Hyundai Inster: this small electric SUV is about to become even more accessible thanks to the ecological bonus
The range of accessible electric cars is finally increasing. In addition to the Dacia Spring, customers can now consider purchasing a Citroën ë-C3of a Renault 5 E-Techof a Leapmotor T03 or even a Hyundai Inster. This small SUV, only 3.83 m long, was priced from €25,000, the expected price of the future entry-level version of the electric Renault 5, but which is eligible for the ecological bonus.
Due to its production in South Korea, the Inster was launched without ecological bonus in France. It is now making up for it with a new five-seater version, priced at the same price as the four-seater, but which manages to obtain the environmental score sufficient to make itself eligible for this precious state aid. Indeed, the calculation of this score is weighted according to the number of seats of the model, allowing only the five-seater version of the Inster to obtain the ecological bonus. The Inster is not the first model produced outside of Europe to obtain a sufficient environmental score, since the Mazda MX-30, assembled in Japan, is also favored by ADEME, thanks to its very small battery.
Hyundai announced the news in a press release, ahead of the publication of the decree which will make the decision effective. In the five-seater version, however, the Inster loses in modularity compared to the four-seater model. While the latter offers a sliding bench seat with reclining backrests, the five-seater Inster is only entitled to a fixed bench seat, more classic, folding in a 60/40 split and certainly a little narrow to accommodate three adults. The trunk increases to a fixed volume of 280 l, compared to between 238 and 351 l depending on the advancement of the bench for the four-seater version.
One of the best equipment/price ratios in its category
With the ecological bonus, the amount of which is now between €2,000 and €4,000, the five-seater Inster is priced from €23,000 or even less for customers with the lowest incomes. At this price, it already offers complete standard equipment, which includes two 10.25-inch screens, reversing camera, automatic air conditioning, and even hands-free access and starting.
The entry-level Inster is equipped with a useful 42 kWh battery which gives it up to 327 km of WLTP range. It is then powered by a 71 kW (97 hp) electric motor. A 49 kWh battery version is also available, imposing at a minimum the Intuitive intermediate finishing level and sold from €28,250 excluding bonus, to which it will also be eligible in the five-seater version. It has a range of up to 370 km and is this time coupled with an 84.5 kW (115 hp) electric motor.
On the charging side, the Inster announces a time of 30 min to go from 10 to 80% charge, thanks to a power accepted in direct current of up to 120 kW. That's pretty good for such an accessible vehicle.
In short, the Inster stands out as one of the options to seriously consider in the category of electric city cars. We can't wait to get behind the wheel to compare its performance to those of its rivals.
