Hyundai’s cutesy Inster EV doesn’t need to be quick - The Verge

By Umar Shakir, a news writer fond of the electric vehicle lifestyle and things that plug in via USB-C. He spent over 15 years in IT support before joining The Verge.

The reviews for Hyundai’s little electric SUV that could are trickling in, and it’s clear that the Inster is a delightful way to move about town — regardless of its lack of quickness compared to other similarly-sized EVs. The Inster’s top speed for the long-range version is about 93 miles per hour (or 150 km/h), and it has a zero to 62 mph (100km/h) acceleration in 10.6 seconds, according to the specs Hyundai published today.

Hyundai also revealed more details about the Inster’s price, with European reviewers saying it’s expensive compared to similar competition at £23,495 (about $25,477). In the US, however, that’s a price we can only dream about since our most affordable options include the $35,000 Chevy Equinox EV or the hope Tesla will deliver a cheaper car for around $25,000.

Although we’ve been pretty sad Hyundai isn’t planning to release the Inster in the US, it’s understandable America’s appetite for big, powerful AWD vehicles might be a factor (the Inster only has a single 84.5kW motor). Heck, if you look at Hyundai’s latest sales numbers, the hybrid Tucson SUV is having its best-ever month here.

One newer compact EV that has made it to the US is the Fiat 500e. At 143 inches in length, it’s only about 7 inches shorter than the Inster at 150.59 inches. However, the Inster has more internal storage since it’s SUV-shaped, plus it has a range of about 230 miles WTLP on the long range 49 kWh battery compared to the 500e’s, which is under 200 miles.

So why aren’t we getting the Inster in the US again? Maybe things could change, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.

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