New Hyundai Inster: a fun electric city car starting at 25,000 euros

This small urban SUV arrives at just the right time! The European automotive industry is mired in an unprecedented structural crisis, caused by a painful, forced shift to all-electric. With the 2035 deadline as the final straw. Not everyone will emerge unscathed. Hyundai's foresight and virtuous strategic path are paying off. The Korean company is demonstrating that producing a fun , all-purpose electric city car, starting at €25,000, is no big deal. Citroën, with its ë-C3, is following suit. But the French car isn't as rich in qualities.

The Inster is a welcome breath of fresh air! A mix between the Suzuki Ignis and the Jimny. More original and modern, this mini-SUV is so in every way: an adventurer look, with hypertrophied fenders of a weightlifter on steroids. Large glass surfaces to accentuate the impression of space and facilitate visibility. Pixelated LED indicators coexist on the front end with large round headlights. The worlds of gaming and manga intermingle playfully. And to offer an interior space unmatched in this segment – ​​and even that of compacts – the wheels are pushed to the ends. This results in a record wheelbase of 2.58m for a length of only 3.82m!

300km range

To play the tough guy, our test model donned his "Tomboy Khaki" military fatigues... which turn goose poop depending on the light. We much prefer the "Dusk Blue Matte". Chic and understated, it highlights the curves of this rolling toy. Which doesn't lose its practical aspects. On the contrary! Ambient lighting (64 colors to choose from) warmly invites you aboard. The wide rear doors open almost 90° to facilitate access to the bench seat: divided into two separate seats, reclining and sliding independently over 16cm on our Cross version (unfortunately not eligible for the eco bonus, unlike the 5-seater version).

The seats, too firm, are adorned with a houndstooth "Pepita" pattern (like on a Porsche 911!), Once folded down, just like the front passenger backrest, the carrying is quite crazy: you can take a paddle, a bike, flat-pack furniture... The light-colored plastics, hard but well assembled, are omnipresent. Those familiar with the brand will recognize the tried and tested instrumentation of the Ioniq 5 and 6 or Tucson.

Just like the driving aids, numerous and very audible, but disconnectable with a single press of the steering wheel. The latter hides paddles to adjust the level of energy recovery during braking and even an "i-pedal" mode. The other very good surprise of this Inster lies in its road holding, very reassuring outside of built-up areas, aided by well-balanced damping to digest the road bumps. The performance, without being stunning, will be more than sufficient for everyday use. As will its real autonomy of 300km. It's a shame that the steering, in "Sport" mode, lacks consistency. Finally, the turning radius, although correct, is a little disappointing for such a city chip.