New Hyundai Inster Cross is a tiny go-anywhere EV for under £30,000

• Rugged exterior package for Hyundai Inster
• All-electric city car with 223-mile range
• On sale now from £28,745

The new Hyundai Inster Cross has just gone on sale in the UK, offering small EV buyers something with a bit more off-road versatility. Priced from just under £29,000, it costs a fair chunk more than the entry-level Inster, but it gets a host of unique off-road features, from chunky exterior cladding to a handy roof rack.

What rugged features does the Hyundai Inster Cross have?

Unlike other tiny-yet-rugged cars of the past, like the Fiat Panda 4x4 and the Suzuki Jimny, the Hyundai Inster Cross doesn’t get four-wheel drive. In fact, there are no clever off-road modes or trick differentials at all – it uses the same front-mounted 113bhp electric motor setup as the regular Inster.

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While that will limit its all-terrain capabilities somewhat, the Inster Cross does get a few upgrades that should prove helpful if you venture off the blacktop. The front bumper is all-new, with a chunkier design and a skid plate underneath for added protection. There’s another skid plate at the back, too, along with more substantial black cladding around the body.

Perhaps most useful will be the giant roof rack. It comes fitted as standard to all Inster Cross models, providing a handy storage space for your camping gear. A set of unique 17-inch wheels, lime interior accents, and a new matte green paint colour round off the styling tweaks for the Inster Cross – although the latter is an £800 option.

The Inster Cross is only available with the ‘Long Range’ battery setup from the regular Inster. This uses a 49kWh battery to return up to 223 miles of range in the Inster Cross, which represents just a six-mile deficit to the regular model – although we suspect this will drop if you fit the chunky roof rack. A 10 to 80% recharge should be achievable in around 30 minutes, thanks to 150kW DC charging. Like all Inster models, the Cross gets an energy-saving heat pump as standard.

As the Inster Cross sits at the top of the lineup, it gets a long list of standard kit, including everything from a sunroof to a rear-view camera. An optional Tech Pack adds Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) charging, meaning you can use the Inster’s battery to power appliances – handy for your next camping trip.

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

The Inster Cross is on sale in the UK now, with prices starting from £28,745. That’s over £5,000 more expensive than the entry-level Inster, and £3,700 more than the base Long Range model.

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