Not only is the city car segment limited (Fiat Pandina, Kia Picanto, Toyota Aygo However, since the summer, Hyundai has kept the suspense alive with its new Inster, an all-electric mini measuring almost 3.83 (3.825m exactly) with a distinctive look but above all smart as the minivans of yesteryear could be.
Some may want to wait for the future electric Twingo that Renault promises for 2026. But at L’AM, we have already taken the wheel of this “made in Korea” chip, therefore deprived of ecological bonus in France, but which is as clever as the original Renault Twingo from 1992 could be. And we are not disappointed! Enough to confirm that this Hyundai Inster, priced from €25,000 (97 hp engine/42 kWh battery) is a serious threat to the Fiat 500e (3.63 m) and Citroën ë-C3 (4.01 m), but also to the latest Renault in vogue, the R5 (3.92m). But in all cases, the Hyundai mini offers much greater modularity and will even compete in habitability with the “large” Citroën ë-C3 whose prices are tight. (from €23,300 excluding bonus). The fact remains that with a wheelbase of 2.58 m, the Hyundai Inster literally outdistances the Fiat (2.32 m) whose career remains chaotic while doing better than the ë-C3 and R5 electric (wheelbase at 2.54 m) .
The ideal everyday tool
The result is an unexpected ease in this Inster which we imagine to be easy to park but not necessarily very welcoming. However, we are there both at the front and at the back. Because Hyundai takes care of the occupants of the second row by rewarding them with a bench seat that slides 16 cm, allowing even the tallest to install their legs, especially since it is easy to slide your feet under the front seats. And with 1.61 m height, no worries about headroom. A measurement which also corresponds to the width of this Inster which will therefore not be difficult to fit into narrow parking lots.
Obviously, the trunk is not giant but it helps out well on a daily basis, varying, depending on the position of the rear seats, from 238 to 351 dm3 according to the manufacturer. A volume to be compared to the 185 dm3 or 277 dm3 claimed by the Fiat 500e and Renault 5 respectively or the 310 dm3 announced by the ë-C3. However, the modularity of this Citroën C3 remains basic, while conversely, Hyundai has taken up all the good ideas that have long made minivans successful (Renault Scénic, Citroën C4 Picasso, etc.) but all this in less than four meters. You have to go back to the Fiat Multipla from 1998 which offered 6 seats in just 3.99 m to find this resourceful.
This Hyundai Inster therefore provides plenty of storage, tips of all kinds but also four folding backrests. Certainly, it is classic for the rear seats, while the two-part backrest of the bench seat of this 4-seater – the only configuration available for the moment – disappears as needed. What is less common is also being able to lower the back of the passenger seat forward, typically to load a bed base kit or a high shelf to assemble. Finally, much rarer, the driver’s side backrest also folds down to free up maximum interior space. We then find ourselves with a sort of hut on 4-wheels which evokes a pocket van, and with the reinforcement of hiking mattresses, we can even improvise a little nap. But be careful, this astonishing flexibility comes at a cost since it is only offered from the Intuitive finish, priced €1,500 more than the base version (Inster finish).
Average autonomy
But the financial effort should be considered because this Hyundai Inster is also a good surprise when driving. This is the 97 hp and 42 kWh battery (lithium-Ion) version that we are testing here. Knowing that the torque value -147 Nm- is the same as on the other version of the Inster announcing 115 hp and whose 49 kWh battery claims around fifty kilometers more autonomy (360 km under WLTP cycle). But when starting up, with 100% charge, the range indicator of our Inster 42 kWh announces a range of 211 to 392 km, a forecast which changes depending on the way you drive and the temperature. But in terms of WLTP approval measures, this Inster 42 kWh is given for 327 km. Which is not nothing for a flea cut out for the city. And besides, this Inster quickly shows itself in its element on the country roads that we took, while it claims 0 to 100 km in 11.7 seconds compared to 11.6 seconds for a Citroën ë-C3 42 kWh ) more powerful (113 hp) but heavier (1472 kg measured by us).
ADAS still not at the top
In addition, the filtration of bitumen defects on board the Inster is satisfactory even if the large wheels of our test model (205/45 R 17) bring more percussion than the 15-inch wheels supplied should transmit. in series. At 80 km/h on grainy bitumen, the soundproofing is quite good. However, air noise and a resonance coming from the rear are heard, after 120 km/h on the highway, reminding us that we are at the wheel of a 3.83 m mini! So nothing prohibitive especially since this 100% electric Hyundai is not excessively heavy (1,380 kg). In addition, the low center of gravity contributes to very healthy behavior with just, in a still wet roundabout, a discreet intervention of the anti-skid during a slight start of understeer. But this Inster will not worry its driver, while remaining responsive. It’s a shame that the ADAS driving aids, as is often the case with Hyundai, are not more relevant to use.without forgetting alarm sounds (overspeed, sign detection, keeping in line, etc.) which are quickly annoying.
Well equipped
But this Inster is forgiven with good standard equipment: 10.25-inch driver’s panel, central touch screen of the same size for infotainment, dual-zone automatic climate control, CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, rear parking radar and camera reversing, hands-free access, etc. Also note an 11 kW on-board charger for this Inster compared to 7 kW for the Citroën ë-C3 or even modular regenerative braking via a paddle on the steering wheel… As we have seen, you have to upgrade to the Intuitive finish, priced “just” €1,500 more to access all the tricks of this Hyundai (sliding rear seats, folding front seat backs, adjustable boot floor, etc.). But the only big frustration comes from the attractive interior called Neo-retro of our test version which is reserved, in France, for the Creative finish, the most expensive. Just like the heat pump option favorable to autonomy (winter pack at €990). It is true that this Hyundai Inster Creative is better equipped than some large ones (360° camera, heated seats and steering wheel, sunroof, etc.) but it involves the 49 kWh battery and superfluous 17-inch rims with more expensive tires. replacement time. But for the rest, this Hyundai Inster shows more versatility and mischief than its rivals!
