Inster stands out from crowd

Review by Joe Rayfus

The Hyundai Inster has entered the expanding segment of compact electric vehicles, but with its distinctive styling, commendable range, and well-judged pricing, it is setting itself apart from the others.

The Inster is intended for those who don’t want a bare-bones EV, yet aren’t ready to stretch to the class above, occupied by cars like the forthcoming Renault 5 E-Tech.

At first glance, Hyundai’s design team have done a fine job sculpting the Inster’s compact proportions around a usable battery pack while infusing its styling with some of the eye-catching cues found on its bigger EV siblings.

The Inster strikes a bold pose, looking tall and somewhat narrow, but that contributes to exceptional interior headroom. Despite the upright stance, it wears its bodywork in a way that’s both quirky and cohesive.

The boxy silhouette, paired with squared-off wheelarches, large daytime running lamps, and roof rails, suggests a hint of funky crossover. At the back, Hyundai’s pixel-inspired rear light strip pays homage to the bigger Ioniq 5, lending a modern vibe. For an affordable EV, it’s refreshingly different and eye-catching.

Inside, Hyundai has striven to keep costs down without surrendering too much style. Yes, there’s plenty of hard plastic, but the cabin cleverly uses bright colours, neat detailing, and pleasingly tactile switchgear to create a cheerful atmosphere.

You’ll quickly notice the Inster’s relatively narrow cabin once behind the wheel, so larger drivers may find themselves brushing elbows with the door card.

The upright shape reveals its benefits when you look behind you: the rear legroom is astonishing for a car of this size, and even my six-foot bulky build was comfortable sitting behind the driver’s seat, which was also set up for me. It seats four, but those four are treated to a genuinely spacious experience.

There’s a decent amount of boot space (280 litres), and the rear seats slide to liberate a bit more if needed, topping out at 351 litres without having to fold them down.

Should you need to carry bulkier items, dropping the 50:50-split bench opens up 1,059 litres of capacity. While that figure might not trouble bigger hatchbacks, it’s entirely reasonable for a supermini-size EV.

Twin 10.25-inch displays – one serving as the driver’s instrument cluster, the other as a central touchscreen – come as standard. It means you get crisp graphics, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus built-in navigation and a reversing camera. Keyless entry, heated door mirrors, and climate control add to the sense that this is not simply a budget runaround.

In Ireland, the Inster’s pricing is keen. The base model, known as ‘Signature’, starts at €18,995 after SEAI grants and VRT relief, and it comes with a 42kWh battery feeding a 97hp electric motor. Step up to the ‘Elegance’ with a 49kWh battery and a more potent 115hp motor, and you’ll pay €21,995, or €22,590 if you fancy a two-tone paint finish.

That’s a sweet spot for those who require a respectable real-world range without denting the bank account as heavily as some larger EVs might.

Hyundai suggests the smaller battery can eke out in excess of 300km on a single charge, while the bigger battery is officially quoted at around 369km, which should translate to at least 250-300km of real-world range in mixed driving conditions.

Out on the road, first impressions are encouraging. The Inster’s upright stance might fool you into thinking it’ll feel wobbly or unsettled, but it’s well-composed, even around twisty back roads down by the Strawberry Beds. You’ll never be left floundering at 80-100kmh, though acceleration does plateau beyond that. Light, accurate steering and a lofty driving position lend an easy sense of control. Body roll is noticeable, but not excessive, and you can select varying levels of regenerative braking for a one-pedal driving experience if that’s your preference.

Refinement is decent, with some wind noise around the upright windscreen on faster roads, yet overall comfort levels are good for a car of this size and class.

Charging the Inster could hardly be simpler. Both battery versions can take up to 85kW DC, meaning a 10-80 per cent rapid top-up in around half an hour. If you’re at home or work with access to an 11kW AC supply, you’re looking at just over four hours for the smaller battery and under five hours for the bigger one, though a typical 7.4kW wallbox will push this to between six and seven hours.

Regardless, it’s a reasonable compromise, especially for drivers who primarily make short to medium daily trips.

As the market for tiny EVs swells with newcomers, the Hyundai Inster makes a compelling case for itself on value, style, and practicality – definitely one to shortlist if you’re in the market for a small electric car.