New Hyundai Inster is a supermini-sized EV that could cost £22,000

• Supermini-sized electric car
• Range of up to 220 miles
• Estimated to cost from £22,000

Car makers are quickly shifting their focus to the affordable electric car market, and the new Hyundai Inster is the latest entrant. Under the chunky but cute bodywork lies a new battery and electric motor setup, which Hyundai claims will deliver up to 220 miles of range – enough to beat the Citroen e-C3 and the Dacia Spring.

Those two rivals have a grip on the affordable end of the EV market at the moment, costing around £22,000 and £15,000 respectively. While the Hyundai Inster is unlikely to be as affordable as the Dacia, a starting price on par with the Citroen could make it a very attractive urban runaround when it arrives next year.

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What do I need to know about the Hyundai Inster?

While the Hyundai Inster is new for us in the UK, it’s based on a model called the Hyundai Capser, sold in its home market of South Korea since 2021. While that car is petrol-powered, the Inster is strictly electric only, using a single motor and either a 42kWh or 49kWh battery.

The latter is fitted to the Inster ‘Long Range’ and will deliver up to 220 miles of range according to Hyundai, meaning you’ll be able to travel 20 miles further than both the Citroen e-C3 and the Fiat 500 Electric. The standard car with the 42kWh battery will still eke out a 180-mile range – plenty for those who stick to urban driving. This car gets a 96bhp motor, while the Long Range model benefits from an extra 17bhp.

Both Insters share 150kW DC rapid-charging capabilities, which should be enough to top up the battery from 10 to 80% in around 30 minutes. There’s a standard-fit 11kW onboard charger for plugging in at home, while a battery heating system and heat pump are available optionally for customers in colder climates.

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All of the electronic gubbins are tucked away under a cute, mini-SUV body. While the chunky wheelarches and bumpers give the impression of a large car, the Inster actually sits between the Hyundai i10 and i20 in terms of length, at 3,825mm. There are “pixel-graphic” lights front and rear, reflecting Hyundai’s current design language used on the Ioniq 5.

Inside, you’ll find a pair of 10.25-inch displays for the driver and for infotainment, but there are plenty of physical buttons on the centre console for controlling media, temperature and ventilation – a move that we imagine many customers will appreciate. There are only two seats in the rear, but they slide and recline individually and can be folded flat for maximum cargo space.

How much does the Hyundai Inster cost and when can I buy one?

Hyundai hasn’t confirmed a starting price for the UK yet, but it’s predicted to cost from around £22,000, placing it in direct competition with the Citroen e-C3 and Volkswagen’s upcoming ID.2all. It will launch first in South Korea, while European customers will have to wait a bit longer, probably into 2025. It will be joined by a more rugged, SUV-styled twin – the Inster Cross – at a later date.

Can’t wait until 2025? We’ve covered the cheapest electric cars you can buy right now!