Hyundai unveiled a new small electric SUV called the Inster at the Busan International Mobility Show. The Korean automaker designed the Inster as a global entry-level electric vehicle. As we said earlier, it resembles the popular Casper sub-compact city car but uses a longer platform.
The Inster will debut in Korea this summer and later in other markets. It’s an A-segment sub-compact EV targeting consumers who need a small electric car for city driving.
Dimension
The Inster derives its platform from the Casper, a 3.5-meter-long car available solely with a petrol engine in Korea. Hyundai extended the Casper’s platform by 230mm for the Inster, with 180mm added to its wheelbase. This modification increases cabin space and provides room for an underfloor battery pack.
The Inster measures 3.8 meters in length, 1.6 meters in width, and 1.6 meters in height, making it slightly smaller than the 3.9-meter-long Citroen eC3. However, Hyundai offers a practical five-seat cabin in the Inster with various interior setups. It has four seats that can fold completely flat, and the two rear seats can slide and recline to create more legroom or boot space.
Battery and Powertrain
The Inster will offer two options for batteries and motors. The base model has a 96hp front-mounted drive unit that accelerates from 0 to 100kph in just 11.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 140kph. It comes with a 42kWh battery pack that provides a claimed range of about 300km per charge.
The top-spec ‘long-range’ Inster has a more powerful 113hp motor and a larger 49kWh battery. This helps extend its range to about 350km and increases its max speed to 150kph.
It achieves a 0-100kph acceleration time of 10.6 seconds. Both versions of the Inster use a nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) battery chemistry. Additionally, all Inster models come standard with a heat pump and support 85kW (DC) charging.
Features and Tech
According to Hyundai, the Inster will distinguish itself with its interior connectivity and onboard tech. Inside, all models come with two 10.25-inch displays—one for the instrument panel and one for the infotainment touchscreen. Additionally, you can use your smartphone as a ‘key’ to unlock and start the car.
The Hyundai EV includes the complete set of driver assistance features, such as a 360-degree parking camera and adaptive cruise control. It also features a blind spot monitoring system that displays a camera view of your rear side on the instrument panel when you use the turn signal.
Will it come to India?
In India, Hyundai is currently prioritizing the launch of the Creta EV, which will be their first widely available electric vehicle for our market.
The Inster, with its adaptable cabin, stylish appearance, comprehensive features, and technology, presents itself as a strong contender for India. It could compete with vehicles like the Citroen eC3 and Tata Punch EV. However, it’s uncertain whether this EV will come to India in the future.
