Is this an EV game-changer?

Meet the car designed for the TikTok generation

It’s called the Hyundai Inster (or INSTER, if you’re from Hyundai’s marketing department and you don’t care about syntax) and it may be about to change the electric vehicle landscape in Australia. That’s because it could be the most affordable EV on the market, or at the very least the cheapest option from an established brand in our market. That will pit the Inster against the newcomers from China, such as the MG4, GWM Ora and BYD Dolphin.

Revealed at the Busan International Mobility Show in South Korea, the Inster is a sub-compact SUV based on Hyundai’s petrol-only Casper model offered in overseas markets. While the Casper has been ruled out for Australia, Hyundai will offer the Inster locally; likely sometime in 2025.

To appeal to younger buyers on more than just price, Hyundai is offering an extensive array of customisable elements of the car, such as two-tone paint jobs, multiple wheel designs and interior trim options.

“With Inster, we’ve taken the small SUV image to a bold new place for the global audience,” explained Simon Loasby, head of the Hyundai Design Centre. “Inster punches well above its weight with distinctive design and an interior that maximizes its potential in exciting, customer-centric ways.”

While we don’t have local details yet, Hyundai’s European executives have indicated that they are targeting a sub-€25,000 price tag, which is on par for the existing i20 hatchback. That suggests a price range below $40,000 in Australia and possibly around the $35,000 mark.

Powered by Hyundai’s 400-volt electrical architecture, not the 800V system used in the Ioniq 5 and 6 models, the Inster is powered by an 71kW/147Nm electric motor and has a driving range of approximately 300km with the standard battery. A long-range model gets more power, 84kW, and can drive up to 355km. It comes equipped with vehicle-to-load functionality, so you can draw power from the battery to charge electronic equipment such as e-bikes.

While a sporty N version has been ruled out, a more rugged crossover variant is likely to be added in the near-future to expand the Inster’s appeal.