2025 Hyundai Inster price and specs: Sub-$40k entry for baby EV

The Hyundai Inster is now on sale in Australia ahead of first local deliveries later this month, and it has been priced from just under $40,000 before on-road costs.

That makes the pint-size electric city ‘SUV’ the Korean brand’s smallest and cheapest electric vehicle (EV) – though it’s still around $9000 pricier than the cheapest BYD Dolphin.

The cut-price Chinese hatchback can also seat one extra person than the Inster, which is strictly a four-seater.

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However, the Inster is a whopping $15,000 less than the most affordable Hyundai Kona Electric small SUV.

Hyundai is calling it Australia’s first electric light SUV, though technically the Jeep Avenger has already earned that title (the Mini Aceman is officially classed as a light electric hatch despite its crossover pretentions).

The baby EV is being offered with a choice of two batteries and in either regular or more rugged-looking Cross guise, the latter available with either a sunroof or a roof basket at the same price.

The Inster Cross brings unique cladding and bumpers plus skid plates and roof racks. There’s also more standard equipment inside the cabin, which is detailed further below.

Pricing

Available in three variants, the Inter is now Hyundai’s smallest and most affordable EV.

Drivetrains and Efficiency

Electric range is naturally highest with the larger battery, though the variant with the worst range also features this battery and a roof basket.

Hyundai says it takes 30 minutes to charge the Inster from 10 to 80 per cent using a 120kW DC fast-charger.

The Inster’s battery can be used to power appliances, as the EV has vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability.

The paddle shifters can be used to adjust the level of regenerative braking.

Dimensions

At just over 3.8 metres long overall, the Inster is 250mm shorter than Hyundai’s own i20 N, but is strictly a four-seater.

Servicing and Warranty

The Hyundai Inster is backed by Hyundai Australia’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty plus an eight-year, 160,000km high-voltage battery warranty.

Service pricing has yet to be announced.

Safety

The Hyundai Inster has yet to be tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Autonomous emergency braking
  • Pedestrian, cyclist and motorcycle detection
  • Junction assist
• Navigation-based adaptive cruise control
• Blind-spot assist
• Driver attention monitoring
• Highway Driving Assist (adaptive cruise + lane centring)
• Lane Following Assist (lane centring)
• Lane-keep assist
• Intelligent Speed Limit Assist
• Rear occupant alert
• Rear cross-traffic assist
• Safe exit warning
• Traffic sign recognition
• Reversing camera
• Rear parking sensors

The Inster Cross also receives:

• Blind-Spot View Monitor (camera view of blind spots)
• Front parking sensors
• Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist – Reverse
• Surround-view camera with 3D view

Standard Equipment

There are three variants in the Inster lineup.

The Standard Range comes standard with:

• 15-inch alloy wheels
• Tyre repair kit
• LED headlights
• Automatic high-beam
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Proximity entry with push-button start
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Satellite navigation with over-the-air updates
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Wireless phone charger
• 2 x USB-C outlets
• 1 x USB-A outlet
• Cloth upholstery (made with recycled PET)
• Sliding and reclining rear seats
• 50:50 split/fold rear seats
• Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Steering wheel lights that display charging status, drive mode
• LED interior lighting
• Single-zone climate control
• Heat pump

The Extended Range adds:

• 17-inch alloy wheels

The Inster Cross adds:

• Exterior cladding
• Roof rails
• Choice of sunroof or roof basket
• Rear privacy glass
• Leatherette upholstery
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Electrochromatic rear-view mirror
• 64-colour ambient lighting
• ‘Smart temperature comfort control system’

The Cross also features the ability for all four seats to be folded flat.

All Inster models come with a complimentary five-year Bluelink subscription, which includes:

• Automatic collision notification
• Emergency call (SOS) function
• Live traffic and weather information
• Voice assistant
• Remote control of climate and vehicle functions
• Remote vehicle tracking

Options

The Inster Cross can be had with either a sunroof or a roof basket, with the vehicle’s price remaining the same – $45,000 before on-roads – either way.

Colours

Hyundai says the Inster’s “eco-friendly high-gloss recycled paint” was made from recycled waste tyres.

Metallic and mica exterior paint finishes cost an extra $595, while matte finishes are $1000.

The following exterior finishes are available on the Inster:

• Atlas White solid
• Urban Khaki solid
• Natural Ivory solid
• Abyss Black mica
• Buttercream Yellow mica
• Sienna Orange metallic
• Dusk Blue matte
• Aero Silver matte
• Amazonas Green matte

The Inster Cross is available in the following finishes, all two-tone:

• Atlas White solid with Abyss Black roof
• Urban Khaki solid with Abyss Black roof
• Amazonas Green matte with Abyss Black roof
• Aero Silver matte with Abyss Black roof

The Inster Standard Range has an Obsidian Black interior, while the Extended Range additionally offers a Khaki Brown and Newtro Beige colourway.

The Inster Cross’ interior is offered either in Obsidian Black or in Dark Grey and Amazonas Khaki.

MORE: Everything Hyundai Inster