Hyundai has globally introduced its smallest EV — the Inster — revealed at the 2024 Busan International Mobility Show. Essentially the fully-electric version of the Casper micro-SUV sold in Korea, the Inster will be available in Europe, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific, in addition to the carmaker's home country. While there is no word from Hyundai about its launch in India, its size and positioning are quite similar to the Tata Punch EV and Citroen eC3 sold here. Here’s a detailed spec comparison among the three EVs to assess how they stack up against each other on paper.
Hyundai Inster vs Tata Punch EV vs Citroen eC3: dimensions
| Hyundai Inster vs Tata Punch EV vs Citroen eC3: dimensions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Car | Hyundai Inster | Tata Punch EV | Citroen eC3 |
| Length | 3825mm | 3857mm | 3981mm |
| Width | 1610mm | 1742mm | 1733mm |
| Height | 1575mm | 1633mm | 1604mm |
| Wheelbase | 2580mm | 2445mm | 2540mm |
| Boot space | 280 litres | 366 litres | 315 litres |
| Tyre size | 205/45 R17 | 195/60 R16 | 195/65 R15 |
The eC3 (3,981mm) is the longest among the three EVs, while the Tata Punch EV stands as the tallest at 1,742mm. The Inster has the longest wheelbase at 2,580mm, while the Punch EV offers the most boot space. The Inster features up to 17-inch wheels, compared to the Punch EV and Citroen eC3, which come with 16-inch and 15-inch, respectively.
Hyundai Inster vs Tata Punch EV vs Citroen eC3: powertrain, range, performance
| Hyundai Inster vs Tata Punch EV vs Citroen eC3: powertrain, range, performance | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Car | Hyundai Inster | Tata Punch EV | Citroen eC3 |
| Motor | Single motor setup | Single motor setup | Single motor setup |
| Power | 97hp/115hp | 82hp/122hp | 57hp |
| Torque | 147Nm/147Nm | 114Nm/190Nm | 143Nm |
| Battery capacity | 42kWh/49kWh | 25kWh/35kWh | 29.2kWh |
| Range | TBA/355km | 315km/421km | 320km |
All three cars are equipped with a single electric motor setup. The Inster’s motor produces 97hp in the base trim and 115hp in the Long-Range version. The one on the Punch EV puts out 82hp in the Mid-Range variants and 122hp in the Long-Range variants. Citroen’s eC3 delivers 57hp and 143Nm, making it the least powerful EV among them..
Hyundai is offering the Inster with two battery packs – 42kWh and 49kWh. The larger battery pack offers a claimed range of up to 355km (WLTP) when specced with the smaller 15-inch wheels. In contrast, the Punch can be available with either a 25kWh or a 35kWh battery, offering an MIDC certified range of 315km and 421km, respectively. The Citroen eC3 gets a sole 29.2kWh battery pack, providing a range of 320km on a single charge.
Hyundai Inster vs Tata Punch EV vs Citroen eC3: charging time
| Hyundai Inster vs Tata Punch EV vs Citroen eC3: charging time | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Car | Hyunda Inster | Tata Punch EV | Citroen eC3 |
| 10-80% (DC fast charging) | 30 mins | 56 mins | 57 mins |
| 10-100% (15A/16A wall charger) | 4 hours (standard), 4 hours 35 mins (LR) | 9.4 hours (MR)/13.5 hours (LR) | 10.5 hours |
Hyundai says that the Inster can be charged from 10% to 80% in just 30 minutes with a 120kW DC fast charger. A standard 16A AC charger would fully charge the battery in 4 hours for the standard model and 4 hours and 35 minutes for the Long-Range version.
The Inster also offers external and internal Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality, which can be used to charge larger devices or use appliances – a feature that the other two EVs lack. Hyundai is also offering ADAS safety tech on the Inster internationally, which is not available on either of the eC3 or Punch EV in India.
Hyundai Inster vs Tata Punch EV vs Citroen eC3: price
| Hyundai Inster vs Tata Punch EV vs Citroen eC3: price | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Car | Hyundai Inster | Tata Punch EV | Citroen eC3 |
| Ex-showroom price | TBA | Rs 10.9 lakh-15.49 lakh | Rs 11.61 lakh-13.41 lakh |
Pricing for the Hyundai Inster is yet to be announced. The Tata Punch EV is currently priced between Rs 10.99 lakh and Rs 13.79 lakh for the MR trims, and Rs 12.99 lakh and Rs 15.49 lakh for the Long-Range version. Pricing for the Citroen eC3 in India starts from Rs 11.61 lakh and goes up to Rs 13.41 lakh.
All prices, ex-showroom India
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