Hyundai has pulled the wraps off its Inster electric city car, which will deliver up to 355km of range and budget-friendly pricing.

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The Dacia Spring and Citroën ë-C3 rival will launch from this summer globally to deliver a “compact footprint, robust exterior design and spacious interior”.

It’s based on the petrol-powered Korea-only Casper crossover and uses a stretched body and wheelbase to deliver more rugged looks as well as extra space that Hyundai says positions it between city cars and superminis. An Inster Cross variant will arrive later, featuring a more rugged, outdoor-focused design.

The Inster’s four-seater layout includes walk-through access from the front and fold-flat functionality for all seats – including the driver’s. A front bench seat option and heated front seats and steering wheel will also be also available. The second-row seats are split 50/50 and slide and recline, increasing boot space from 280 to 351 litres.

The entry-level version is equipped with a 97hp front-mounted motor and a 42kWh battery as standard. The long-range variant comes with a 115hp motor and a 49kWh battery. The base model has a 140km/h top speed and a 11.7-second time for the 0-100km/hr sprint time. These stand at 150km/h and 10.6 seconds for the long-range model.

It’s able to charge at up to 120kW via a DC public charger, giving a 10 to 80% recharge in around 30 minutes under optimal conditions. An 11kW on-board charger comes as standard, while a battery heating system and high-efficiency heat pump are available.

Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality provides power for external devices (110V/220V), allowing bi-directional charging without requiring additional equipment.

The new arrival carries over Hyundai’s EV design identity with pixel graphic styling elements, including turn signals and taillights. Personalisation options include 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 be offered depending on specification.

The cabin comes with a 10.25-inch digital cluster and identically sized infotainment touchscreen with navigation, along with a wireless charging dock as part of the centre console. It also features a 64-colour LED ambient lighting, one-touch sunroof and Hyundai Digital Key 2 Touch (NFC) accessibility.

Safety and driver assistance features include surround view monitor, parking collision-avoidance assist rear, blind-spot view monitor and forward collision-avoidance assist.

Also available will be lane keeping assist and lane following assist, plus blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, safety exit warning, smart cruise control with stop and go, highway driving assist, intelligent speed limit assist, driver attention warning, high beam assist, leading vehicle departure alert and rear occupant alert.

The Inster will launch first in Korea this summer, followed by Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific in due course. Hyundai says most equipment and technologies will come fitted as standard, with enhanced convenience and design features available optionally. Specifications will be confirmed closer to launch.

“With Inster, we’ve taken the small SUV image to a bold new place for the global audience,” said Simon Loasby, senior vice president and head of the Hyundai Design Center. “Inster punches well above its weight with distinctive design and an interior that maximises its potential in exciting, customer-centric ways. With Inster, we’re redefining what it means to drive a sub-compact EV.”