On tour with the brand-new Hyundai Inster

Electric Vehicles  New Launches 

Touring is obviously big business at the moment. Anyone who endured endless hours of online purgatory in an ultimately futile attempt to purchase tickets for Oasis or Taylor Swift will know what we mean. You can’t help but wonder if it would actually be easier to predict the icons of the future and catch them on their way up instead. In which case, we have good news for you because the new Hyundai Inster is a potential star that’s also about to head out on tour.

The Inster, Hyundai’s brand-new, all-electric city car is heading out on a showroom roadshow, visiting 86 dealer locations around the country between October and December ahead of the first European deliveries due to begin in January.

The Hyundai Inster is a pioneering A-segment sub-compact SUV that was first unveiled at the Busan International Mobility Show in Korea back in June.

It left a very positive first impression thanks to its robust exterior design, spacious interior, and sophisticated technology. Hyundai believes the key to the Inster’s appeal will come from combining the manoeuvrability and ease-of-driving of a traditional city car with the flexible practicality and higher specification of a larger B-segment compact model.

Hyundai has given the new Inster a robust SUV profile, an elevated ride height, and flush, clean surfaces for a rugged and contemporary feel. It boasts a high-tech, circuit board-style bumper and a chunky skid plate that sit nicely alongside the bold wheel arches and distinctive LED lighting. You can further specify your car’s appearance with LED projection headlamps and a two-tone exterior with a contrasting black roof. Either 15-inch steel with wheel covers, 15-inch alloy or 17-inch alloy wheels will come as standard depending on specification.

By offering equipment typically found in higher-segment cars, the new Hyundai Inster also sets a new benchmark for the levels of specification you can expect from city cars of the future. If you’re going to assume that an entry-level car will come with basic equipment, you’re in for a surprise.

The comprehensive technology package includes advanced infotainment and connectivity features offering seamless access to navigation, media, and vehicle settings, all controlled via the 10.25-inch digital cluster and 10.25-inch touchscreen. The compact centre console that houses the controls also includes a wireless charging dock for your smartphone. The Inster also features 64-colour LED ambient lighting, a one-touch sunroof, and Hyundai Digital Key 2 Touch (NFC) accessibility. Heated front seats and steering wheel are also available.

Another game-changing feature for an A-segment city car is the introduction of Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality that turns the Hyundai Inster into a power bank on wheels. You get a regular three-pin plug socket so as well as charging your phone, you can also tap into the car’s battery to charge your laptop, an electric bike, or even power an electric grill and lighting for more luxurious and comfortable camping trips.

Interior versatility

Hyundai has also built versatility and spaciousness into the interior of the new Inster.

All the seats can be folded flat – including the driver’s seat – for increased flexibility and maximum capacity. In the second row the seats can also recline and slide, offering more comfort, extra legroom, and more cargo space.

This level of interior flexibility is uncommon in a city car, making the Inster a surprisingly practical choice despite its relatively small size. The front row of the cabin even features a walk-through design between the driver’s seat and the passenger side so you can easily slide across if you find yourself having to squeeze into a particularly tight parking spot.

The practical benefits of the new Hyundai Inster continue under the proverbial bonnet too.

Up to 220 miles on a single charge

Offering both 42kWh and Long Range 49kWh batteries, powering either a 71.1kW (97bhp) or 84.5kW (115bhp) electric motor, the Hyundai Inster can deliver a segment-leading driving range of up to 220 miles on a single charge. The system also includes a heat pump to combat low temperatures that can negatively impact battery efficiency. The heating system guarantees optimal battery performance regardless of weather conditions, and alongside the in-built navigation system it can tell you when and where to charge during your trip and even precondition the battery ready for charging.

When using a 120 kW DC High-Power charging station, the battery can charge from 10-80% in around 30 minutes. It also comes equipped with an 11-kW on-board charger as standard so charging at home should be a relatively painless experience too, taking around 4 hours – or 4.5 hours if you opt for the long-range battery and motor combination. By utilising the practical and technological features usually found in higher segment models, Hyundai is clearly intent on redefining what you should expect from a city car.

The upcoming roadshow tour is the first opportunity for UK customers to see the brand-new Hyundai Inster compact SUV in the flesh. Pre-production versions of Hyundai’s newest EV will visit a host of dealers across the UK, from Inverness to Taunton and Aberystwyth to Norwich.

So, if you fancy leasing yourself one you’ve got the perfect chance to take a good look at this astonishing little car before the order books open at Gateway2Lease at the end of the year.

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