Pros: chunkier looks, enlivened interior, fitted with big battery
Cons: four seats only, pricier than regular Inster, some road noise
Hyundai Inster Cross Design
The regular Hyundai Inster is a cheeky-looking thing to begin with, but some folk will like the added purpose the Cross specification brings to this small, compact, affordable electric vehicle (EV). It is supposed to make you think that it is capable of venturing into the wilderness with some SUV-inspired and variant-specific styling, which includes different front and rear bumpers, accompanied by skid-plate-type detailing fore and aft, as well as its own design of 17-inch wheel, side skirts and roof rails. It adds up to an attractive little car with bags of character, while there’s also one body colour which is unique to the Cross in the Inster range – that of Amazonas Green.
Hyundai Inster Cross Interior
For the Cross, the lime-yellow accents are the giveaway that you’re sitting in the more rugged Hyundai Inster, and that’s enough to give this one a little extra ‘pop’. Otherwise, the cabin of the EV is the same as it was previously – just four seats in total, but that’s to maximise interior space in the diminutive Inster, with a boxy, high-set dashboard array dominated by a pair of 10.25-inch touchscreens which run the in-car infotainment and technology. Like any Hyundai, the Inster Cross comes with a generous level of kit as standard, too.
Hyundai Inster Cross Performance & Drive
The Cross comes only with the larger of two battery packs available for the Inster family, which means it has a 49kWh unit. This, in turn, also brings in a more potent electric motor of 116hp, backed up by 147Nm of torque. Hyundai says the Inster Cross will do 0-100km/h in 10.6 seconds, but it can also go up to 360km to a single charge.
To drive, the Cross is surprisingly adept at covering rougher road surfaces, especially considering its small physical size, relatively low weight (for an EV) and its narrow track width with comparatively slender tyres. You can hear quite a bit of noise from the wheel wells of the small Hyundai, so suspension movement, road roar and the hiss of water in rainy conditions all permeate the cabin to a notable degree, but it actually rides in a pretty cushioned and likeable fashion.
You’re always aware of the Inster’s tall yet slender nature, but there’s enough grip to allow the Cross to hustle through corners at a reasonable speed if you want it to, while the power delivered from the motor might not be rip-roaring, but it’s more than capable enough of ensuring the Hyundai keeps up with regular traffic flow with ease – right up to motorway speeds.
Hyundai Inster Cross Pricing
Hyundai positions the Cross as the flagship of the Inster range, both in terms of its bountiful standard equipment levels and the higher-grade powertrain. However, this means it is the most expensive model – it’s a good €2,650 more than the 49kWh Elegance variant of the normal Inster which sits below it in the range. Essentially, that premium is simply paying for the Cross’s appearance more than anything; there are a few items of kit which come on the Cross which aren’t on the Elegance – such as an electric sunroof, a blind-spot view monitor as part of a 360-degree camera system and both blind-spot collision avoidance assist (rear) and parking collision avoidance assist (rear).
Carzone Verdict
All versions of the Hyundai Inster are charming to look at, sit in and drive, and the Cross is no exception to the rule. Its lifestyle-inspired looks don’t really bring anything extra to the dynamic party of this small EV, but crucially they don’t detract from its abilities either, so if you like the appearance of the SUV-flavoured Hyundai and you’re not put off by its additional expense, the Inster Cross is a great choice in the subcompact electric-car sector.