Hyundai has come up with its own small EV crossover

Hyundai is one of those brands that are really pushing for electrification here in the Philippines, especially with their IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6 fully-electric vehicles. They are however on the more premium side of the spectrum with prices of over Php 3-million. That’s where the new Casper Electric comes in.

Revealed at the 2024 Busan International Mobility Show (BIMOS) in the brand’s home market of South Korea, the Casper Electric, as its name suggests, is the zero emissions version of the Casper small crossover and we think this is perfect for our market, especially with the growing popularity of small EVs from Chinese automakers.

By the way, it will be known as the Inster in European markets such as the United Kingdom. The rest of the world such as South Korea, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific will get it as the Casper Electric.

Anyway, looking at its design, it’s very much like what we initially saw in teasers a few weeks ago with its Casper-like exterior look, but modernized and put in-line with the Hyundai IONIQ lineup with its signature LED daytime running lights and pixel-graphic design for its turn signals, taillights, and bumpers.

Depending on the variant, it can be equipped with 15-inch steel wheels with covers or alloy wheels, or 17-inch alloy wheels. It will also come with LED headlights and a two-tone paint job with a contrasting black roof.

Inside, it’s also largely like the regular Casper but with a few changes such as a three-spoke steering wheel, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. 

The center console has also been redesigned for the Casper Electric, with the gear shifter eliminated in favor of a column-mounted electronic gear selector.

Powering the Hyundai Casper Electric are options of a single electric motor paired to either a 42 kWh or 49 kWh battery. The former produces 97 horsepower while the latter, 115 horsepower, with both making 147 Nm of torque. 

Hyundai projects a driving range of up to 355 kilometers and charge times of 30 minutes from 10% to 80% when using a 120 kW DC charger. An 11 kW charger will come as standard.

Do you think Hyundai Motor Philippines should introduce the Casper Electric as a more affordable EV given the higher pricing for their current EV lineup? It won’t hurt to wish as we could be among the markets the small EV will hit based on the Korean automaker’s press release.

The Hyundai Casper Electric will initially be sold in South Korea in the coming months, to be followed by Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific Region (hopefully including us). A more rugged and outdoor-focused variant known as the Inster Cross will also be introduced in the future.