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Honda e vs Hyundai INSTER
Selected trimStandard · 2020-24Change trim138 mi · 35.5 kWh · £30,715
Selected trim01Change trim203 mi · 42 kWh · £23,755
At a glance
In this comparison, Honda e leads on city driving, while the Hyundai INSTER leads on value for money, motorway range and family practicality.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Honda e if...
- you drive in the city - it's compact with an excellent turning circle
Choose the Hyundai INSTER if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 2p per mile on off-peak electricity
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Hyundai INSTER wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValueHyundai
Honda
4
Hyundai
6
Motorway RangeHyundai
Honda
3.3
Hyundai
3.8
FamilyHyundai
Honda
4.4
Hyundai
6
ChargingHyundai
Honda
2
Hyundai
3.6
Cost Per MileHyundai
Honda
4.2
Hyundai
6.9
City DrivingHonda
Honda
9.4
Hyundai
8.8
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Honda eBase | Hyundai INSTER01 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £30,715 | £23,755 (better) |
| Official range | 138 miles | 203 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 171 L | 280 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 31 min | 30 min (better) |
| 0-62 mph | 9 sec (better) | 11.7 sec |
Size Comparison
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Honda e
Hyundai INSTER
Length
Honda e3,894mm
Hyundai INSTER3,825mm-69mm
Width
Honda e1,752mm
Hyundai INSTER1,610mm-142mm
Height
Honda e1,512mm-63mm
Hyundai INSTER1,575mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Honda eBase | Hyundai INSTER01 |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3,894 mm | 3,825 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,752 mm | 1,610 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 1,895 mm | 1,875 mm (better) |
| Height | 1,512 mm | 1,575 mm |
| Turning circle | 8.6 m (better) | 10.6 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 648 mm spare | 790 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Honda eBase | Hyundai INSTER01 |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 4 | 4 |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | 2 | 4 (better) |
| Boot space (seats up) | 171 L | 280 L (better) |
| Boot space (seats down) | 861 L | 1059 L (better) |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 0 kg | 0 kg |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Honda e
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Hyundai INSTER
- Uses 143 Wh/km on the WLTP cycle, more efficient than 85% of hatchback EVs we track.
- 1,610 mm wide, below our 1,750 mm narrow-car threshold.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Honda e Base |  Hyundai INSTER 01 |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 3.89m | 3.83m-69mm |
| Width | 1.75m | 1.61m-142mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 1.90m | 1.88m-20mm |
| Height | 1.51m | 1.57m+63mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.54m | 2.58m+42mm |
| Ground Clearance | 145mm | Not available |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 171L | 280L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | 861L | 1059L (better) |
| Seats | 4 | 4 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 8.6m (better) | 10.6m |
| Kerb Weight | 1,543kg | 1,349kg (better) |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 35.5kWh | 42kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 138 mi | 203 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 56kW | 73kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £30,715 | £23,755 (better) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Available | 2020–2024 | 2025+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Honda eBase | Hyundai INSTER01 |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 138 miles | 203 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 115 miles | 145 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 31 min | 30 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 56 kW | 73 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 6.6 kW | 10.5 kW (better) |
| Energy consumption | Not available | 143 Wh/km |
| Usable battery capacity | 28.9 kWh | 42 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 400V | Not available |
| Heat pump | Standard | Standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Honda eBase | Hyundai INSTER01 |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 9 sec (better) | 11.7 sec |
| Power | 100 kW (better) | 71 kW |
| Torque | 315 Nm (better) | 147 Nm |
| Drivetrain | RWD | FWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
Honda e
Base
Hyundai INSTER
01
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Honda e
All 3 videos
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - Honda e Base
Tested 2020
Adult Occupant76%
Child Occupant82%
Vulnerable Road Users62%
Safety Assist65%
Euro NCAP - Hyundai INSTER 01
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant70%
Child Occupant81%
Vulnerable Road Users70%
Safety Assist67%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | Honda eBase | Hyundai INSTER01 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,000 km | 160,934 km (better) |
What owners say
Aggregated from UK owner forums and communities - the things you only learn after living with the car.
Honda e
Base
Owners love
- Owners love the design, the cameras-for-mirrors and the screen-filled cabin, and say it draws compliments wherever it goes.
- The ride is unusually comfortable for a small car, and the rear-wheel drive and tiny turning circle make it nimble in town.
- It feels quick off the line and up to 40 mph, and one-pedal driving works well in traffic.
Watch out for
- Range is the main complaint: owners report about 100 to 120 miles in mild weather and as little as 60 to 80 on cold motorway runs.
- Rapid charging is limited to about 50 kW and slows sharply above 80%, so long trips are slow.
- The boot is very small, and rear legroom is tight for tall passengers.
Owner tips
- Treat it as a town car or second car with home charging, and check your longest regular trip against winter range.
- Use heated seats and steering wheel rather than the cabin heater to save range in winter.
Hyundai INSTER
01
Owners love
- Owners rate the rear space highly for a car under four metres long, especially the sliding rear bench on the 02.
- It is easy and relaxing to drive in town, and rides poor road surfaces better than its size suggests.
- Owners report efficient running, around 4.3 miles per kWh in everyday use.
Watch out for
- Acceleration is modest, and some owners find it slow at motorway speeds.
- The cabin is narrow: taller drivers report their knee touching the door.
- There is no wireless Apple CarPlay; owners use a plug-in adapter.
Owner tips
- Check whether a car has the Tech Pack if you want to power appliances from it.
- Look at the inner edge of the front tyres and ask when the alignment was last checked.
Buying options
Get a quote
Honda e
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Hyundai INSTER
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
Honda e
No active listings.
Hyundai INSTER
- £18,9902026Cars2View
- £18,9902026Cars2View
- £22,9902026Cars2View
Frequently asked questions
Is the Honda e worth the extra £6,960 over the Hyundai INSTER?
The Honda e costs £6,960 more than the Hyundai INSTER. For that premium it adds a 2.7s quicker 0-62mph time. The Hyundai INSTER is not just cheaper - it also offers 65 miles more WLTP range and 109 litres more boot space. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Hyundai INSTER comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Honda e or the Hyundai INSTER?
The Hyundai INSTER is £6,960 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £160 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Hyundai INSTER comes out roughly £7,040 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Honda e and Hyundai INSTER like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 115 miles for the Honda e and 145 miles for the Hyundai INSTER - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Hyundai INSTER goes roughly 30 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 30-31 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Honda e or the Hyundai INSTER?
The Hyundai INSTER is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 142 mm narrower than the Honda e. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 790 mm of total clearance for the Hyundai INSTER and about 648 mm of total clearance for the Honda e. The Honda e also turns in a 2.0 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the Honda e or the Hyundai INSTER?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 84% battery health for the Honda e and 84% for the Hyundai INSTER. That is close enough that capacity loss should not decide between them. Both use NMC-type cells, so for daily use keep the charge limit near 80% to slow degradation. Both batteries carry a 8-year manufacturer warranty.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
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See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the Honda e and Hyundai INSTER rank among EVs under £40,000Where the Honda e and Hyundai INSTER rank among the best small electric carsWhere the Honda e and Hyundai INSTER rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Honda e and Hyundai INSTER rank among the best city EVsWhere the Honda e and Hyundai INSTER rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the Honda e and Hyundai INSTER rank among EVs with the biggest boots
If neither is quite right
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Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
GuideBuying a Used Honda e (2020-2024): Range, Charging Quirks & What to Pay
A used Honda e buyer’s guide: the e and e Advance, real-world range, rapid-charging faults owners report, battery warranty left, the recall, what to pay and a printable checklist.
GuideBuying a Used Hyundai INSTER (2025-on): 42 vs 49 kWh, Recalls & What to Pay
A used Hyundai INSTER buyer’s guide: the 01, 02 and Cross compared, real-world range, the coolant valve recall, the Tech Pack, warranty left, what to pay and a printable checklist.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .