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

Electric rear windows

Rear wiper

Automatic windscreen wipers with rain sensor

Privacy glass - Rear windows and tailgate

Windscreen auto defog function

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

Brakes

Electronic stability control

Hill start assist control (HAC)

Anti-lock brake system (ABS)

Electric parking brake with auto hold function

Carpets/Rugs

Floor mats

Communication

Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition

Wireless phone charging pad

eCall emergency call system

Roadside assistance

Smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

Over the air software updates (OTA)

Driver Aids

Power assisted steering

Rear parking sensor

Lane keep assist

Front parking sensor

Drive mode selector

Parking system with rear camera and guidance system

Smart cruise control with stop and go functionality

Lane follow assist

Intelligent speed limit assist

Lane departure warning

Blind spot collision avoidance assist

Leading vehicle departure alert (LVDA)

Surround view monitor

Blind spot view monitor

Parking Collision Avoidance Assist-Reverse (PCA-R)

HDA - Highway Drive Assist Level 1.5

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

Driver status monitor with in cabin camera (ICC)

Driver Information

Driver supervision instrument cluster with 10.25" LCD display

10.25" touchscreen centre console display with satellite navigation

Driving Mirrors

Automatic dimming rear view mirror

Electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors

Body coloured door mirrors

Power folding door mirrors

Door mirror indicator lights

Engine

Battery heating system

Shift by wire (SBW) - Column mounted shifter

Entertainment

Front and rear speakers

DAB Digital radio

Steering wheel audio,phone and cruise controls

Front USB Type C port

Front USB Type C charger

Rear USB Type C charger

Speakers - Tweeters

Exterior Body Features

Roof rails

Body Colour Exterior Door Handles

Rear side wing doors

Black painted wheel arch inserts

Rear roof spoiler with integrated brake light

Grille with pixel pattern

Electric one touch opening glass sunroof

Exterior Lights

Automatic headlights with dusk sensor

LED daytime running lights

High beam assist

LED rear lights

Front and rear LED turning signals

LED full projection headlights

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Heat pump

Single zone climate control

Interior Features

Cloth upholstery

Height/reach adjustable steering column

Heated steering wheel

Leather wrapped steering wheel

Luggage board

Metal paint effect interior door handles

12V power outlet in front console

Luggage shelf

Driver front seat back panel

Steering wheel design with LED pixels

Rear centre armrest with double cupholders

4 Map pockets in the doors

Front illuminated open tray

Interior Lights

LED front interior light

Luggage compartment LED lighting

LED centre interior light

64 colours interior ambient lighting

Packs

Cross exterior design pack - Inster

Trailer wiring package - Inster

Safety

3-point front seatbelts

Tyre pressure monitoring system

2 x 3-point rear seatbelts

Airbags - front, front side and curtain airbags

Manual child lock in rear doors

Safety exit warning

Seats

Heated front seats

Adjustable head restraints

50/50 split folding rear seats

Vertical adjustment rear head restraints

Driver's seat manual height adjustment

Single front passenger seat

2 seat bench in 2nd row

Sliding and reclining rear seats

Fully foldable front seats

Security

Immobiliser

Remote central locking

Rear occupant alert

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 - Emergency 3 pin connector mode 2 (ICCB)

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

Wheels - Spare

Temporary mobility kit (TMK)

Electric Vehicle Data

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Charge Time (Mins): 275

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Power Supply - kW: 11

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Percentage Change: 10-100

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Charge Time (Mins): 58

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Power Supply - kW: 50

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Percentage Change: 10-80

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Charge Time (Mins): 30

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Power Supply - kW: 85

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Percentage Change: 10-80

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

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Power Supply - kW: N

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Percentage Change: N

Coupler/Connector Type: CCS Type 2

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Years: 8

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Mileage: 100000

Battery Capacity in kWh: 49

Battery Leased: 0

Battery Type: Lithium-ion

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb: 360

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

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

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

Battery Capacity % guaranteed under warranty: 70

Charging Port Location: Front

Usable Battery Capacity: N

Maximum Charging Rate - kW: 85

Emissions - ICE

CO2 (g/km): 0

Standard Euro Emissions: N

Noise Level dB(A): N

CO: N

HC: N

NOx: N

HC+NOx: N

Particles: N

Engine and Drive Train

Cylinders - Bore (mm): N

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): N

CC: 1

Cylinders: N

Cylinder Layout: N

Number of Valves: N

Camshaft: N

Fuel Delivery: N

Catalytic Convertor: N

Engine Layout: N

Compression Ratio: N

Transmission: AUTO

Gears: 1 SPEED

Engine Code: N

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: N

EC Urban (mpg): N

EC Extra Urban (mpg): N

EC Combined (mpg): N

General

Coin Series: Cross

Coin Description: 49kWh

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 5

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 999999

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 5

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 12

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

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Service Interval Mileage: 20000

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 24

Timing Belt Interval Mileage: N

Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: N

Badge Power: 116

Badge Engine CC: 0.0

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Generation Mark: 1

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

Performance

0 to 62 mph (secs): 10.6

Top Speed: 93

Engine Power - BHP: 116

Engine Power - PS: No

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Power - KW: 85

Engine Power - RPM: 5600

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 108

Engine Torque - NM: 147

Engine Torque - RPM: 5400

Engine Torque - MKG: 15

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: N/A

Tyres

Tyre Size Front: 205/45 R17

Tyre Size Rear: 205/45 R17

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Type: 17" ALLOY

Wheel Style: CROSS

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Vehicle Dimensions

Length: 3845

Width: 1610

Wheelbase: 2580

Height: N

Height (including roof rails): 1610

Weight and Capacities

Minimum Kerbweight: 1335

Gross Vehicle Weight: 1745

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): N

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: N

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: N

Max. Loading Weight: 410

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 238

No. of Seats: 4

Max. Roof Load: 75

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1059

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 10.6

Exterior Body Features

Pearlescent paint

Special solid paint

Matte paint

Packs

Tech Pack - Inster

Paint - Pearlescent

Pearl - Abyss black

Paint - Solid

Solid - Natural ivory

Paint - Special

Special solid - Atlas white

Matte - Amazons green

Trim - Cloth

Cloth - Grey with yellow inserts