Hyundai’s Itty-Bitty INSTER EV Revealed, Priced for Australia

• Hyundai’s first all-electric light SUV hits Australian roads
• Starting from AUD$39,000 plus on-roads, it comes with advanced tech as standard
• Combines futuristic design with smart, city-friendly packaging
• Available in Standard, Extended, and Cross variants with up to 360km WLTP range

Like the Honda City (AA) from the 1980s, there’s finally an electric vehicle for the people with the release of Hyundai’s itty-bitty city EV called the INSTER.

Firstly, love the name Hyundai. Secondly, as we were writing this article, the INSTER was honoured with the title of 2025 World Electric Vehicle at the World Car Awards, judged by a jury of 96 automotive journalists from 30 countries, so clearly it’s a small car to be taken very seriously.

“All-new INSTER distils the progressive style and advanced technology of the award-winning Hyundai EV range into a striking compact SUV, which we’re excited to add to our local line-up,” said Hyundai Motor Company Australia Chief Executive Officer, Don Romano. “INSTER presents a compelling package for customers seeking an attainable, feature-packed compact electric vehicle, making it a versatile choice for city commuters and those looking to explore beyond urban limits.”

How Much is the Hyundai INSTER?

• INSTER Standard Range: from AUD$39,000 plus on-road costs
• INSTER Extended Range: from AUD$42,500 plus on-road costs
• INSTER Cross: from $45,000 plus on-road costs

The Hyundai INSTER is priced from AUD$39,000 plus on-road costs for the entry-level INSTER Standard Range with 71.1 kW of power and a 42 kWh battery with up to 327km WLTP of range. You can then step up to the INSTER Extended Range that comes with 84.5 kW of power and a larger 49 kWh battery with up to 360km WLTP of range.

The INSTER Cross is the model that excites us the most. While its adventure capabilities will be limited by the front-wheel-drive architecture, it looks epic and comes with a ton of standard kit, including roof rails, skid plates, rugged bumpers, black accents, cladding, and 17-inch wheels. Even the rear seats fold flat for storage, and there’s ambient lighting, and heated/ventilated front seats.

You have a choice of six all-new colours for your INSTER, including:

• Atlas White, Urban Khaki and Natural Ivory – Solid
• Abyss Black and Buttercream Yellow – Mica
• Sienna Orange – Metallic (AUD$595)
• Dusk Blue, Aero Silver and Amazonas Green – Metallic Matte (AUD$1,000)

While its the first truly micro electric vehicle that we’ve seen in Australia, the rather steep price does mean that that Hyundai INSTER competes with the following vehicles:

• BYD Dolphin: from $38,890 drive-away
• MG4 Electric: from $39,990 drive-away
• GWM Ora: from $39,990 plus on-road costs

What Powers the Hyundai INSTER?

• INSTER Standard Range: 71.1 kW, 42 kWh battery, 327km WLTP range
• INSTER Extended Range: 84.5 kW, 49 kWh battery, 360km WLTP range

While the option of an INSTER Cross (based on the Extended Range) might have you thinking this is some adventure-ready all-terrain vehicle, it’s not. This is a city car designed to take you from point to point in comfort with minimal impact on the environment, and this is dictated by a small battery and low overall range figure compared to many larger electric vehicles.

The battery is comparatively small at 42 kWh for the Standard Range and 49 kWh for the Extended Range variant. The larger battery gives the INSTER a range of up to 360km WLTP, and the smaller offers 327km WLTP of range. Our experience says you can subtract around 100km of range to get a real-world figure. As such, you won’t be travelling very far in the INSTER.

Maximum DC charging is supplied at 120 kW, and this will charge the INSTER from 10-80% in 30 minutes, which is fine, but not great considering the battery is about half the size of a conventional EV.

Power is sent to the front wheels only in both models. The Extended Range offers 84.5 kW of power and the Standard Range supplies a whopping 71.1 kW. Don’t expect the INSTER to be any sort of speed demon, but it should be enough to allow overtakes in the city because of the instantaneous power and torque. Top speed is limited to 40km/h (Standard Range), 150km/h (Extended Range/Cross), and we’re not sure we’d want to go any faster than that in something this small anyway.

What’s the Inside of the Hyundai INSTER Like?

• Dual 10.25-inch digital cluster and infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Bench-style front seats and sliding, reclining rear seats
• INSTER Cross: full flat-folding seats for cargo flexibility
• Pixel steering wheel lights show drive mode and charging
• Cloth and bio-artificial leather trims with recycled materials

The inside of the INSTER is typical of newer Hyundai models with dual 10.25-inch screens. One digital cluster displaying speed and driver assistance features, while the other is an infotainment touchscreen that houses Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Wireless charging and multiple USB-C/A ports are standard across the range.

Seating is comprised of a bench seat up front (yes, a bench seat) and that’s joined by a compact centre console below the touchscreen, and flexible sliding and reclining 50:50 split-folding rear seats that let rear passengers forgo boot space for leg-room. Seats are covered in cloth made from recycled PET in the INSTER Standard Range and Extended Range (Khaki Brown/Newtro Beige). However, you can opt for a bio-plastic leather in INSTER Cross in a choice of Obsidian Black or Dark Grey/Amazonas Khaki.

Here are the dimensions for the interior of the Hyundai INSTER:

• Exterior dimensions:
  • Length: 3,825mm
  • Wheelbase: 2,580mm
  • Width: 1,610mm
    Height: 1,575mm
• Interior headroom:
  • Front: 1,028mm (Sunroof: 987mm)
  • Rear: 982mm
• Interior leg room:
  • Front: 1,050mm
  • Rear: 885mm
• Luggage space (VDA):
  • 280 litres (up to 351 litres with sliding rear seats)

The INSTER is also a connected car, meaning Hyundai Bluelink comes as standard with a 5-year complimentary subscription. This gives you over-the-air (OTA) updates for maps and navigation, remote vehicle control and status via app, voice commands, geo-fencing, valet and speed alerts.

How Safe is the Hyundai INSTER?

The Hyundai INSTER is yet to be crash-tested by Euro NCAP or Australian ANCAP, but it does come with a host of safety features as standard.

Every model in the Hyundai INSTER line-up comes with the following safety features as standard:

• Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA 1.5): Detects vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians, junctions
• Driver Attention Warning (DAW): Monitors signs of fatigue or distraction, alerts driver if detected
• Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA): Recognises road signs, alerts driver to changing speed limits
• Lane Keeping Assist & Lane Following Assist: Helps keep vehicle centred and alerts if drifting
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance (RCCA): Warns and brakes if reversing into crossing traffic
• High Beam Assist (HBA): Auto-adjusts headlights to avoid dazzling other drivers
• In-Cabin Camera (ICC): Monitors driver’s eyes for signs of drowsiness or inattention
• Manual Speed Limit Assist (MSLA): Lets driver preset a speed limit manually
• Rear Occupant Alert (ROA): Reminds driver if child or pet remains inside after parking
• Safe Exit Warning (SEW): Alerts if it’s unsafe to open doors due to rear traffic
• Highway Driving Assist (HDA): Maintains speed, distance, and lane position on highways
• Navigation-Based Smart Cruise Control – Curve (NSCC-C): Adjusts speed based on curvature

The top of the range INSTER Cross then adds the following safety features:

• Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM): Displays side camera feed in digital cluster during lane changes
• Surround View Monitor (SVM): 360-degree camera views for easy parking and maneuvering
• Reverse Parking Collision Avoidance (PCA-R): Brakes if pedestrian/object detected
• Parking Distance Warning – Front (PDW-F): Alerts to front obstacles during low-speed driving

When Can You Buy the Hyundai INSTER?

The Hyundai INSTER is now available for purchase in Australia, priced from AUD$39,000 plus on-road costs. It comes with Hyundai’s 5 Year/Unlimited km vehicle warranty and 8 Year/160,000km high-voltage battery warranty.