Discover the Hyundai Inster - a compact electric crossover for the mass market

Hyundai continues to expand its SUV lineup with the all-new Inster – an all-electric version of the Casper compact crossover, with a longer wheelbase and more standard tech inside the cabin. Unlike the Casper, which is only available in Korea, the Inster will also be launched in Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, making it a global model.

The Inster takes a lot of inspiration from the 2021 Casper’s design, but adds a few electric twists to avoid accusations of pure copycatting. You can see the revised and restyled bumpers, the choice of 15-inch or 17-inch wheels, and larger LED lights at the front and rear. However, the Inster’s big development over the Casper is its 0.23m longer length, with a 0.18m longer wheelbase.

Despite its considerable length, the Inster still maintains a compact footprint, measuring around 3.8 metres long, 1.6 metres wide and just 1.5 metres high, with a wheelbase of just over 2.5 metres. Despite being a growing compact SUV, the Inster is still dwarfed by Hyundai’s compact SUV siblings such as the Bayon, Creta, Venue and Kona.

In Europe, the Hyundai Inster will be positioned between the A-SUV (Toyota Aygo X, Suzuki Ignis) and B-SUV (Jeep Avenger, VW T-Cross) segments, making it a suitable choice for urban environments thanks to its compact size. Furthermore, Hyundai has announced the upcoming Inster Cross version, which has a “more rugged design focused on outdoor activities”.

The interior design is also largely based on the ICE-powered equivalent, although the Inster gets tech upgrades and different colour options for the fabric seats. The digital cockpit features dual 10.25-inch screens, which are significantly larger than the ones on the Casper.

Depending on the trim level, a number of extras can be added, including a wireless charging pad, 64-color LED interior lighting, heated front seats, a sunroof, and a comprehensive suite of ADAS features befitting the size of the vehicle.

All seats fold flat, the second row slides and reclines, and there’s an optional front bench. The boot has a capacity of 280 litres, which can be expanded to 351 litres depending on the position of the rear bench.

Two electric powertrain options

The Hyundai Inster will be available in Standard and Long Range powertrain options. The base model has a single electric motor that produces 95 horsepower and 147 Nm of torque. Power is provided by a 42 kWh battery pack, allowing the car to travel more than 300 km between charges.

The Long Range version will be powered by a more powerful electric motor – 113 horsepower. The battery pack is also slightly larger at 49 kWh, aiming for a class-leading WLTP range of 355 km. These specs are a significant improvement over the Korean Kia Ray, the only other EV based on the Hyundai/Kia K1 platform.

Thanks to 120 kW DC fast charging, the Inster can charge from 10-80% in just 30 minutes. When connected to the more commonly used 11 kW AC outlet, a full charge takes 4 hours for the Standard version or 4 hours 35 minutes for the Long Range version. Additionally, the V2L function allows for two-way charging of other devices such as e-bikes and camping equipment.

The new Inster will go on sale in South Korea this summer, after its debut at the 2024 Busan International Mobile Show. A gradual rollout in Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific will follow, with pricing to be announced later. Judging by its size and market positioning, this will likely be Hyundai’s most affordable EV offering.

Some other pictures of Hyundai Inster: