Tata Punch EV rival Hyundai Inster launch timeline confirmed

Hyundai’s most affordable compact SUV EV, the Inster, will come equipped with the latest features and offer two battery options.

Hyundai Inster (1)
The Hyundai Inster is slightly smaller than the Punch | Image: Hyundai

The micro-SUV market is set to intensify in 2026 with Hyundai poised to disrupt the Tata Punch EV’s dominance. An AutoCar India report suggests that the South Korean carmaker plans to venture into the affordable EV segment in the second half of 2026, following the launch of the Creta EV.

Here’s what to expect from the Hyundai Inster EV.  

Hyundai Inster: Battery Specs and range

The Inster is engineered to navigate crowded city streets and limited parking spaces. Hyundai reveals that this compact SUV will come with two battery variants: the standard model equipped with a 42 kWh battery and the Long Range version with a 49 kWh battery. The standard model delivers 95 bhp, while the Long Range model offers 113 bhp, both providing 147 Nm of torque.

Hyundai Inster
Hyundai Inster (Image: Hyundai)

Using a 120 kW DC charger, the Inster can boost its charge from 10% to 80% in approximately 30 minutes. It is fitted with an 11 kW on-board charger as standard and also provides an optional battery heating system alongside a high-efficiency heat pump.

Hyundai Inster: Dimensions

The Inster will be produced locally at Sriperumbudur, with Exide manufacturing the battery. Dimension-wise, the Hyundai micro-SUV stands on a 2,580 mm wheelbase. It measures 3,825 mm in length, 1,610 mm in width, and 1,575 mm in height. The Inster will feature a sunroof, offering headroom of 987 mm, and 1,028 mm for models with a standard roof. The base model includes 15-inch steel wheels, while the mid and top variants are equipped with 15-inch and 17-inch alloy wheels, respectively. The boot capacity of the Inster is 280 litres.

Hyundai Inster: Features and Safety

Hyundai Inster interiors
The Inster features ADAS | Image: Hyundai

The Inster is a feature-laden EV SUV that boasts twin 10.25-inch displays; one serves as the infotainment system, while the other as the instrument cluster. It also comes with a navigation system and wireless charging capabilities.

Additionally, the Inster offers 64-colour LED ambient lighting, a one-touch sunroof, and Hyundai Digital Key 2 Touch (NFC) accessibility.

Hyundai has ensured the compact SUV is fully equipped with the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), which includes safety features such as a Surround View Monitor (SVM), Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist Rear (PCA-R), Blind-spot View Monitor (BVM), and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 1.5. It also provides Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) and Lane Following Assist (LFA), along with Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA), and more.

The Inster features Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability, allowing it to power external devices at 110V/220V. It can also charge electric bicycles, scooters, and camping equipment.

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This article was first uploaded on July five, twenty twenty-four, at fifty-eight minutes past seven in the evening.
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