Hyundai Motor UK has confirmed pricing and specifications for the new Inster sub-compact electric SUV, which significantly undercuts entry point of the petrol-powered Kona.
Priced from £23,495 (A$45,057) in the UK, the entry-level Inster Standard Range (42kWh) is nearly £3000 (A$5753) more affordable than the cheapest Kona in the region, which unlike Australia is powered by a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine teamed with a six-speed manual transmission.
While the direct conversion to Australian dollars still makes the Inster seem quite steep in the scheme of things, it’s more an indication of how the Inster is being positioned within Hyundai’s lineup.
For reference, the cheapest Kona variant in Australia, powered by a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) as standard, is $32,500 before on-road costs.
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The Inster Standard Range is powered by a 71.1kW/147Nm electric motor on the front axle hooked up to a 42kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery, good for a 0-100km/h time of 11.7 seconds and a WLTP driving range claim of 327 kilometres.
Meanwhile, the Long Range ups battery capacity to 49kWh and gets a more powerful 85.5kW/147Nm electric motor on the front axle, cutting 0-100km/h to 10.6 seconds and upping range to 360-370km (WLTP) depending on the alloy wheel specification.
Regardless of trim, the Inster can be AC charged at up to 11kW or DC fast-charged at 120kW, charger and conditions permitting.
In the UK the Inster offers both Standard Range (42kWh) and Extended Range (49kWh) in ’01’ and ’02’ trim levels. The more rugged Cross variant – which hasn’t been revealed, but has been confirmed for Australia – isn’t mentioned in the British specification breakdown.
Buyers of the base specification in the UK can option the Long Range battery for £1550 (A$2970), while the 02 version is exclusively available with the 49kWh battery pack and is priced from £26,745 (A$51,269).
Standard equipment on the Inster 01 includes:
- 15-inch alloy wheels
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Satellite navigation
- Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Bluelink connected services
- Over-the-air (OTA) updates
- Rear parking sensors
- Reversing camera
- Adaptive cruise control incl. stop/go
- Automatic headlights
- Proximity entry with push-button start
- Climate control
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Side mirrors – power adjust, heated
Inster 02 adds:
- 49kWh Extended Range battery as standard
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Front parking sensors
- Projector LED headlights
- LED rear lights
- Privacy glass
- Roof rails
- LED multifunction steering wheel lights
- 64-colour ambient lighting
- Flat-fold seats
- Sliding rear seats
- Heated front seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Wireless smartphone charger
Measuring 3825mm long, 1610mm wide and 1575mm high while riding on a 2580mm wheelbase, the Inster is 215mm shorter between the bumpers, 160mm narrower and sits 17mm lower than a Hyundai Venue – despite its wheelbase being 60mm longer.
Recent government approval documents show Hyundai has got the nod to launch the Inster in both Standard and Long Range guise, as well as the Cross variant which has yet to be revealed.
Compared to the standard Inster, the Inster Cross is expected to be more rugged with chunkier bumpers and a slight suspension lift, in addition to different wheels and trim. Hyundai Australia has previously said it’ll arrive later than the standard model.
Australian pricing is yet to be announced, but the UK market positioning points to a potential sub-$35,000 starting point in Australia, given the base petrol Kona is $32,500 and the cheapest Kona Hybrid is $36,500 – all before on-road costs.
That would make the Hyundai Inster one of the cheapest new electric vehicles (EVs) on sale in Australia, though Chinese brands MG and GWM have recently slashed entry prices of their larger MG 4 and Ora electric hatchbacks to $30,990 drive-away and $35,990 drive-away respectively.
Back in July, Hyundai’s Australian team hinted at a sharp entry point for the brand’s new entry-level EV.
“It’s going to come in at a very attractive price point for customers who are looking for a BEV but perhaps have [been] traditionally dissuaded by the typically higher purchase price of BEVs,” Sam Dabestani, product planning manager for Hyundai Australia, told CarExpert.
“We think coming in at a more appealing price point is certainly going to bring a lot of customers into the BEV fold. [The Inster] has very appealing styling, which has attracted a lot of positive comments particularly from a younger demographic.”
Hyundai Australia’s senior manager for public relations, Guido Schenken, also confirmed both battery variants will be available at launch, likely in two trim levels, which aligns with the government filing mentioned earlier.
Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest, and tell us in the comments if you’d be looking at the Inster if it arrives from around $35,000 in Australia.
