Two small EVs, one obvious winner? Hyundai Inster vs Citroen e-C3

We compare two of the best small electric cars you can buy against each other – and picking a winner may be tricky. Carwow Germany’s Irene Wallner has crunched the numbers

Electric cars aren’t just for people with deep pockets any more. Affordable models range from the diddy Dacia Spring up to the cavernous Kia PV5 passenger with all sorts in between, but today we’re going to compare two models in the middle of that which prove that electric cars can be practical, modern and yet affordable.

Both the Citroen e-C3 and the Hyundai Inster cost less than £25,000, both are eligible for hefty discounts, and both are perfect for running around the city. Even so, they follow quite different concepts.

Hyundai Inster vs Citroen e-C3: which small EV offers the best overall package?

Both of these cars are small and electric, but that’s not all we’re interested in. We’re going to compare the Inster and the e-C3 in several areas to see which comes out ahead.

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

Design: sensible vs stylish

The Citroen e-C3 is the pragmatic candidate here. It looks like a small SUV, measuring just over 4m long. Despite those compact dimensions, it has five seats, a 310-litre boot and a really good amount of space. Visually, it’s pretty down-to-earth – there are some nicely rugged-looking SUV touches, but not too much showiness.

It suits its brief well as an affordable EV without too much theatre.

The Hyundai Inster, by contrast, is more playful, modern and technically sophisticated. At just 3.9m long it’s actually shorter than the e-C3, but its boxy design means it uses the space cleverly. It’s loaded with cool details, such as the round headlights and the pixel-style daytime running lights.

Anybody looking for an EV that isn’t just generic small-car fare may find themselves drawn to the Inster more quickly. Design is a matter of taste, but the Inster feels bolder.

Interior and practicality: space vs cleverness

Inside, it becomes obvious that these cars have different priorities. The Citroen is more conventional. It has five seats, a usable boot and a good sense of space, but it doesn’t really do anything interesting or clever – there’s room for adults and their stuff, and it’s as simple as that.

The Hyundai Inster only has four seats, but it uses them cleverly. Opt for the mid-spec 02 model (which is the one you should buy) and the rear seats can slide back and forward, extending the boot from 280 to 351 litres as needed. You can also fold them flat, and the front seats fold flat too, so you can carry extra-long loads or even put an air mattress across them and sleep there. This makes the little Hyundai more flexible than its exterior length would suggest.

If you want the most straightforward small, affordable EV with five seats, the e-C3 is a good fit. If, on the other hand, you want maximum flexibility in the smallest possible footprint, the Inster offers the more interesting package.

Range and battery: a clear winner

When it comes to how far you can go on a charge, the Hyundai is clearly ahead of the Citroen. The Inster is offered with two battery sizes – 42kWh and 49kWh, good for a range of 203 miles or 229 miles respectively. That works out to a strong efficiency figure of between 4.6 – 4.8 miles per kWh.

The Hyundai is also solid when it comes to charging. An 11kW AC charger is standard, while DC rapid charging is possible at up to 85kW. A 10-80% charge is said to take around 30 minutes. That doesn’t make the Inster a long-distance hero, but for commuting, city driving and occasional longer journeys, it feels pleasantly relaxed.

The Citroen also comes with a choice of batteries, a 30kWh ‘Urban Range’ model and a 44kWh ‘Standard Range’ version. They’re capable of 132 and 199 miles respectively. Efficiency is slightly behind the Hyundai at 4.4 – 4.5 miles per kWh. Efficiency is also hit harder because you can’t get a heat pump, so winter range will be reduced more than it would be in the Inster, which has one as standard.

Rapid charging is rated at up to 100kW, although there are restrictions with AC charging: the entry-level version of the e-C3 only charges at 7.4kW, with 11kW costing extra. The 10-80% charge times on both cars are regardless within only a few minutes of each other.

For the city, both of these cars have more than enough range. For commuting and occasional longer trips, however, the Hyundai feels more relaxed, because it is more efficient, offers more range and comes with the better AC charger as standard.

Interior and equipment: cut corners are easily spotted

The Citroen e-C3 is cheap, but you can tell why. The infotainment system is very basic, and you have to use your smartphone for most things. Add to that hard plastic surfaces throughout, no central armrest, manual air-con and you can see that it’s been built down to a price.

That sounds harsh – after all, it’s a cheap car, and the e-C3 has genuine strengths. The seats are great and super comfortable, there’s lots of space and it feels very solidly built for a budget car. If you don’t have luxury expectations and mainly want to drive electric as cheaply as possible, this is an honest offering.

The Hyundai Inster feels more modern as an overall package. It offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, physical buttons for the climate control, numerous driver assistance systems and, depending on trim, a heat pump and Vehicle-to-Load — in other words, the ability to power external devices using the car’s battery.

Of course, the Inster is not a premium car either. Plenty of hard plastic, mediocre seat padding and some cramped storage areas show that Hyundai also had to watch the pennies. Even so, the Inster feels more technical and better thought through.

Price and value for money: a straightforward advantage

The Citroen is an easy winner on price. Straight from the manufacturer, it starts at less than £20,000, and with Carwow savings you can get into one for less than £17,000. That’s helped by its eligibility for the £1,500 government EV grant, and makes it one of the cheapest ‘proper’ electric cars on the market.

The Inster is markedly more expensive, starting at nearly £24,000. Through Carwow, though, savings bring it down to less than £20,000, making it more comparable with the e-C3. The Inster doesn’t qualify for the government’s EV grant.

At the time of writing, there’s an amazing lease deal on the top-spec e-C3 with the larger battery, with a monthly payment of just £138 per month after a £1,950 initial payment. The Hyundai can’t match that, with a £210 monthly cost, higher initial payment and longer term.

There’s no getting around the Citroen’s USP – to buy or to lease, it’s incredibly good value.

The Citroen e-C3 is cheaper, comfortable and roomy enough for everyday use. Its weaknesses mainly lie in equipment, charging specification and range. It is the perfect candidate for anyone who says: I want a new EV, but please make it as cheap as possible.

The Hyundai Inster costs more, but justifies the extra outlay with more range, better efficiency, a cleverer interior and more modern equipment. Especially if you’re not using the car purely as a second car for the city, but regularly commute or occasionally drive longer distances, this is the more convincing overall package.

Verdict: Citroen for the bank balance, Hyundai for the overall package

Bottom line: the Citroen e-C3 is the better choice for anyone who wants to drive electric as cheaply as possible and is mainly thinking about short journeys, city traffic and everyday commuting. It is comfortable, roomy enough and very strong on price. But you have to live with simpler equipment, less range and some cost-cutting measures.

The Hyundai Inster is the more complete car. It is smaller, cleverer, more efficient and better equipped. Its range is stronger, its interior more flexible and its technology more modern. If you have the budget, this is the more convincing overall package. If every penny matters, the Citroen is cheaper to run.

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