Tag Archives: EV

City cars, electric, Hyundai, Motoring

A quirky, affordable and practical EV city car

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Hyundai Inster 02 Tech Pack

By Bill McCarthy

The Inster is eye-catching electric city car. Combining quirky charm with practical features, it offers a surprisingly spacious interior, advanced tech, and an attractive and competitive starting price of £23,550.

Sometimes, when describing a product – be it a car, a kitchen gadget, or a piece of furniture – as ‘quirky’ can be code for cheap and nasty.  However, quirky can also mean charming, desirable, and fun. The Hyundai Inster, an eye-catching electric city car, fits firmly into the latter category. It is a distinctive but practical EV with a price tag starting from under £24,000.

Rugged and Modern Styling

While its charming looks invite comparisons to the Fiat Panda or Honda e, the Inster has its own unique DNA. It features a boxy shape, wheels pushed to each corner, and a Tardis-like interior. The styling is dramatic and rugged, with plastic-clad wheel arches, a long wheelbase, and eye-catching pixel-pattern LED lights.

A Versatile and Hi-Tech Interior

Stepping inside is a surprise. The cabin feels light and spacious, enhanced by a walkthrough between the fully foldable front seats. A dual 10.25-inch touchscreen dominates the dashboard, controlling major functions in a straightforward manner. The column-mounted drive selector frees up space, and the logical layout includes easy-to-use buttons and a wireless charging pad.

Features include a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluelink Connected Services, a wireless charging pad, 64-colour ambient lighting, and heated front seats and steering wheel on higher models.Heated Front Seats and Steering Wheel (on higher models)

Nippy, efficient and comfortable

Both the standard (42kWh) and long-range (49kWh) models are front-wheel drive. While not rapid by EV standards, instant torque makes the Inster feel quick off the mark.

  • Performance: 0-62 mph in 11.7 seconds (Standard) or 10.6 seconds (Long-Range).
  • Driving Modes: Four modes (Eco, Normal, Sport, Snow) adjust throttle and dynamics for different conditions. In snow mode it tranfers the drive to the other wheel if slippage detected.
  • Refinement: The cabin is well-insulated from wind and road noise, making it a comfortable cruiser.
  • Driving Aids: Features like Smart Cruise Control with emergency stop, i-Pedal single-pedal driving, but the suspension felt a touch on the harsh side.

Fast charging

Like most modern EVs, the Inster supports rapid charging, making it ideal for urban life and longer trips.

  • Fast Charging: Charges from 10% to 80% in approximately 30 minutes using a DC charger.
  • 11 kW Onboard Charger: For convenient home or public AC charging.
  • Battery Heating System: Ensures better charging and performance in cold weather.

Surprising practicality

Initial boot space looks modest at 238 litres, but the flexible layout increases this significantly.

  • Sliding Rear Bench: Increases boot capacity to 351 litres.
  • Fold-Flat Passenger Seat: Creates a long, flat load space for larger items.

Comprehensive safety

The Inster comes with a comprehensive suite of standard safety technology for complete peace of mind.

Standard Safety Features Include:

  • Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
  • Lane Keeping Assist
  • Intelligent Speed Limit Assist
  • Rear View Camera

Optional Tech Pack at £500

  • Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality with an internal three-pin plug.
  • Digital Key

Models and pricing

  • Inster 01 (42kWh): From £23,495. Includes the 10.25-inch touchscreen, navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Smart Cruise Control.
  • Inster 02 (49kWh): From £26,745. Adds the larger battery, 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a wireless charging pad.

The Hyundai Inster successfully blends quirky, charming design with serious practicality, advanced technology, and decent electric performance. At under £25 for the base model, it’s a standout choice in the EV city car segment.

Factfile

  • Hyundai INSTER 02 + Tech Pack
  • Price: £26,755
  • Mechanical: 115 PS electric motor and 49kWh battery driving front wheels via an automatic transmission
  • Max Speed: 93 mph
  • 0-62 mph: 10.6 seconds
  • Range: 230 miles WLTP
  • Insurance Group: TBC
  • CO2 emissions: 0g/km
  • BiK rating: 3%
  • Warranty: Five years/unlimited miles
electric, Motoring, Subaru, SUV/4X4

A capable and stylish 4×4 electric SUV

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Subaru Solterra

By Bill McCarthy

The name Solterra is derived from the Latin words for “Sun” and “Earth,” symbolising, says Subaru, its dedication to providing traditional SUV capabilities within an environmentally friendly framework.

As a result of this, the Solterra, in collaboration with Toyota, has become the brand’s first EV

This partnership combines Subaru’s legendary AWD expertise with Toyota’s proven EV technology, resulting in a capable, tech-packed electric SUV.

Design and practicality

It has an eye catching presence with its high ground clearance (210mm), muscular wheel arches, and a rugged profile that hints at its off-road potential. Aerodynamic touches, such as the twin ducktail spoilers, help balance practicality  with style. 

There are two specifications, Limited and the Touring model driven here.

Both offer a premium feel and are packed with a raft of tech and goodies, with this model adding 20-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, and leather upholstery, while both trims come well-equipped with heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and a 360-degree parking camera for ease of manoeuvring in what is a big motor.

Inside, the SUV offers a spacious, well-appointed cabin, a five-seater with generous legroom and a nearly flat floor, creating an airy and spacious feel.

It is a big vehicle and offers decent stowage and luggage. Space, with 452 litres of luggage space in the boot area and includes a 60/40 folding seatback and a two-position load floor, enhancing both luggage and passenger flexibility. 

The wide tailgate opening, coupled with a low lift-over height, makes loading and unloading easy. Additionally, standard fixed cross-bar mounting points offer more cargo-carrying options for adventurous owners.

Performance

Powered by dual 60kW motors and a 71.4kWh battery, the Solterra delivers a claimed 289 miles of range (WLTP)—enough for decent getaways, but in the real world I struggled to get near that figure, in admittedly unscientific conditions, with wind and rain and higher speed motorway driving helping to eat up the power.

 However, rapid charging is a highlight, with 10-80 per cent charge in under 35 minutes at 150 kW. A preconditioning system optimises battery temperature for faster charging, even in cold weather.

On the road, acceleration is rapid in EV style, hitting 0–60mph in around seven seconds. Handling is decent enough

But this is a seriously capable four-wheel drive vehicle, still something of a rarity with EVs. Its off-road capability is delivered via Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD system, combined with its X-MODE, which enhances traction in challenging conditions.

Setting are available for Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud –  allowing it to tackle tricky conditions pretty comfortably.

Technology and safety

The inside is dominated a 12.3-inch touchscreen that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a seven-inch digital driver’s display with real time info. 

The touchscreen also controls infotainment with the Harmon/Kardon eight-speaker system and navigation.

The hi-tech stuff is mated with more traditional, even old fashioned secondary controls, but these deliver a feeling of robustness in the cabin.

The firm’s EyeSight system enhances safety with functions such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and pre-collision braking. 

Additional safety technologies, including blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, provide confidence in various driving situations, not to mention a full complement of airbags.

Pricing and updates

Starting at £52,495 for the Limited, it the price puts it among the more expensive options in the electric SUV segment.  Mitigating this is superb Subaru off-road capability alongside premium features. 

For those willing to wait, a refreshed 2026 model is set to arrive in early 2026, promising tweaked styling, faster charging, and an enhanced range of up to 25 per cent.

Verdict

The Solterra is an electric SUV that’s as capable on the rough stuff as main roads. While its price may give some buyers pause, its combination of ruggedness, tech, and practicality makes it a slightly left-field eco-friendly alternative to traditional petrol-powered 4x4s.

Factfile

Subaru Solterra Touring EV

  • Price: £55,495
  • Mechanical: 218PS, 160kW twin-motors, 71.4 kWh battery, driving all wheels via automatic transmission
  • Max Speed: 100mph
  • 0-62mph: 6.9 secs
  • Range: 289 miles
  • Insurance Group: 39
  • C02 emissions: 0
  • Bik rating: 2%
  • Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles