Hyundai Inster - Ireland's best affordable electric car?

For quite some time now, we’ve been speculating as to which car company would be the first to deliver an EV priced at below €25,000 with a decent range, and capable of moderating prices in an increasingly expensive electric car market.

Dacia’s Spring, now Ireland’s cheapest EV with a price tag of just €16,990, had been well flagged but I don’t think many suspected that Hyundai was waiting, like a Greek chorus in the wings, to launch a car that would surprise us as much as it has.

I think the arrival of Hyundai’s Inster has taken many in the Irish motor industry by surprise and unnerved them at the same time; the car is selling at £23,500 in the UK and around €24,000 in Germany, so Hyundai Ireland seems to have pulled off quite a price coup.

While the Spring remains the cheapest option, Hyundai has launched its Inster as the second cheapest EV on the market and at an unexpectedly low price of €18,995. What was even more unexpected was that the Inster, with its odd name and slightly idiosyncratic design, would represent a package that is immediately superior to the Spring with such a narrow price gap.

Despite the fact that the Inster resembles a Suzuki Ignis in its boxy styling, its wheelbase is in fact just 8cm shorter than a bigger Hyundai Kona and has more head room in the front and rear. What Hyundai has managed to achieve in terms of interior space and comfort is very impressive.

What is equally impressive is that the interior design and finish are of more than acceptable quality. The secret here is that the interior of the car is a scaled-down version of the much bigger Hyundai models, such as the Ioniq 6, with two excellent 10.5" instrument and infotainment screens.

I’m a tall driver and the space and comfort were both surprising. I also liked that scaled down interior, which gives a much bigger car experience.

There are two versions of the car - the entry-level Signature, with a 42 kWh battery and a claimed range of 327km’s and the Elegance which has a 49 kWh battery and a claimed range of 360km’s, which costs €21,995. Fast charging on both can be achieved from 10 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes, according to Hyundai.

The usual caveats apply to claimed ranges and everyday driving but, in fairness, both Hyundai and Kia have a good reputation for delivering quite accurate claimed ranges - among the best in the industry, in fact.

I’ve only had a brief drive in the Elegance version but, apart from the battery size, the only main distinguishing features with this version are that it gets things like a heat pump, which helps consumption in colder weather, a rear sliding bench, 17" alloy wheels, high pixel LED lights front and rear and roof rails.

The entry-level Signature has things like 15" alloy wheels, heated seats and steering wheel, an automatic parking brake and electric folding wing mirrors. Both versions have a good suite of safety equipment as standard, making the price of both as competitive as it gets right now. Apart from the Spring, other near competitors are cars like the Fiat 500 e, which costs €24,995 and the Citroen EC 3, which costs €23,400.

Hyundai also has another good card up its sleeve, an Ace perhaps. It points out that its warranty outstrips the competition - it has unlimited mileage and a five year duration, with an eight year battery guarantee. The Spring, for example, has a three year, 100,000km warranty.

It was, admittedly, a short experience with the Inster but I’ve been around new cars long enough to recognise something unique when I see it, and right now the Inster is very unique on the Irish market. Its pricing and cleverness alone make it a very welcome arrival.

I’m looking forward to a longer drive in it and I’m happy to stand corrected if the car doesn’t prove itself to be the best affordable EV available for some time to come.

- Words by Donal Byrne, video by Leah Carroll.