The Hyundai Instar Electric for just 129 euros a month, but for whom?

Hyundai has crafted a great offer to launch its small 100% electric SUV, but be cautious of the conditions at the bottom of the page…

Well-equipped and prominently featuring eco-friendly materials, the Hyundai Inster has everything to be a chic urban small SUV. The heir to the Casper, a mini-SUV with a gasoline engine launched in 2021 and reserved for the Korean market, the Inster aims to be a practical choice perfectly suited for urban life. No off-road ambitions, a domain reserved for its Cross variant, no desires for wide open spaces, just a daily tool with a spacious interior achieved through very squared-off lines.

This cubic style suits it quite well, even if the overall line remains very conventional. From the front and rear, it’s a bit more dynamic thanks to prominent fenders, a high-tech bumper reminiscent of a circuit board, and very modern light signatures. However, it’s hard to know what to think of the imposing protective skids placed at the front and rear, other than that they serve no protective purpose given their position and the materials used, which seem rather fragile. It’s a bit like putting on Balenciaga combat boots for a stroll in Saint Germain des Prés.

But a car is primarily meant for transportation. The small Hyundai comes with a 42 kWh battery as standard, powering a 71.1 kW (97 hp) motor with 147 Nm of torque. The range is announced at 355 km in the WLTP cycle, which is perfect for its intended use. With a 120 kW fast charger, it can be recharged from 10 to 80 % in 30 minutes.

Until January 31, 2025, it is offered on a Long-Term Rental for 37 months and 30,000 km with an initial payment of 7,400 euros reduced to 3,400 euros after deducting the ecological bonus of 4,000€ and then 36 payments of 129 euros. Beyond the fact that a contribution of 3,400 euros is frankly excessive for a vehicle that is listed at a catalog price of 25,000 euros, one must also be able to benefit from 4,000 euros in bonuses reserved for the most modest households. Otherwise, it will be half the bonus, making a contribution of 5,400 euros prohibitive. And most importantly, the Inster needs to be eligible for this so-called bonus, which is still not the case today according to the updated list of eligible vehicles.

In the end, the conditions are moderately advantageous and a pending bonus makes the offer still interesting but a little less glamorous.