Hyundai Inster

Smart and fun to drive city car

Presented before the summer, the little Hyundai Inster piqued our curiosity with its quirky aesthetics and unrivalled practicality. Although it won't be delivered until the end of 2024, we've already got behind the wheel, and the charm is still working! Since the summer, however, Hyundai has been keeping the suspense alive with its new Inster, an all-electric mini of almost 3.83 (3.825 meters to be exact), with a distinctive look and, above all, the cleverness of the MPVs of the past.

Let's face it, this little “made in Korea” car reminds us of the original Renault Twingo from 1992. And this Hyundai Inster, priced from 25.000 euros (97 hp engine/42 kWh battery), confirms that it's a serious threat to the Fiat 500e (3.63 meters) and Citroën ë-C3 (4.01 meters), not to mention the latest Renault R5 (3.92 m). But in any case, Hyundai's mini offers far superior modularity, and will even rival the “big” Citroën ë-C3 in terms of habitability.

The Inster is easy to park, but not necessarily very welcoming. But it's just as comfortable in the front as it is in the back. Hyundai takes good care of second-row occupants with a bench seat that slides out 16 cm, allowing even taller passengers to put their legs up, especially as it's easy to slide your feet under the front seats. And with a height of 1.61 meters, there's no need to worry about headroom. This measurement also corresponds to the width of this Inster, so it won't be difficult to park in tight spaces.

Of course, the trunk isn't huge, but it's good for everyday use, varying from 238 to 351 dm3 according to the manufacturer, depending on the position of the rear seats. The Hyundai Inster offers plenty of storage space and all kinds of tricks, as well as four folding seatbacks. Admittedly, this is classic for the rear seats, while the two-part backrest of this 4-seater's bench - the only configuration available at the moment - can be folded away as required. Less common is the ability to lower the passenger seatback forward, typically to load a kit bed base or a high shelf for assembly. Last but not least, the backrest on the driver's side can also be lowered to free up as much interior space as possible.

However, the financial effort is worth considering, as this Hyundai Inster is also a pleasant surprise to drive. We're testing the 97 hp, 42 kWh battery (lithium-ion) version here. Knowing that the torque value -147 Nm- is the same as on the other version of the Inster, which boasts 115 hp and a 49 kWh battery claiming some 50 km more range (360 km under the WLTP cycle). But on start-up, with 100% charge, the range indicator on our Inster 42 kWh announces a range of 211 to 392 km, a prognosis that changes according to driving style and temperature. Officially, in terms of WLTP homologation measurements, this Inster 42 kWh is rated at 327 km. No mean feat for a car designed for the city.

This Inster offers a fine array of standard equipment: 10.25-inch driver's panel, central touchscreen of the same size for infotainment, dual-zone automatic climate control, CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, rear parking radar and reversing camera, hands-free access, and more. There's also an 11 kW on-board charger. It's true that this top-of-the-range Hyundai Inster is better equipped than some of the larger models (360° camera, heated seats and steering wheel, sunroof, etc.), but it comes with a 49 kWh battery and superfluous 17-inch wheels with tires that are more expensive to replace. But otherwise, this Hyundai Inster shows more versatility and mischief than its rivals!