Hyundai Inster: Good things come in small packages

This has got to be the safest car in the world.

Why? Well, have you seen the size of the brake lights and the front indicators, but mainly because the penny has finally dropped and the bulk of the functions inside are operated by good old fashioned buttons and switches – hurrah.

Hyundai’s new Inster is a little EV city car and in matt khaki it does a sizeable impression of a mini Humvee.

On the front there’s a row of squares on either side of the car, just below the bonnet line, above the dinner plate-sized lights. I wondered what on earth they could be. Perhaps they were spots of fogs. It was only when I left the indicators on that I realised they were winkers. Wow, you are never going to miss seeing those bad boys.

Then, right across the rear, stretching across each side of the tailgate and meeting at the Hyundai badge in the middle, is a checker board of squares which act as rear lights for the dark and braking when you stop. Beware your retinas if you happen to be following on behind.

It makes what could have been a tin box rather striking, adding cheeky personality to an electric city car. I like it, though I appreciate it won’t be to everyone’s taste. My friend blanks me as we drive past each other one day, me hanging out of the window to wave. But then he does drive a Ferrari so I’ll let him off.

I’ve always enjoyed small and quirky so am in the right frame of mind to test the Inster. First job, of course, is to take a picture and post the Inster on Insta, well I’m nothing if not predictable.

The military look appeals as does the sci-fi lighting so I’m good to go. Then there’s the interior which is just so clever and Tardis-like in proportions. There is more room in the back of an Inster than in the large SUV I drive the following week, really. It’s the same for the driver and front seat passenger and you instantly forget that you are in a small car – until you come to park, that is.

Yes, when you are looking for a car park space you have to adjust your spatial awareness because you are in something much smaller than you imagine.

It’s great slotting into three quarter size holes, to the envy of other motorists. When you put it parallel, between two other cars, there’s a surprising amount of room left to open the doors.

After recent years of designers piling all a car’s functions onto a touchscreen, Hyundai has reverted to old-style buttons and switches and rightly so.

I dread to think how many accidents have been caused because drivers have been faffing with the touchscreen instead of watching where they are going.

As I’ve said before, the crash test experts NCAP claim that touchscreens result in not looking through the windscreen for anything from five to 50 seconds, by which time you have travelled the length of a football stadium – scary. You might as well play on your mobile.

With Inster there’s no problem as you can see which switch does what and act accordingly, quickly, efficiently, safely. It’s time more manufacturers follow suit.

Inster is a small EV so everyone’s first thought is going to be the range. Is it going to be practicable or pointless. Well, at around 240 miles it isn’t bad at all and certainly usable even if you clock up as many miles a day as I do. It recharges rapidly too even with the lower powered chargers, so no niggly annoyances there.

That just leaves drivability, which is great. The 49kWh electric motor produces a healthy and effortless 115HP and as it doesn’t carry much weight the performance is strong, both off the mark and in the mid-range.

Add in sharp steering, decent suspension and full size 17in alloys and you have a car with impeccable road manners that is rewarding to drive. It’s fun all the way and when you use the performance it’s not really at the expense of range.

All in all the Hyundai Inster is a great little EV that performs well in ever quarter. A safe bet I would say.