Pricing and affordability have rapidly emerged as two key obstacles for mass adoption by consumers. While Hyundai’s Ioniq lineup of EVs are very compelling vehicles, there’s no denying that their respective pricing ladders still keep some consumers from making the leap into EV vehicles. The Korean car giant is now giving consumers a bridge into the segment with the 2025 Inster CUV.
Inster’s cute looks hide potent EV package
The exterior styling of the Inster shares some minor similarities with the Venue but the EV embraces Hyundai’s pixel lighting with the lone exception being two bug-eye-shaped pieces in the lower portion of the front bumper. The design as a whole is handsome and it has a playful character to it though the rear of the EV is very slab-sided with large pixeled taillights being complimented by a large Hyundai logo in the center.
Underneath the boxy shape is an all-electric powertrain with the base Inster getting a 42 kWh battery pack that’s paired with a 95 hp electric motor. Hyundai says that this combination is enough to allow the EV to get 186 miles of range on a single charge. Buyers that go for the uplevel version get a bigger 49 kWh battery pack and a beefier 113 hp electric motor with this setup delivering 217 miles of range. Unlike other EVs, the Inster is not about performance and that’s reflected in its rather paltry top speed of 87 mph for the base model (the more powerful version raises that to 93 mph.) Hyundai also revealed that the Inster can go from 10 to 80% charged in 30 minutes when it’s hooked up to a DC fast charger.
Inster interior proves to be valuable trump card
While the Inster’s performance hardware is nothing to write home about, Hyundai says the Inster will focus on giving budget buyers an impressive array of standard equipment and features. The front and rear seats can be folded down and the rear seats can also slide forward and backward. Cargo capacity is between 8.4 to 12.4 cubic feet which is pretty decent for a city car.
The Inster is also loaded with plenty of standard equipment including two 10.25-inch screens that provide instrumentation and operate the infotainment system. The low price point did force Hyundai to use some low-cost plastics but a wireless phone charging pad is standard and the Inster can also be equipped with adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera. Other goodies include safety features like Lane Keep Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control. The company’s V2l feature will also come with the Inster to help power external devices with power from the Inster’s battery pack.
Will it come to the U.S.?
It’s not known if the Inster will be coming to the U.S. (despite Hyundai saying it will be a global rollout) but the company will be selling it in Europe and Asia where small vehicles like the Inster tend to do well. If the Inster does come to the U.S., the company would have to make revisions to the EV to help it comply with U.S. safety regulations which might end up costing more than it’s worth.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.