Forbidden Fruit: 2026 Hyundai Inster and Inster Cross Make Small Cars Fun Again

From London traffic to winding British B-roads, the 2026 Hyundai Inster and Inster Cross combine useful versatility with a surprisingly entertaining drive.

Small Enough to Enjoy

The Hyundai Inster made the journey between London and Canterbury more memorable than expected. It carried our luggage, delivered low energy consumption and turned narrow B-roads into something to look forward to.

Hyundai Canada confirmed to us that neither the Inster nor the IONIQ 3 will be sold here. The reason is simple: small EVs are difficult to sell when their price approaches that of larger, more practical alternatives. The Inster’s compact footprint makes perfect sense in London, but it would be a tougher proposition in Canada.

That is what makes it such compelling Forbidden Fruit. The Cross looks tougher, but the regular Inster’s chequered seats and quirky personality would win us over. It is small, efficient and surprisingly fun, whichever side of the car you happen to drive from.

• The Hyundai Inster’s compact dimensions and responsive steering make it enjoyable on narrow British roads.
• Our photographed trip reading showed approximately 14.5 kWh/100 km over 232 kilometres.
• Sliding rear seats helped accommodate a full-size suitcase and camera bag without folding either rear seat.
• The Inster Cross adds rugged styling, but its mechanical layout closely matches the regular Inster.

Pros

• Quick steering and immediate accelerator response
• Comfortable seats and useful interior flexibility
• Low observed electricity consumption

Cons

• Limited shoulder clearance beside the B-pillar
• Noticeable motorway noise
• Only four seats in UK specification

A Small Hyundai With Plenty of Character

Some cars make their case through horsepower. The Hyundai Inster does it by making an ordinary journey more enjoyable than expected. Driving from London to Canterbury in the regular Inster, then returning in the Inster Cross, gave us roughly equal time in both. London traffic, motorway stretches and winding B-roads provided a useful opportunity to find out whether this little electric Hyundai could handle more than a short urban commute.

There was also the small matter of sitting on the wrong side of the car. The British would insist it was the right side, and, geographically speaking, they had a point.

The Inster’s upright shape, round headlights and compact proportions give it an appealingly unconventional appearance. The Cross adds chunkier bumpers, distinctive wheels and more assertive exterior trim. It looks ready for a muddy weekend, although its changes are primarily about appearance and equipment. Both retain front-wheel drive.

Comfortable Seats, Less Room for Broad Shoulders

Inside, our preference leaned slightly toward the regular Inster. Its chequered upholstery brought a little more personality to the cabin. It suited a car that already looks quite happy doing things differently.

The seats themselves were comfortable throughout the drive. At five feet eleven, I could find a satisfactory driving position, although moving the seat back placed my shoulder close to the B-pillar. That was the main restriction. Drivers with broader shoulders should spend time adjusting the seat before deciding whether the cabin works for them.

The layout also retains physical controls alongside its screens. Hyundai provides a 10.25-inch instrument display and a similarly sized centre touchscreen, while adjustable regenerative braking and an i-Pedal mode give drivers different ways to manage deceleration.

A Suitcase Test That Actually Matters

Our luggage provided a more useful packaging test than simply looking into an empty boot. A full-size suitcase and camera bag fitted with both rear seats upright. The initial arrangement was tight, but sliding the rear seats forward slightly created enough room.

That flexibility matters in such a small car. You can trade some rear legroom for luggage space without immediately turning it into a two-seater. On versions with the sliding rear seats, Hyundai lists between 238 and 351 litres behind them, depending on their position. UK models have four seats, so families needing a fifth seat will have to look at the IONIQ 3.

For a couple travelling with luggage, however, the Inster proved considerably more accommodating than its exterior suggested.

Quick Reactions Make the B-Roads Worth Taking

The biggest surprise was how much fun the Inster became once we reached the narrower, twisting roads outside London.

Its steering responds quickly and has an old-school small-car character. Turn into a corner and the front end follows with an eagerness that occasionally brings a small sports car to mind. That describes its willingness to change direction, rather than outright performance.

The immediate accelerator response strengthens that impression. The Inster is not especially fast, but it feels lively because there is little delay between asking for acceleration and getting it. On roads where a larger car can feel cumbersome, its compact footprint becomes part of the entertainment.

The 49-kWh version produces approximately 115 hp and 108 lb-ft of torque. Hyundai quotes 10.6 seconds to reach 100 km/h, which helps explain the distinction between feeling quick and posting a quick acceleration time.

At the UK motorway limit of 70 mph, approximately 113 km/h, cabin noise becomes more noticeable. It is a compromise we could forgive in an entry-level vehicle, particularly after enjoying what it offered away from the motorway.

Forbidden Fruit: 2026 Nissan Micra EV Review, The Canadian Favourite Returns Without Canada

Same Hardware, Different Personality

The Inster Cross felt more confident and planted during our return journey than the Inster 02 we drove to Canterbury. Its more aggressive bumpers, black cladding and rugged stance may have influenced that perception. The way a vehicle looks can change how you interpret its reactions from behind the wheel.

On paper, the two versions are closely matched. Hyundai lists the same MacPherson strut front suspension, torsion-beam rear axle and 205/45 R17 tire size for both the Inster 02 and Inster Cross. However, subtle differences in vehicle weight, weight distribution, tire model, pressure or steering calibration could contribute to the Cross feeling more substantial.

Whatever the reason, the difference was noticeable from the driver’s seat. The regular Inster felt lighter and quirkier, while the Cross inspired a little more confidence on the road. The specifications may be nearly identical, but the two versions still managed to leave different impressions.

Our preference ultimately remained close. The Cross felt reassuring, while the Inster 02’s more playful interior gave it a slight emotional advantage.

Modest Consumption and Respectable Charging

We recorded 143.9 miles, approximately 232 kilometres, mainly on the highway, at an average of 4.3 mi/kWh. Converted into familiar Canadian units, that works out to approximately 14.5 kWh/100 km.

We also observed readings as low as 8 kWh/100 km during city driving. That was a favourable urban result, rather than the average for the whole journey.

Hyundai quotes approximately 30 minutes for a 10–80% charge under suitable conditions. We saw speeds of up to 81 kW close to the 85 kW Hyundai announces. Its current UK figures put the 49-kWh Inster 02 and Cross at approximately 359 kilometres of combined WLTP range. These European figures should not be treated as Canadian range ratings.