As we approach the middle of 2025, the affordable EV battleground in Australia now has become hyper-competitive, with new entrants such as the Geely EX5 and MG S5, and price reductions for the BYD ATTO 3 and Dolphin – under $30,000 in the case of the latter.
You might think the Chinese have the cheapest EVs sewn up. Not if Hyundai has anything to say about it. The 2025 Inster has landed as a pint-sized city SUV, with oodles of cutesy charm, an eye-grabbing exterior palate, an innovative interior with clever touches and a level of polish and refinement the brand hopes will elevate it above similarly-priced EVs.
Hyundai Australia hosted Driving Enthusiast to sample the Inster and Inster Cross along the picturesque South Coast along the Grand Pacific Drive, following our initial first drive in Korea last year.
2025 Hyundai Inster: Specifications
Battery: 42kWh or 49kWh
Output: 71.1kW or 84.5kW, 147Nm
Gearbox: Single-speed auto
Drive type: Front-wheel drive
Wheels: 15in-17in
Kerb weight: From 1393kg
Official range: 327km or 360km
Max charging (AC/DC): 11kW/85kW
Starting price: $39,000-$45,000[/lgc_column]
*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different
2025 Hyundai Inster: How much does it cost?
There are three main configurations for the Inster. The $39,000 (MSRP) Standard Range – which has a 42kWh battery, 71.1kW and 147Nm of electric motor output and V2L capability, 327km of WLTP range and 15.6kWh/100km of official consumption (we saw 12.1, which betters the factory claim).
Next up the ladder is the 49kWh Extended Range, which bumps output up to 84.5kW and kerb weight from 1305kg to 1393kg, but adds 17-inch alloys and 360km of range. It lists at $42,500, while the Inster Cross ups the ante to $45,000. The Inster Cross also has 360km of range, but if you opt for the cute roof basket it takes a hit to 293km. In our opinion, this is a worthwhile trade-off because it looks so adventurous and fun with the basket.
2025 Hyundai Inster: Interior & packaging
The interior is a master class in space utilisation and cleverness with integrated hooks in the doors, sliding rear seats that give it size-defying rear accomodation, and a clever cubby hole for your phone (albeit one that could benefit from a cooling feature).
At 3825mm long (plus-20mm for Inster Cross), 1610mm wide and 1575mm tall, the Inster is a very diminutive car with a scant 2500mm wheelbase. You’d be forgiven for thinking accommodation would be a tight squeeze, but the Inster has a few tricks up its sleeve. While it is strictly a four-seater, a sliding second row that can liberate an impressive 958mm of legroom for the rear occupants means it is surprisingly practical.
Furthermore, a Citroen Cactus-style ‘bench’ seat incorporates moulded cupholders and an arm rest and allows a ‘walk through’ style front cabin so you can shift across to the passenger side when parking spots are tight.
Trim choices are vibrant and funky with recycled PET materials and even a houndstooth cloth pattern in the Extended Range – evocative of 1970s Porsches. Hyundai calls this combination Khaki Brown and Newtro Beige. Three other combinations are available.
Externally, the cute, robotic styling is matched by an attention-grabbing colour palate. We particularly like Buttercream Yellow and the matte choices of Dusk Blue, Aero Silver and Amazonas Green.
Further enhancing the cute-but-tough aesthetic, the InsterCross adds front and rear skid plates, body cladding, roof rails and blocky, off-road style 17-inch alloy wheels. Other inclusions are privacy glass, heated and vented seats, heated tiller, 360-degree camera, 50:50 front folding seats – to put an inflatable mattress on top of – and the option of either a panoramic sunroof or a cute roof basket, with a two-tone roof.
2025 Hyundai Inster: Powertrain & handling
During the drive, we noted the step-off shove as plentiful for jolting out of intersections and traffic gaps, which is the raison d’etre of a car like this. While acceleration is sufficient for cruising, it definitely tapers off in the upper regions.
A lot of work has been done with regards to NVH, with double door sealing, reinforced floor members and a fully covered underbody. We couldn’t believe how quiet and insulated the car felt for something of this size. Additionally, the extra weight of the battery pack imbued it with a level of ride compliance very rarely experienced in this segment of car.
Turn-in is always very eager, with a quick-ratio steering system making the car feel nippy but the trade-off is a slightly worse-than-expected turning circle (10.6m).
Handling is sure-footed and predictable, thanks to Hyundai Australia’s talented chassis engineers but corner-carving is not what this car is set up for. Attempts to provoke lift-off oversteer are met with a shrug of indifference, quickly regaining its composure. Heavy steering feel gives this a large touring car feel but it’s a pleasant and well-mannered car for something so short.
While it hasn’t been tested by ANCAP, it’d be foolhardy to bet against the Inster achieving a full five stars, considering the level of safety features. These include seven airbags (a front-centre airbag prevents head collisions) and well-tuned ADAS suite albeit with some features that you need to defeat upon restarting.
2025 Hyundai Inster: First impressions
So what are the Inster’s chances of success given China’s bigger, soap blob EVs can be had for similar, or, in some cases, less coin? Someone who values a characterful design and drive and the degree of individuality afforded by the colour and interior palates. Many will value the small dimensions, which make for a more fun commute where seizing gaps can shave minutes off your drive to work.
It might not have the space or size of some of its chief rivals, but Inster’s combination of excellent refinement, pleasant driving dynamics and truckloads of character will see it win many friends who yearn for more than cheap, functional transport. In fact, we could see a bit of conquest from Fiat 500e and MINI Cooper SE customers, such is its joyfulness and mature execution.
