By Ian Strachan.
Electric cars come in all shapes and sizes, and Hyundai’s award-winning INSTER is probably the smallest of the lot – at just 3.8m long by 1.6m wide.
But don’t be put off. This baby electric car thinks it’s a grown up, with a surprising amount of room, lots of standard kit and a greater range than many of its bigger competitors. It also looks good, with some quirky design cues.
The INSTER Cross that I tested comes with a 49kw battery, giving it longer range and more power than the cheaper entry model. The result is a more-than-adequate 115PS, 0-60mph acceleration of around ten seconds, and a range of up to 229 miles.
Despite its diminutive size the INSTER sits quite high on the road which, along with big windows, gives you great visibility.
From the outside, the INSTER Cross is a head-turner despite its size. You get bespoke 17-inch alloys, distinctive front and rear bumpers, roof rails, side skirts with black cladding, and a rear spoiler.
The INSTER has a crisp, well laid out and comfortable interior. It’s light and roomy, and the seats are comfortable and supportive for a small car. It only seats four, but that might be fine for many people.
Instruments are clear and well laid out. The whole of the interior feels spacious, pleasant and light, helped by the electric sunroof which is standard on the INSTER Cross. It’s one of those cars which feels much bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside. Luggage space – at 351 litres – is good for small car and by folding the seats this increases to 1059 litres. You effectively have a small van.
The INSTER gives you a stable and safe ride, with little or no body roll on cornering despite its relative height. The car feels glued to the road, but still gives light handling and driver involvement. It felt confident and stable, even at speed, which isn’t the case with some small cars.
Equipment levels on the INSTER Cross are high, with a heat pump to help battery and interior warming without a range penalty, reclining and sliding rear seats, heated front seats and steering wheel, climate control, all-round electric windows and door mirrors, keyless entry and ignition, navigation system with 10.25 touch screen display, DAB digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity and USB sockets, front and rear parking sensors with rear parking camera, smart cruise control, steering wheel-mounted controls, 50/50 split rear seat, automatic headlamps and wireless phone charger.
There’s plenty of safety aids as standard including blind spot monitor, surround view monitor, forward collision avoidance, lane keeping assist and parking guidance system.
The Hyundai INSTER Cross comes in at £28,745, which includes Hyundai’s valuable five-year unlimited mileage warranty and an eight-year battery warranty, as well as navigation updates for three years and roadside assistance. The entry level INSTER is a very competitive £23,505.
All in all this is an excellent package which looks the part and has plenty of character. Plus you get the satisfaction of being kind to the planet.
