City cars are supposed to be compromises: cheap to buy, cheap to run, but cramped and compromised on space. Hyundai clearly didn’t get the memo. The new Inster EV looks like it belongs in a Dinky toy collection (my favourite boyhood hobby), yet the first thing you notice after climbing aboard is just how much space there is inside. It’s a proper Tardis trick, the short overhangs and tall roof freeing up room enough for four adults to travel without elbows touching or knees jammed against dashboards.
Slip behind the wheel and the surprise continues. This isn’t a hollowed-out economy pod with plastic wheel covers and wheezy motors; it feels properly engineered. The dash is simple but smart, with digital instruments, a decent-sized central screen and enough physical buttons for ventilation to keep life sensible. Materials are unashamedly hard-wearing rather than plush, but they’re well put together and perfectly acceptable at this end of the market.
On the road, the Inster is nippy in that way only small EVs can be. Instant torque off the line makes darting into gaps or scooting around traffic effortless, and at city speeds it feels brisk. Out on a faster road it settles, the motor happy to keep pace at motorway speeds without strain, although overtakes require a little more planning. Refinement is better than you’d expect from something with this footprint – tyre and wind noise are muted, and the suspension is more lithe than lumpy.
The real appeal, though, is ease. The Inster EV is a car you can park in half a space, thread through narrow streets and spin round in a ridiculously tight turning circle. At the same time, you’re not punished for that small footprint with a claustrophobic cabin. Add to that Hyundai’s quietly strong record for EV reliability and sensible pricing and you’re looking at a very persuasive urban runabout.
Range will depend on spec, but I managed to run 250kms before I got the battery warning at 20% – with pretty much a lead foot. More than enough for the average daily grind. Fast charging is supported, topping up from 10–80% in around half an hour on a suitably powerful DC charger. It won’t suit the occasional long-haul driver, but that’s not what the Inster is built for.
Price starts at a keen $39,000 and tops off at $45,000 for an extended range version with more fruit. The Inster could be the city EV that finally makes sense: not a token second car, but a genuinely practical main runabout with enough space and zip to keep life easy.
One hiccup – ANCAP ratings. The Inster’s Safety Assist features, which include collision avoidance systems, earned a 69% score, exceeding the threshold for a four-star rating but falling short of a five-star rating
Fact Box: Hyundai Inster EV
- Powertrain: Single electric motor, front-wheel drive
- Output: 71-84.5kW; 147Nm
- Battery: 42–49 kWh usable capacity
- Range: 327 – 360 kms WLTP
- Charging: 10–80% in ~30 mins (DC fast charge)
- Dimensions: Length 3.8m, width 1.6m, height 1.6m
- Boot space: ~280 litres
- Seats: 4 adults comfortably
- Price: $39,000 to $45,000