Electric propulsion systems for small cars are fast becoming the norm in almost every European country. There are or will remain a few exceptions to this general rule, such as the Fiat 500 Ibrida due in early 2026, but in general the A segment now contains quite a few EVs. And they offer a lot of appeal, especially in Britain, as prices fall.
Hyundai has had the Inster in place for some months, the little hatchback coming only in electric form. There are two battery and motor choices, as well as an SUV-like Inster Cross derivative. This sits atop what is a line-up of three variants, the others being called Inster 01 and Inster 02.
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Battery choice: 42 or 49 kWh
Only the 01 has the smaller battery, capacity being 42 kWh, the 02 and Cross instead being specified with a 49 kWh pack. The Inster I’ve just tried was an 02, its motor producing 85.5 kW (115 PS) with just 147 Nm (108 lb-ft) of torque. And while the latter doesn’t sound like much, in practice it’s perfectly adequate, even for motorway driving.
The new model is already off to an impressive start, Europe-wide sales totalling 14,281 vehicles during the first half of 2025. Hyundai itself remained a top ten brand in H1 with total passenger vehicle deliveries of 316,492 (source: ACEA), some 2,000 units ahead of Kia which ended H1 in position eleven (314,535). It’s interesting that of the Group’s two A segment hatchbacks, only the Hyundai is an EV.
Kei-car looks
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By GlobalDataNothing in the class looks anything like the Inster, its proportions being unusual thanks to a relatively lengthy wheelbase (2,580 mm) for what is only a 3,825 mm long car. Minimal overhangs, plus a narrow and tall stance remind you of something from Japan’s Kei class, particularly with what are cute and almost retro lighting shapes at both ends.
There are all sorts of design touches outside and inside the car, one of the most prevalent being a plus sign which I kept noticing. You’ll see it on the door cards, and in multiple miniature form embossed into the headliner. A square motif is also present almost everywhere. Again, once you notice it, you see this shape in many places, including within the alloy wheels and as part of all the exterior lights. There are even four squares on the steering wheel, these glowing red when reverse is selected.
Sliding back seats for even more leg room
Roominess is a strongpoint, even if there are just two seats in the back. But let’s be honest, who would regularly carry three rear passengers in a car of this size? What matters more is how comfortable anyone sitting back there would be, and the answer is very. Head space is vast, windows are big, the 60/40 split seats slide and thanks to a cleverly positioned battery the floor is flat.
Whilst there is no additional space for stowage anything under the bonnet, the boot is handily shaped and deep, the cables being stowed below a false floor. And speaking of charging, maximum speed is 85 kW which translates to seven and a half hours via a 7.4 kW home wall box. I saw a claimed 229 miles of maximum range which is probably more than good enough for most buyers.
At just 1,610 mm wide, the Inster is perfect for both cities and narrow village/country lanes. The steering is fairly light and that’s no surprise, body roll is kept in better check than I might have imagined and the suspension is nicely set up with a comfort bias. Even with such small wheels and tyres, grip is really good too.
Where’s the word Hyundai?
Quite a few people asked me what kind of car the Inster is, which is interesting. This was when I realised the word Hyundai is nowhere to be seen. Even when I pointed to the stylised H on the tailgate this provided no clues for the admirers. You’d think that the brand was now well known in Britain but apparently not to the same level as, say, Kia.
Strictly speaking, the Inster isn’t manufactured by Hyundai Motor but instead production is courtesy of a subsidiary known as Gwangju Global Motors or GGM for short. The platform is HMG’s K1, was used by various Group models, not all of them electric-native either. One such is the Hyundai Casper, which is more or less the same model but marketed in Korea with that name.
Summary
The Inster’s cheeky looks, dinky dimensions, amazingly spacious cabin, zippy performance and fun dynamics will surely convert many an EV sceptic. Not to mention the very good range with the larger battery. Is it better than the Renault 5? For those who regularly needs space for actual adults in the back seats, rather than small children, then yes, the Hyundai is the right choice.
The new Hyundai Inster range consists of the 01 (from GBP23,505), 02 (from GBP26,755) and Cross (from GBP28,755).
