The debate is not new: should Asian manufacturers bring their kei cars, these limited-size and power cars to benefit from favorable taxation, to the European mainland? Suzuki and Daihatsu have already done so in the past with the Wagon R and Copen, and now it is Hyundai’s turn with the Inster. If its look is not entirely unfamiliar to you, it may be because you have already seen our article on the Casper. The Inster is in fact the international version of the Casper (the latter remains confined to South Korea), but it stands out with more generous proportions. At 3.60 m, the total length thus increases to 3.83 m, which remains ultra-compact nonetheless. And with a height and width of 1.61 m each, there is no problem parking it even in the tightest parking spaces.
The almost symmetrical front and rear, with headlights that mix “pixel” LEDs, like the Ioniq electric models, and large round projectors, give an immediately friendly side to the Inster, which can also rely on curves to soften its silhouette. As for the wheels, they range from 15 to 17 inches. But the real asset of the Inster lies in the interior.
We often regret minivans for their practical modularity and the ability to reconfigure the interior according to needs. At Hyundai, engineers understood this well and went all out to maximize interior space. With a wheelbase of 2.58 m, which is huge for such a small car, the Inster offers unexpected comfort to passengers, both in the front and back. Especially since the second-row passengers benefit from a bench that slides 16 cm, allowing for leg space that even the tallest individuals will find comfortable.
Conversely, it’s also a good way to increase the trunk space from 238 to 351 dm3 when you want to transport objects rather than people. That’s where the Korean car stands out, as it is possible to fold down the backrest of all the seats to create an almost flat loading floor! Yes, even the driver’s seat, if you ever thought of sleeping in your car with an air mattress. Or picking up a shelf at Ikea. Or loading a surfboard. In short, it’s flexibility and on-board space that take precedence, giving the Inster a big advantage over other mini-cars, which are becoming increasingly scarce. For this preview, Hyundai provided us with a version with two independent rear seats, but a 5-seat version will also be produced, although it is not yet known which one will be sold in France, or if both will coexist.
Everything about it is top-notch. Unsurprisingly for the segment, the interior is almost exclusively made of hard plastic. Nevertheless, the whole doesn’t feel cheap, and everything is properly assembled. The equipment is abundant. For example, standard features include two 10.25-inch screens (one for the gauges, the other, touch screen for infotainment) or automatic air conditioning. The high-end finish has the same equipment as higher segment cars: 360° camera, wireless charging, heated seats and steering wheel, panoramic roof, etc. It’s amazing how Hyundai managed to fit so much functionality into such a small car! The dashboard presentation is reminiscent of an Ioniq 5, in a smaller scale.
The Hyundai Inster will initially be offered only in electric. There will be two battery sizes to choose from, 42 and 49 kWh, with powers of 97 and 115 hp respectively. This allows the brand to achieve around 300 and 350 km of range, figures that will be refined when homologation takes place, and which we will of course verify on our test bench. The most exciting part now is to know the prices, which the manufacturer is keeping under wraps for the time being. The commercialization will not take place before the end of the year, with the first customer deliveries expected in December, or even January 2025.
The real good surprise would be for the base price to remain affordable and not exceed €21,000 or €22,000. For reference, a less powerful, less autonomous, and more basic Dacia Spring starts at €18,900 before bonuses. As for the high-end version, a price around €26,000 would be justified if the promise of autonomy is met. However, with Hyundai, it’s more likely for prices to increase than decrease in recent times.