2025 Hyundai Inster: World EV of the Year Finalist is Forbidden Fruit
Los Angeles, California—As one of the 96 automotive journalists serving as jurors for the annual World Car Awards, I get to test drive a number of vehicles that are sold overseas but not in Canada. One of them is the all-new Hyundai Inster, an electric city car that made its global debut last summer and spent some time in Los Angeles a few weeks ago.
It’s also among the top three finalists for the 2025 World Electric Vehicle of the Year and 2025 World Urban Car of the Year awards, which will be announced on April 16 during the World Car Awards ceremony at the 2025 New York Auto Show.
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Standing just 3,825 mm long (with a wheelbase of 2,580 mm), 1,610 mm wide and 1,575 mm tall, the boxy Inster is even more compact than the smallest crossover in Hyundai’s Canadian lineup, the Venue. Based on the K1 platform developed by the South Korean manufacturer, it borrows several design cues from other Hyundai electric vehicles—notably the Parametric Pixels that define the lighting signatures—and has a knack for turning heads, even in California where motorists are used to seeing boldly designed and curious-looking cars on the road.
Fun to Drive
Hyundai offers two powertrain options with the FWD-only Inster. The first one delivers 95 horsepower and features a 42kWh battery, while the second produces 113 horsepower and uses a 49kWh battery. WLTP-estimated range is 327 km and 370 km, respectively. If we adjusted these numbers to match the more realistic North American test cycles, the Inster would probably be good for around 255 km and 289 km in ideal conditions including temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius.
Charging from 10-80 percent can be done in just 30 minutes using a 120kW DC fast charger. When plugged into a level-2 power source, a full charge will take 4-4.5 hours depending on the model (with an 11kW onboard charger).
Despite its diminutive size, the Hyundai Inster weighs as much as 1,700 kg, which directly affects handling. Since the single motor packs very little power, acceleration is definitely not EV-like—sprinting from 0-100 km/h is done in 10.6 seconds, while the top speed is set at 150 km/h. Don’t ask us why, but the Inster actually has a Sport mode.
The beauty of this car is how agile and maneuverable it can be thanks to precise steering, good feedback and a short turning radius. Paddles on the steering wheel make it possible to adjust regenerative braking, with the iPedal system enabling one-pedal driving. The suspension is fairly stiff, but the Inster somehow still proves comfortable and quiet enough.
Versatile Interior
The Inster's modular interior is highly versatile and available with a long list of features, as evidenced by the model we tested in Los Angeles. The two front seats meet in the middle, with a pair of cupholders built into the wide driver’s seat cushion. Interestingly, all four seats can be folded down to create a sort of relaxation area.
The design of the steering wheel and dashboard is reminiscent of the brand's other vehicles. The 10.25-inch centre touchscreen is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the digital instrument panel is clear and easy to read.
Too Small for Canada
In Europe, the Hyundai Inster carries a base price of 25,000 euros (approx. $39,000 CAD), while the more powerful model equipped with the larger-capacity battery costs 29,250 euros (approx. $45,400 CAD).
Despite its friendly look, versatile interior, decent performance and close to 300 km of range in ideal conditions, the company’s executives believe the Inster would be much too small for drivers in Canada and the U.S.—and they’re not wrong—seeing how many people are complaining that the larger Kona feels cramped. That’s too bad, though, because we really enjoyed our brief time with it.
Now we wait to find out if the Inster manages to secure either the 2025 World Electric Vehicle of the Year award or 2025 World Urban Car of the Year award—or maybe both—on April 16.
