New budget-friendly EV by Hyundai offers 220-mile range.

Hyundai has recently unveiled its latest electric city car, the Inster, boasting an impressive range of up to 220 miles and an estimated price tag of around £22,000.

The Inster is set to hit the global market this summer as a direct competitor to the Dacia Spring and Citroën ë-C3, offering a compact footprint, robust exterior design, and a spacious interior.

Based on Hyundai’s petrol-powered Casper crossover, which is exclusive to Korea, the Inster features a stretched body and wheelbase to provide a more rugged aesthetic and increased space. Positioned between traditional city cars and superminis, the Inster will also see the launch of a Cross variant designed for outdoor enthusiasts.

Designed as a four-seater, the Inster offers walk-through access from the front and fold-flat functionality for all seats, including the driver’s. A front bench seat option, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel are available. Additionally, the second-row seats are split 50/50, slide, and recline to expand the boot space from 280 to 351 litres.

The entry-level model comes equipped with a 97hp front-mounted motor and a 42kWh battery, while the long-range variant features a 115hp motor and a 49kWh battery. The base model can reach a top speed of 87mph and accelerate from 0-62mph in 11.7 seconds, with the long-range model boasting a top speed of 93mph and a 0-62mph time of 10.6 seconds.

Rapid charging is available at up to 120kW using a DC public charger, enabling a 10 to 80% recharge in approximately 30 minutes under optimal conditions. The Inster also comes with an 11kW on-board charger as standard, with optional features like a battery heating system and a high-efficiency heat pump.

Noteworthy is the Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function, which allows the Inster to power external devices (110V/220V) and supports bi-directional charging without the need for extra equipment.

Hyundai’s EV design identity is evident in the Inster’s pixel graphic styling elements, such as turn signals and taillights. Personalisation options include LED projection headlamps and a two-tone exterior with a contrasting black roof, with a choice of 15-inch steel, 15-inch alloy, or 17-inch alloy wheels depending on the trim.

Inside the cabin, a 10.25-inch digital cluster complements an identically sized infotainment touchscreen with navigation. Other features include wireless charging, 64-colour LED ambient lighting, a one-touch sunroof, and Hyundai Digital Key 2 Touch (NFC) accessibility.

For safety and driver assistance, the Inster offers a surround view monitor, parking collision-avoidance assist rear, blind-spot view monitor, and forward collision-avoidance assist. Additional features include lane keeping assist, lane following assist, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, safety exit warning, smart cruise control with stop and go, highway driving assist, intelligent speed limit assist, driver attention warning, high beam assist, leading vehicle departure alert, and rear occupant alert.

The Inster will initially launch in Korea this summer before expanding to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific. Hyundai plans to equip most features and technologies as standard, with optional enhancements available for added convenience and design flair. Detailed specifications will be disclosed closer to the launch date.

Simon Loasby, senior vice president and head of the Hyundai Design Center, expressed excitement about the Inster, stating, “With Inster, we’ve taken the small SUV image to a bold new place for the global audience. Inster punches well above its weight with distinctive design and an interior that maximises its potential in exciting, customer-centric ways. With Inster, we’re redefining what it means to drive a sub-compact EV.”