It’s cute but I doubt it will sell well on the Australian market. The expected price is $39,990 before on road costs. Thoughts anyone?
8.1/10 Car Expert
Review Summary:
Compact SUV designed for city driving
Spacious interior but is a 4 seater
Drives well but not as zippy to accelerate
Infotainment not as modern
NMC battery
BYD dolphin is definitely better value if you prefer a hatchback over a compact SUV. The superior BYD battery technology does give it an edge over its competitors
The Dolphin is also 465mm longer, 160mm wider and has a wheelbase that is 120mm larger. It's only 5mm taller so it's barely an SUV.
Hyundai Inster height 1575mm
Ground clearance 140mm
BYD dolphin 1570mm
Ground clearance 130mm
Not much difference here to be able to call it a compact SUV.
I’d rather the LFP battery in the Dolphin too.
It's a picanto on big wheels and NMC don't like being fully charged 100% , so 20-80% = 60% range.
Try base spec MG4 with LFP , or BYD Dolphin.
Buy a base model Atto 3 for the same price. Yet it has smaller range, but the Inster is made for inner city driving where range isn't really an issue.
It would be great for dense European and Asian cities, or as a second car, but it's too expensive for that compared to other offerings.
Smells like a Nissan Sakura but at double the price and with only 2 doors.
8.1/10? Don't know what planet these people come from. Based on looks alone its a 3/10. Embarrassing. Would not be seen anywhere near it.
Shame because the IONIQ 5 is the only EV I would consider from the same company.
Dude you have a Jeep as your Avatar. Hardly someone to be calling out judges for what makes a car.
Dude is right about what he said and about iyonic from Hayindayi.
Once you have a German, euro or american car you do not drive others.
Swapped my Audi for a BYD 6 months ago and don't regret it at all.
You buy one then.
Doubt itll sell well at $40k. Based on the small number of Ora and Dolphins i see compared to other EVs i dont think their bang for buck is good enough - yet.
Snall cars need to be cheap to be successful. Itll need to be proce competitive with thungs like the MG3 or at least cheaper than an equivant spec corolla sized hatch.
Spacious interior but is a 2 door 4 seater
I'm definitely seeing 4 doors… weird rear seat design though, why not just a standard bench for the 5 seat total..
Here's the image for the back seats, you can definitely see the door handle for the rear door.
https://images.carexpert.com.au/crop/800/533/app/uploads/202…
The car is too narrow for a comfortable 3 seat second row, so they went with a spacious 2 seat arrangement. The car is targeted to small family city dwellers with a slim build who value design. I think this will be small in the Australian market
Review Summary
Cannot see any good point in it. How could it win the best EV car award? by dodgy jury?
and $40K goodness me!
I saw these cars literally everywhere in Korea.
it's pretty clearly a 4 door BTW
People will be cross shopping this with Suzuki Jimny. as a second car or to dip toes into EV it's probably pretty good.
interior design isn't offensive or unfamiliar like some chinese cars
OzB forgets that there's plenty of people who want something design first, don't want chinese car brand, or don't want 2005 camry
I agree from the inside it looks like a 4 door. From the outside it looks like a 2 door as there are only two door handles that I can see - interesting design I guess hence the award
Its small compact design suits the European landscape of small car parks and laneways. I don’t think it translates well in Australia though. Also, it has a ‘tardis-like’ interior, which is quite spacious for its size, but it will be an issue for people with broad shoulders as it’s still a narrow car. Lastly, the launch price is too expensive given the likes of BYD Atto 3, and having a NMC battery may turn people away. I expect the price to drop at least 39k driveaway
it will be an issue for people with broad shoulders as it’s still a narrow car
given the likes of BYD Atto 3, and having a NMC battery may turn people away
If these things matter to you, you are not the target market
Time will tell if the target market is big enough in Australia to make sense
It will be interesting to see how the MG S5 launches in Australia… real soon
From the outside it looks like a 2 door as there are only two door handles that I can see
There are clearly pillar style handles.
As soon as I saw the link I thought; Tell me you're a Hyundai shill without telling me you're a Hyundai shill… Carexpert and Hyundai just need to get a room already, FFS. The only other person that licks Hyundai's boots more than Carexpert is that Cadogan (fropanity)
Again with the benign around 8/10 score as not to offend any car company. It's like every single car on the road is a 7~8/10.
$39,990 is too expensive and wont do well in the market for a small car with shit range when you can get cheaper options with more space. The Fiat 500e is about this size and in this price range and they cant move 2023 stock. This cost more than a MG4 that has more range and a cheaper price point. The interior looks dated AF (like left over Accent parts)
Hyundai need to stop trying to be the Toyota/Honda of Korea and get back to what made them popular. Cheap, affordable and well built vehicles that people want to drive for these reasons. The people who would buy this are the same people who buy a Picanto. Buy it for their kid's first car, mum's shopping cart, work commute vehicle, that kind of thing and no one is spending $40k+ on something that could be done by a car half the price. $25,990 on road and you couldn't keep these things in stock, $39,990 + ORC, keep puffing those shards Hyundai.
Anyway, it wont make it to Australia. Too small. Too expensive. Too dated interior wise. "Only a mother could love" exterior styling. Poor range. There is just nothing to like about it, really. and for that reason, I revise the score to 4/10 and remove its status as "2025 World Electric Vehicle" award (you know, based on the fact that it is not a "worldwide vehicle".)
Looks like it would be a decent vehicle at the right price - but $40k is definitely not that price, especially not when there are clearly better options for lower prices.
$40k? Too expensive. Chinese brands will outsell it 10:1
For a small electric car, the Dolphin is much better for $11000 less for the base model or the premium model with more range (427km) which is still cheaper than the base model Inster.
The dimensions of the Dolphin are also much larger.