - Inster

Safety

2 x 3-point rear seatbelts

3-point front seatbelts

Airbags - front, front side and curtain airbags

Manual child lock in rear doors

Safety exit warning

Tyre pressure monitoring system

Seats

2 seat bench in 2nd row

50/50 split folding rear seats

Adjustable head restraints

Driver's seat manual height adjustment

Fully foldable front seats

Heated front seats

Single front passenger seat

Sliding and reclining rear seats

Vertical adjustment rear head restraints

Security

Immobiliser

Rear occupant alert

Remote central locking

Smart key with keyless entry and start/stop button

Service/Warranty

Five year annual vehicle health checks

Vanity Mirrors

Driver/passenger sunvisors and illuminated vanity mirrors

Vehicle Charging

11 kW AC onboard charger

Charging cable - 7 pin type 2 mode 3 (Wallbox)

Charging cable - Emergency 3 pin connector mode 2 (ICCB)

Wheels - Spare

Temporary mobility kit (TMK)

Electric Vehicle Data

Battery Capacity % guaranteed under warranty: 70

Battery Capacity in kWh: 49

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Charge Time (Mins): 1171

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Percentage Change: 10-100

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Power Supply - kW: 2.3

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Charge Time (Mins): 404

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Percentage Change: 10-100

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Power Supply - kW: 7

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Power Supply - kW: 7.4

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Charge Time (Mins): 240

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Charge Time (Mins): 275

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Percentage Change: 10-100

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Power Supply - kW: 11

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Charge Time (Mins): 30

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Percentage Change: 10-80

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Power Supply - kW: 85

Battery Leased: 0

Battery Type: Lithium-ion

Charging Port Location: Front

Coupler/Connector Type: CCS Type 2

Maximum Charging Rate - kW: 85

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Mileage: 100000

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Years: 8

Usable Battery Capacity: N

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb: 15.1

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb: 4.1

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb: 359

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb: 223

Emissions - ICE

CO: N

CO2 (g/km): 0

HC: N

HC+NOx: N

Noise Level dB(A): N

NOx: N

Particles: N

Standard Emissions: N

Engine and Drive Train

Camshaft: N

Catalytic Convertor: N

CC: 1

Compression Ratio: N

Cylinder Layout: N

Cylinders: N

Cylinders - Bore (mm): N

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): N

Engine Code: N

Engine Layout: N

Fuel Delivery: N

Gears: 1 SPEED

Number of Valves: N

Transmission: AUTO

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Combined (mpg): N

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: N

EC Extra Urban (mpg): N

EC Urban (mpg): N

General

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

Badge Engine CC: 0.0

Badge Power: 115

Based On ID: N

Coin Description: 49kWh

Coin Series: Cross

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Generation Mark: 1

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 23D

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 12

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 5

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: 70

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: 81

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: 4

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: 70

NCAP Safety Assist %: 67

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 24

Service Interval Mileage: 20000

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 999999

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 5

Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: N

Timing Belt Interval Mileage: N

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Performance

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

0 to 62 mph (secs): 10.6

Engine Power - BHP: 115

Engine Power - KW: 85

Engine Power - PS: No

Engine Power - RPM: 5600

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 108

Engine Torque - MKG: 15

Engine Torque - NM: 147

Engine Torque - RPM: 5400

Top Speed: 93

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: N/A

Tyres

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Tyre Size Front: 205/45 R17

Tyre Size Rear: 205/45 R17

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Style: N

Wheel Type: 17" ALLOY

Vehicle Dimensions

Height: N

Height (including roof rails): 1610

Length: 3845

Wheelbase: 2580

Width: 1610

Width (including mirrors): 1875

Weight and Capacities

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): N

Gross Vehicle Weight: 1745

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1059

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 238

Max. Loading Weight: 410

Max. Roof Load: 75

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: N

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: N

Minimum Kerbweight: 1335

No. of Seats: 4

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 10.6

Exterior Body Features

Additional special solid paint

Pearlescent paint

Special solid paint

Paint - Pearlescent

Pearl - Abyss black

Paint - Solid

Solid - Natural ivory

Paint - Special

Additional special solid - Jungle Khaki Green

Special solid - Atlas white

Trim - Cloth

Cloth - Grey with yellow inserts