2025 Hyundai Inster electric city hatch revealed, Australia confirmed

The 2025 Hyundai Inster micro electric car has been unveiled at the Busan motor show in South Korea ahead of its Australian launch.

Based on the internal-combustion Casper hatch revealed in 2021, the Inster – meaning “intimate” and “innovative” – is intended to rival European electric A-segment cars like the Fiat 500e and Dacia Spring, as well as China’s BYD Dolphin Mini/Seagull.

It is due in Australia at the start of 2025 with a pricing target "below" 25,000 euros (around AU$40,000 before on-road costs), similar to larger electric hatches from China, like the GWM Ora ($35,990 drive-away), BYD Dolphin ($36,890 before on-road costs) and MG4 ($39,990 drive-away).

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The most-affordable Hyundai electric car currently sold in Australia is the Kona Electric small SUV, which starts from $54,000 before on-road costs. Hyundai says it developed the Inster because people want more-affordable EVs.

Compared to the petrol Casper, the Inster – which will be known as the Casper Electric in its Korean home market – has a 180-millimetre longer wheelbase at 2580mm, closer to vehicles in the B-segment like the Toyota Yaris and Mazda 2.

The Inster and its Casper twin are based on the same combustion-first ‘K1’ platform as the Kia Picanto, rather than the dedicated electric vehicle platforms found in Hyundai’s Ioniq-badged line-up.

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A crossover-styled version of the Inster, the 'Inster Cross', is due in 2025. Hyundai will not offer an internal-combustion version, with the related Casper to remain exclusive to Korea (it also offers the i10 in Europe, but the i20 N is the smallest petrol Hyundai hatch available in Australia).

Under the skin, the standard-range Inster will offer a 42kWh nickel-cobalt-magnesium (NCM) lithium-ion battery and a front-mounted 71kW/147Nm electric motor, with an 11.7-second 0-100km/h time and a 140km/h top speed. It has a projected 300-kilometre driving range on the WLTP test cycle.

Flagship versions will receive a slightly larger 49kWh NCM lithium-ion battery pack and a more-powerful 84.5kW electric motor, with a WLTP-rated 355-kilometre driving range. It can reach 100km/h in 10.6 seconds.

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All models are based on a 400-volt electrical architecture – compared to the more-advanced 800-volt technology available in the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 – and support external and internal vehicle-to-load functionality.

It supports DC fast-charging at speeds of up to 120kW, allowing for a 10 to 80 per cent top-up in around 30 minutes.

The exterior of the Inster is similar to the Casper, but it adds Hyundai’s parametric pixel design language, circular LED headlights, a front charge port, active air flaps, and unique alloy wheels.

Inside, the four-seat Inster features a steering wheel with four LED pixels, a column-mounted gear shifter to allow for a walk-through front row, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch infotainment system, a sunroof, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, cloth upholstery with black or beige/khaki brown options and 64-colour configurable ambient lighting.

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It is not fitted with Hyundai’s latest CCNC infotainment system, which has an improved user interface and supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in cars with built-in satellite navigation.

Active safety equipment includes autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit assist, adaptive cruise control, driver attention warning, high-beam assist and leading vehicle departure alert.

It also sports Hyundai’s semi-autonomous Highway Driving Assist 1.5 feature, along with intelligent speed limit assist which becomes mandatory for all vehicles sold in Europe from July 1, 2024.

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Despite its compact size at 3825mm in length – 230mm more than the Casper – the Inster offers a 280-litre boot, expanding to 351L with the rear seats in their forwardmost position. All seats, including the driver’s seat, can fold flat for added practicality.

The 2025 Hyundai Inster is due in Australia early next year with local details – including pricing and features – to be confirmed closer to its launch.

Mini match-up: Hyundai Inster vs Fiat 500e vs MG4 vs BYD Dolphin vs GWM Ora