Subj : I took the tiny Hyundai Inster on a 400km weekend away and there To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Sat Sep 06 2025 12:15:08 I took the tiny Hyundai Inster on a 400km weekend away and theres more to it than its size implies Date: Sat, 06 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0000 Description: The Hyundai Inster has been praised universally for its practical size and efficiency, and Ive fallen in love with every aspect of the car. FULL STORY ====================================================================== I get excited about practically every electric car I review, but few have had me as giddy as the Hyundai Inster. This small and practical car feels like it was tailor-made for my lifestyle and the livelihoods of anybody living in the inner city, and while its tiny size may be its most noticeable feature, theres so much more to love about this humble transporter. My colleague Leon Poultney got hands-on with the Hyundai Inster in November 2024, and he also adored how cute and compact the car was so to avoid going over old ground, Im going to focus on all the other aspects of the Inster that make it such a win in my book. The Inster is, in many ways, a response to cheap and compact small electric cars from China dominating markets across the world. Its the South Korean answer to the BYD Dolphin, MG4 and GWM Ora, though the Inster is smaller (but taller) than all of these. Despite being smaller, it offers some noble traits over its competition, like generous legroom in the back and reliable driver assistance tech. Indeed, this car feels like the refinement that the entry-level EV market needed, particularly here in Australia where Im based. (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar) One of the things keeping the Inster back, however, is that its not exactly entry-level. Its pricey for such a small car, and though it boasts generous range and efficiency when assessing its battery size and overall performance, if you have this much to spend, on the whole youll get a better all-around vehicle with the MG4. But the Hyundai Inster has things that the MG4 crucially lacks style, refinement and a small but practical shape. I think the Inster looks iconic, perhaps not in the same way as a Mini Cooper S or a Mazda MX-5, but it does feel like this is an EV for a lifestyle, not one for getting to A and B. The Hyundai Inster was made for the moment, and though I do think it stumbles in some areas, Im pretty confident in calling it my favorite EV since the MG4. (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar) Hyundai Inster specs Specs Hyundai Inster Country of manufacture South Korea Price Hyundai Inster / Inster 01 (UK): 23,505 / AU$39,000 Hyundai Inster Extended Range / Inster 02 (UK): 26,755 / AU$42,500 Hyundai Inster Cross: 28,755 / AU$45,000 *The Hyundai Inster isnt available in the US. Range Hyundai Inster / Inster 01 (UK): 203mi (WLTP) / 327km (WLTP) Hyundai Inster Extended Range / Inster 02 (UK) / Cross: 223mi (WLTP) / 360km (WLTP) Battery size Hyundai Inster / Inster 01 (UK): 42kWh Hyundai Inster Extended Range / Inster 02 (UK) / Cross: 49kWh Power / torque Hyundai Inster / Inster 01 (UK): 71kW / 147Nm Hyundai Inster Extended Range / Inster 02 (UK) / Cross: 85kW / 147Nm Maximum charging speed 10.5kW AC / 120kW DC *In the UK, the Inster 01 maxes out at 73kW, while the Inster 02 and Cross max out at 85kW) Quoted recharge speed (DC) 10% to 80% in 30 minutes Drivetrain FWD Dimensions 3,825 x 1,610 x 1,610 mm (L x W x H) Trunk/boot capacity 280L / 1,059L (including rear seating) Into the Inster (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar) The Hyundai Inster achieves its slender shape by axing the middle seat in the second row and by offering a smaller-than-usual battery. The largest battery youll get is 49kWh, which isnt a lot compared to other EVs, becoming both a blessing and burden depending on how you look at it (and where you live). You get less battery range off a single charge, sure, but at least the charging capacity is sufficient in the UK (at 73kW and 85kW max for the Inster 01 and Inster 02/Cross respectively) and impressive for the segment in Australia at 120kW (across all three models) This car feels like it was built around an idea of OK, how can we make this convenient? for people living in densely populated areas and being based on a petrol-engined car known as the Casper (which first debuted in 2021), Hyundai has had years to innovate on the small-but-functional design. Despite its compact exterior, theres a bounty of space in the Inster. Starting in the front, Hyundai has inserted several convenient sections for placing items, including a handy spot for your phone (for Android Auto/Apple CarPlay) and a dash-spanning shelf below the infotainment screen. Theres also a handy pocket down the center column and a wireless charging spot though I cant compliment the wireless charging for the usual reasons (wireless charging is often interrupted by the phone slipping slightly, and the phone is usually warmed to an annoying temperature). (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar) The Inster doesnt feature a center console between the driver and front-passenger seats, but I really dont mind this theres so much space here that its ultimately a non-issue. Theres an armrest in the middle that folds up and down above the cupholder, which is attached to the drivers seat; when raised, this creates an almost couch-like edge-to-edge seating area in the front row. This exposes one of my favorite things about the Inster roll the front seats all the way back, and you can effectively slide from one door to the other; handy if a park is too tight on the driver's side, or you want to dodge the rain more effectively when getting out. This is awesome. The rear seats are equally convenient. Similar to Hyundais Ioniq 5, the rear row can slide back and forth on rails, which allows you to give rear occupants a more generous amount of legroom, or alternatively extend the trunk/boot at a moments notice. For such a small car, this is a game-changer, and though youll get more rear legroom with cars like the BYD Dolphin and MG4, neither of these offers the Insters unique flexibility. The trunk has a handy hatch in the floor that opens up even more space, but this is likely where youll put emergency tools and a wall-plug EV charger. This practicality comes together to ultimately position the Inster as, limited range aside, a pretty good all-rounder. I took the Extended Range model out of my hometown of Sydney to the city of Newcastle (about 160km/100mi north), to visit my brother and six-year-old niece for her birthday. The car offered just the right amount of space to carry all the necessary things for her birthday party, child seat and all. Having charged overnight at my brothers house whenever I was parked at it, and using the car for runabout trips on Saturday, I had enough range to get back to Sydney on Sunday (having left Friday) with 40% on my arrival home. (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar) By saying all of that, Im trying to drive home the point that the Inster is far more reliable than its size may imply. This car might be squishy if full, and it might handle bumps on the road a tad uncomfortably, but itll tackle trips out of town for the weekend easily. That is, if you have access to charging spots for your time away, be they overnight where you stay or at a DC charger. When charging, you wont be charging too long, given the size of the battery. Its range isnt its best aspect, sure, but its not bad , given the cars efficiency and fast DC charging speed . Stylistically, the Inster might look cute from all angles on the outside, but I believe its best-looking aspects are on the inside. Cheaper models come with a houndstooth-stitched fabric which I completely fell in love with, while artificial leather seats are standard with the Cross (the top model). On this occasion, Im all for the cheaper model houndstooth looks incredible, and it makes the interior feel like a comfortable couch at home. Adding to the cute aesthetic, there are little details on the inside trim of the doors reminiscent of Phillips screws, and they just give the car an unmatched personality. The same can be said of the rim styling across all three variants (it's different from car to car) its like they were put in place by an enormous screwdriver. (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar) Theres also a generous amount of refinement to the operating system. Hyundais software still feels better to interact with than what youll find in similarly priced EVs. Im not a big fan of Hyundais OS to begin with, having criticized the identical version found in the Kia EV5 , but I can forgive it in a cheaper car, especially one with so much cute appeal and practicality. Dont like Hyundais OS? Thats okay, because the car offers wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The USB port for accessing these resides above a shelf on the passenger side of the front seats, giving you a handy place to put your phone while charging (it may also stir confusion, as this spot is quite far from the wireless charger). The Inster also has physical buttons galore for climate control and switching tracks and radio modes, which is absolutely something I love. Too many cars axe physical buttons completely, so Im honestly over the moon Hyundai has included them with the Inster. (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar) Finally, driver assistance in Hyundai cars has felt particularly polished since the Ioniq 5 (released in 2021). Lane assistance is strong and well ahead of the Insters direct competitors, with physical buttons on the wheel for adjusting cruise. Theres just so much to appreciate about the Inster a cute aesthetic, a useful but small size, and a level of software refinement thats unmatched in the entry-level EV segment. I dont think any of its problems draw back its positives but we should really talk about its troubling price point and feature disparity. Yes, the Inster could be better (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar) A major criticism levied against the Hyundai Inster is that its not priced well but in my opinion, thats highly dependent on the market. While the MG4 starts at 26,995 / AU$34,990 and the BYD Dolphin at 26,205 / AU$29,990, the Inster starts at 23,505 / AU$39,000. Price is therefore only a problem in some markets, a similarity it shares with the Chery Omoda E5 that I recently tested. However, keep in mind the UK has a slew of even cheaper EVs on the market such as the Dacia Spring (14,995), Leapmotor T03 (15,995) and BYD Dolphin Surf (18,650). To be clear, I think the Inster is priced perfectly for the UK market. Its feature set, including its range, operating system, style and driver assistance tools, makes its asking price extremely attractive. In Australia I do wish the price was lower. These prices are indicative of RRP without drive-away pricing, and with that added youre approaching the cost of much more feature-rich EVs. (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar) Indeed, I think the MG4 is a better car all-around, with a nicer-feeling RWD drivetrain and a range of trims that cater to a wider market with different demands, but the Inster exists to be more convenient. I dont believe it should necessarily be cheaper than the MG4, with how polished the car feels, but I do think Hyundai should be a little more realistic in my local market. Thats a lot of money for a car with only slightly more storage space than a Mini 3-door! Moving on from pricing, I was a little disappointed in the drivers seat adjustment. One of my shorter friends, when sitting in the seat, would have liked it to go up more, but unfortunately its manual adjustment could only go so high. Additionally, its a bit odd that none of the trims include automatic seating. This isnt a dealbreaker for the Inster, but with other affordable EVs offering this feature (at least on the more expensive trims even if only for the drivers seat, in some cases) it is on my wishlist for an Inster refresh. Also on that list would be wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, or at least transitioning the connection to USB-C. At a more systemic level, I really would have liked the Inster to be RWD. I get it, car nuts dont need to tell me, FWD is more cost-effective at scale but this isnt really a cheap car, right? As I stated earlier, its an area where the MG4 has an obvious advantage the latter feels leaps and bounds better on the road and added acceleration with the MG4 is an added boon. (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar) I dont really have any other major points of criticism, other than it would have been nice to have a birds-eye view camera in the Extended Range/Inster 01 model though these models have a capable reversing camera. Birds-eye is included in the Cross trim, but a lot of the other features in the Cross dont really appeal to me, such as those fake leather seats I mentioned earlier (houndstooth adds so much more personality). An options pack to add things like the sunroof, heated seats and heated steering wheel could go a long way. Should you buy a Hyundai Inster? (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar) I love the Hyundai Inster of those Ive tested in 2025, its my favorite EV so far and it may even rise to be my favorite EV altogether. That being said, its small size is undeniably divisive and will make it both attractive to folks after a tiny yet practical car (such as those living in the city) and a non-starter for folks after a bigger daily driver. Id encourage you to consider the Inster if youre shopping at the entry-level point of EVs. Hyundais cheapest mass-market EV meets its affordable Chinese rivals on price and (most features), going beyond with a more premium experience. It may lack some extra tech, but it makes up for this in charm and style. If youre shopping around for an EV at this price, Id highly recommend the MG4 and its various trims for a nicer-feeling car on the road, or the BYD Dolphin if you want a more tech-packed car. Otherwise, if you can get a good price, the Hyundai Inster might just be the EV youve been waiting for. You might also like... 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