Hyundai Inster EV India - Top 5 Things To Know

The Korean automaker, Hyundai will finally introduce the locally developed Creta EV in the country in January 2025. Production of the Hyundai Creta EV is scheduled to commence in December this year. After the Creta EV, Hyundai will launch a sub-compact electric SUV based on the Inster EV. 

Codenamed HE1i, the new Hyundai Inster EV will also mark the debut of Hyundai's global and affordable E-GMP (K) platform. The new electric SUV will be manufactured at Hyundai's Sriperumbudur factory.

Hyundai Inster EV Design

The Hyundai Inster EV appears identical to the Casper micro SUV on sale in select international markets. The styling is heavily changed to give it an EV-specific look. The rounded front fascia is intact, but it gets a new closed-off front grille, bigger LED round-shaped headlamps, LED DRLs on top and a new lower bumper with a silver bar surround. LED DRLs seem connected, but they are placed inside the glossy black strip that also houses the Hyundai logo.

The side profile gives it a boxy profile, offering a clean surface, flat roofline and squarish glass areas. Squared-off wheel arches and black plastic cladding give it a tough look. The rear profile appears different from that of the Exter and the Casper. It gets a roof-mounted spoiler and LED pixelated tail lights that resemble the ones offered in the Ioniq 5. The Hyundai Inster EV has a big bumper that accommodates a larger skid plate and reverse lights and indicators. 

Hyundai Inster EV Interior

The Hyundai Inster EV comes with a layered dashboard finished in a dual-tone scheme. There is a large 10.25-inch digital instrument console and a 10.25-inch freestanding touchscreen infotainment screen with navigation. The infotainment unit supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. There is a wireless charging dock that can also hold other stuff. The multi-functional steering wheel has a resemblance to bigger Hyundai EVs. 

Hyundai claims that all seats of the Inster EV can be folded flat including the driver's seat for increased flexibility. It also gets a front bench seat option and heated front seats. The 50/50 split second-row seats come with a slide and recline function.

Dimensions - Exter-Size EV

The new Hyundai Inster EV is 3825mm long, 1610mm wide and 1575mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2580mm. The SUV has a boot space of 280 litres, which can be extended up to 351 litres. 

Compared to the Hyundai Casper, the new Inster EV is 230mm longer and 15mm wider. The wheelbase is increased by a good 180mm, which allows Hyundai to create more space inside the cabin. It is almost similar in size to the Hyundai Exter. 

Battery Pack and Range

The Inster EV comes equipped with a 42 kWh battery pack as standard. It also gets a long-range 49 kWh battery as an option. Both models are equipped with front-axle mounted electric motors offering 97PS in the base variant and 115PS in the long-range variant. The peak torque stands at 147Nm for both variants. 

The new Hyundai Inster EV is claimed to offer an electric range of 355km on a single charge. This small EV supports 120 kW DC fast charging, which charges the battery from 10 to 80 percent in around 30 minutes. It comes with an 11 kW on-board charger as standard. The electric SUV also supports Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality. 

India Launch Details

The new Hyundai Inster EV is likely to take another 18-24 months before launching in our market. The Korean automaker will introduce the Creta EV first in 2025, while the subcompact EV will arrive a year later. A possible launch in the second half of 2026 can't be ignored.

Price & Competition

The Hyundai Inster EV will be a direct rival to the Tata Punch EV and the Citroen eC3. We expect the new SUV to cost somewhere around Rs 10 lakh to Rs 14 lakh. The SUV will be locally developed at Hyundai's Sriperumbudur factory and will use the locally produced batteries from Exide. 

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