The All-Electric Hyundai INSTER (SUV): The Complete Guide For The UK

Hyundai Inster electric
Price: £23,495
Type of electric vehicle: Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
Body type: SUV
Battery size: 42 kWh/ 49 kWh
Electric range (WLTP): 203 - 229 miles
Tailpipe emissions: 0g (CO2/km)


Overview


The Hyundai Motor Company, usually referred to simply as Hyundai, is a leading South Korean automotive manufacturer headquartered in Seoul. The company was founded in 1967, with its first model, the Cortina (in collaboration with Ford Motor Company), launched in 1968. The Cortina was assembled in the Ulsan plant in South Korea. Hyundai has come a long way since then, and currently owns a 33.88% stake in Kia Corporation, and also wholly owns the luxury automotive brand, Genesis, among others.

Hyundai has an annual production capacity of over 1.6 million units, making the automotive manufacturer the third-largest in terms of production behind the Japanese automotive manufacturer, Toyota and the German automotive group, Volkswagen. Hyundai has production facilities across a number of global locations. Some of these include: North America, India, Russia, Turkey, China and the Czech republic. Hyundai vehicles are sold in nearly 200 countries globally.

Hyundai commenced developing alternative fuel vehicles in 1988. The first pure electric car was developed by the company in 1991 (Sonata EV). The automotive manufacturer commenced producing hybrid electric vehicles in 2008. The company has also been involved with hydrogen powered vehicles. In 2018, Hyundai launched the Nexo, a hydrogen powered crossover SUV. The company also launched the first the Xcient Fuel Cell, the world’s first production hydrogen fuel cell truck.

In 2022, the company announced a new production facility in South Korea, with a sole focus on the manufacturer of electric vehicles (EVs). The facility is expected to commence operations in 2025. The company currently has the following battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs):



Electric Cars: The Basics


For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:


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The All-Electric Hyundai Inster SUV


The trend in launching SUVs, in particular, compact all-electric SUVs continues unabated. The all-electric sub-compact Hyundai Inster SUV is an excellent example. Some may prefer categorising this A-Segment electric vehicle (EV) as a hatchback, but Hyundai markets it as a SUV. It is not the first, nor will it be the last automotive manufacturer to adopt such a marketing strategy. For those families keen on a compact SUV family electric car, the other options worth consideration are: Citroën ë-C3, Ford Capri, MG4 EV and the Kia EV3. We at e-zoomed encourage those living in cities and towns to opt for a compact vehicle, instead of a larger vehicle. So many advantages: easy to drive, easy to park, lower cost of lifetime ownership and lower life-cycle emissions.

The genesis of the five-door Inster BEV is from the Hyundai Casper crossover SUV, sold only in South Korea. The petrol-powered Casper was revealed in September 2021. Both the Casper and Inster are targeted at the urban driver i.e. a city cars, with the Inster having a longer wheelbase (2.58m) compared to the Casper (2.40m). The pure electric Hyundai Inster was launched in June 2024 at the Busan International Mobility Show (South Korea). According to the company, the name is derived from ‘intimate’ and ‘innovative’. It certainly seems to be both!

In terms of onboard equipment and technology, the battery-electric city SUV has much to offer. As standard, the BEV incorporates: EV heat pump, keyless entry, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 10.25″ touchscreen, 10.25-inch digital cluster, cruise control and more. Also, as standard are a number of safety features: highway drive assist, lane following assist, rear view monitor, parking sensors (rear), forward collision avoidance assist, manual speed limit assist, intelligent speed limit assist and driver status monitor. The EV is yet to be awarded the Euro NCAP Safety Rating. There is an option for vehicle-to-load (V2L) bi-directional capability, perfect for charging electrical devices on the go. e-zoomed offers a number of V2L EV cables at fantastic prices!

The Inster EV is available in two EV battery sizes: the entry-level 42 kWh (266 V), and the 49 kWh (310 V) long range. However, we are perplexed by this, as the difference in electric range between the two options is marginal. According to Hyundai, the 42 kWh has a 203 miles (WLTP) range, while the 49 kWh has a 229 miles (WLTP) e-range. Adjusting for real-world driving conditions, you can expect the 42 kWh to achieve up to 175 miles on a single charge, and for the 49 kWh expect up to 200 miles. In any case, both options offer more than adequate electric range for most day-to-day driving needs in a city, and also for motorway driving. All variants offer up to 120 kW DC rapid charging as standard, more than sufficient, given the battery sizes for this EV (10%-80%: 30 minutes). At 50 kW DC charging it will take 58 minutes to achieve an 80% charge.

The Inster incorporates as standard a three-phase (11 kW AC) onboard AC charger. For homes and business with access to three-phase power supply, the 42 kWh can be charged from 0%-100% in 4 hours, and for the 49 kWh it will take up to 4 hours 35 minutes for a full charge. Single-phase EV charging will take longer. We at e-zoomed encourage EV owners to install on-site (home or business) solar PV and battery storage. It is a fantastic way to leverage the potential for lower cost of ownership of an electric car, and also achieve ‘well-to-wheel’ zero-tailpipe emissions. We at e-zoomed offer a number of fantastic solar PV and battery storage bundle offers!

The interior uses sustainable materials. An approach that is now commonplace among global automotive manufacturers. The Inster electric incorporates recycled paint, recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from bottles and bio-polypropylene material extracted from sugarcane. The four-seat Inster is the smallest Hyundai electric vehicle. According to the manufacturer, “The INSTER is positioned between traditional A-segment city cars and larger B-segment models’.

The Inster BEV is 3.82m long and 1.57m tall. In comparison, the all-electric compact Kia EV3 is 4.3m long and 1.57m tall. The Inster has a 238 L boot, which can be expanded up to 351 L with the sliding rear seats (the rear seats can be moved forward by 16cm). If the seats are folded flat, the capacity increases to 1,059 L. All seats in the EV can be folded flat, to include the driver’s seat! The second row seats can also be reclined. Despite the sub-compact body, the Inster electric does feel spacious, with ample headroom and legroom. The flat floor and higher SUV roof does the trick! The Inster does not have a frunk. As for the exterior styling, we have mixed feelings. The front is certainly cute, to include the LED daytime running lights, but we are not so fond of the side view. We leave it to you to decide!

All variants are front-wheel drive (FWD), with a single-motor powertrain i.e. the electric motor drives the front wheels. The entry-level Inster (42 kWh) can achieve 0-62 mph in 11.7 seconds (maximum power: 97 ps/ torque: 147 Nm), while the longer range Inster (49 kWh) can achieve 0-62 mph in 7.7 seconds (maximum power: 115 ps/ torque: 147 Nm). The top speed of the electric car is 93 mph. For the driver there is good all-round visibility, to include the rear-view. The manufacturer has plans to offer in due course, the Inster Cross, a more rugged looking variant for outdoor excursions!

The Inster BEV is certainly an affordable electric car. Prices start at £23,495. “Good things come in small packages”, certainly hold true for the all-electric Hyundai Inster. Company car drivers can also take advantage of the lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK-2%) tax rate for pure electric cars. Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet. You can lease electric vehicles (EVs) via e-zoomed at very competitive prices!



PROS CONS
Decent electric range and 11 kW AC onboard charger as standard Exterior styling like Marmite, love it or hate it!
Loads of technology and equipment as standard (heat pump as standard)Only four seats
Value for money/ affordable Small boot/ no frunk

Gallery


The All-Electric Hyundai INSTER SUV (credit: Hyundai)


At A Glance
EV Type:Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
Body Type:SUV
Plug-In Car Grant (PiCG):Not Available
Engine:Electric
Available In UK:Yes

Variants (3 Options)
Hyundai INSTER 01 (from £23,495)
Hyundai INSTER 02 (from £26,745)
Hyundai INSTER Cross (from £N/A)

EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:Lithium-ion Polymer
EV Battery Capacity:Available in two battery sizes: 42 kWh/ 49 kWh
Charging:120 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 30 mins). Onboard AC charger: 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 4 hrs 0 mins/ 4 hrs 35 mins)
Charge Port:Type 2
EV Cable Type: Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:0g (CO2/km)
EV Battery Warranty:8 years or 100,000 miles

Average Cost Of Residential Charging
Battery net capacity : 16.7 kWh £2.40
Battery net capacity : 30.0 kWh£4.32
Battery net capacity : 39.2 kWh£5.64
Battery net capacity : 45.0 kWh£6.48
Battery net capacity : 50.0 kWh£7.20
Battery net capacity : 64.0 kWh£9.22
Battery net capacity : 71.0 kWh£10.22
Battery net capacity : 77.0 kWh£11.09
Battery net capacity : 90.0 kWh£12.96
Battery net capacity : 100.0 kWh£14.40
  • Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in the UK varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for the UK is 14.40 p/kWh.
  • Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.

Charging Times (Overview)
Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW):6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC)
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW):3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging AC (43 kW):0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging DC (50 kW+):0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+):0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW):0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
  • Note 1: SoC: state of charge

Dimensions
Height (mm):1575
Width (mm):1610
Length (mm):3825
Wheelbase (mm):2580
Turning Circle (m):10.6
Boot Capacity (L):238 (up to 351 L with sliding rear seats)
Frunk (L):N/A

Standard range 42 kWh
EV Battery Capacity:42 kWh
Electric Range (WLTP):203 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km):14.3 – 15.3
Charging: 120 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 30 mins). Onboard AC charger: 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 4 hrs 0 mins)
Top Speed:87 mph
0-62 mph:11.7 seconds
Drive: Front-wheel drive (FWD)
Electric Motor (kW):71.1
Max Power (PS):97 
Torque (Nm): 147
Transmission:Automatic
Seats:4
Doors:5
Kerb Weight (kg):1,305 – 1,393
Towing Capacity (Braked/Unbraked)/ (kg):N/A
Colours:9
Euro NCAP Safety Rating:N/A

Long range 49 kWh
EV Battery Capacity:49 kWh
Electric Range (WLTP):229 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km):14.3 – 15.3
Charging: 120 kW DC Rapid Charging (10%-80%: 30 mins). Onboard AC charger: 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 4 hrs 35 mins)
Top Speed:93 mph
0-62 mph:10.6 seconds
Drive: Front-wheel drive (FWD)
Electric Motor (kW):85 
Max Power (PS):115
Torque (Nm): 147
Transmission:Automatic
Seats:4
Doors:5
Kerb Weight (kg):1,335 – 1,423
Towing Capacity (Braked/Unbraked)/ (kg):N/A
Colours:9
Euro NCAP Safety Rating:N/A

While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.


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Author

Ashvin Suri

Ashvin has been involved with the renewables, energy efficiency and infrastructure sectors since 2006. He is passionate about the transition to a low-carbon economy and electric transportation. Ashvin commenced his career in 1994, working with US investment banks in New York. Post his MBA from the London Business School (1996-1998), he continued to work in investment banking at Flemings (London) and JPMorgan (London). His roles included corporate finance advisory, M&A and capital raising. He has been involved across diverse industry sectors, to include engineering, aerospace, oil & gas, airports and automotive across Asia and Europe. In 2010, he co-founded a solar development platform, for large scale ground and roof solar projects to include, the UK, Italy, Germany and France. He has also advised on various renewable energy (wind and solar) utility scale projects working with global institutional investors and independent power producers (IPP’s) in the renewable energy sector. He has also advised in key international markets like India, to include advising large-scale industrial and automotive group in India. Ashvin has also advised Indian Energy, an IPP backed by Guggenheim (a US$ 165 billion fund). He has also advised a US$ 2 billion, Singapore based group. Ashvin has also worked in the real estate and infrastructure sector, to including working with the Matrix Group (a US$ 4 billion property group in the UK) to launch one of the first few institutional real estate funds for the Indian real estate market. The fund was successfully launched with significant institutional support from the UK/ European markets. He has also advised on water infrastructure, to include advising a Swedish clean technology company in the water sector. He has also been involved with a number of early stage ventures.

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