New Hyundai Inster is a cute and capable EV for £23,495

• Supermini-sized electric car
• Range of up to 229 miles
• Prices start from £23,495

2024 is shaping up to be the year of the affordable EV, and the Hyundai Inster is the latest electric supermini to wade in on the action. Priced from just £23,495, the Inster undercuts the brand’s next cheapest EV, the Kona Electric, by well over £10,000, while only sacrificing around 30 miles of range.

Its closest rivals, however, will undoubtedly be the new Citroen e-C3 and Dacia Spring – all three are designed to appeal to urban drivers who need something small, practical, and cheap to run, providing a refreshing alternative to today’s popular electric SUVs. While not as affordable as the Citroen or Dacia, the Hyundai Inster packs a few extra features that could win buyers over when it goes on sale next year.

13

What do I need to know about the Hyundai Inster?

While the Hyundai Inster is new for us in the UK, it’s based on a model called the Hyundai Capser, sold in its home market of South Korea since 2021. While that car is petrol-powered, the Inster is strictly electric only, using a single motor and either a 42kWh or 49kWh battery.

The latter is fitted to the Inster ‘Long Range’ and will deliver up to 229 miles of range according to Hyundai, meaning you’ll be able to travel around 30 miles further than both the Citroen e-C3 and the Fiat 500 Electric. The standard car with the 42kWh battery will still eke out a 203-mile range – plenty for those who stick to urban driving. This car gets a 96bhp motor, while the Long Range model benefits from an extra 17bhp.

Both Insters share 150kW DC rapid-charging capabilities, which should be enough to top up the battery from 10 to 80% in around 30 minutes. There’s a standard-fit 11kW onboard charger for plugging in at home, while a battery heating system and heat pump come as standard for UK cars; that’s a feature that far more expensive EVs, like the Skoda Enyaq, Volkswagen ID.3, and even Hyundai’s own Ioniq 5, don’t come fitted with as standard.

13

All of the electronic gubbins are tucked away under a cute, mini-SUV body. While the chunky wheelarches and bumpers give the impression of a large car, the Inster actually sits between the Hyundai i10 and i20 in terms of length, at 3,825mm. There are “pixel-graphic” lights front and rear, reflecting Hyundai’s current design language used on the Ioniq 5.

Inside, you’ll find a pair of 10.25-inch displays for the driver and for infotainment, but there are plenty of physical buttons on the centre console for controlling media, temperature and ventilation – a move that we imagine many customers will appreciate. There are only two seats in the rear, but they slide and recline individually and can be folded flat for maximum cargo space. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is standard-fit, plus all cars also get a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, a leather steering wheel, air conditioning and electric door mirrors.

How much does the Hyundai Inster cost and when can I buy one?

Prices for the Hyundai Inster start from just £23,495 for the entry-level car. These ‘01’ trim cars come with the aforementioned standard equipment, plus the smaller of the two battery packs. For £25,045, you can have an Inster 01 with the larger 49kWh battery and the 113bhp motor. That does make the Inster more expensive than rivals such as the Citroen e-C3, Dacia Spring and new Leapmotor T03, but some buyers will see the longer range as something worth paying for.

The top-spec Hyundai Inster 02 gets some added creature comforts, including front parking sensors, LED headlights, ambient lighting, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and wireless smartphone charging. You also get larger 17-inch alloy wheels (up from 15 inches), privacy glass and LED tail-lights for a dash of extra style.

Keen buyers will be able to place an order for both models in early 2025.

Can’t wait until 2025? We’ve covered the cheapest electric cars you can buy right now!