Head-to-head
Hyundai Inster vs Fiat 500e
At $39,000 the Hyundai Inster undercuts the Fiat 500e by $13,500 (26%) — but does the premium deliver enough of an edge to justify itself? Here's how the two compare on price, range, charging, safety and warranty.
Option A · Hatch
Hyundai Inster
Hyundai's tiny city EV pitches Australian buyers a sub-$40k Korean alternative to the Chinese-built BYD Dolphin and MG 4. Modest performance but characterful design and clever interior packaging.
- From
- $39,000
- Range
- 360 km
- Battery
- 49 kWh
Option B · Hatch
Fiat 500e
The reborn Fiat 500 as an EV — built in Mirafiori, Turin. Cute, charming, and unmistakably Italian, but the 311 km WLTP range and tiny 185 L boot make it a city car only.
- From
- $52,500
- Range
- 311 km
- Battery
- 42 kWh
Key differences at a glance
The biggest material gaps between the Hyundai Inster and Fiat 500e, ranked by how much they're likely to matter day-to-day.
- 1
Range · advantage Hyundai Inster
The Hyundai Inster goes 49 km further on a charge (360 vs 311 km WLTP).
- 2
Price · advantage Hyundai Inster
The Hyundai Inster undercuts the Fiat 500e by $13,500 (26%) on starting price.
- 3
DC charging · advantage Hyundai Inster
The Hyundai Inster accepts 35 kW more DC peak charging (120 vs 85 kW), meaning shorter road-trip stops.
- 4
Warranty · advantage Hyundai Inster
The Hyundai Inster covers the vehicle for 2 more years (5 vs 3 yrs).
- 5
Battery · advantage Hyundai Inster
The Hyundai Inster carries a 7.0 kWh larger battery (49 vs 42 kWh).
Spec for spec
Highlighted cells show the better number in each row.
Where the Hyundai Inster wins
- ▸ Cheaper by $13,500
- ▸ 49 km longer WLTP range
- ▸ Faster DC charging peak (120 kW vs 85 kW)
- ▸ Longer warranty (5 years)
Where the Fiat 500e wins
- ▸ Quicker 0–100 km/h (9s vs 10.6s)
Hyundai Inster
What we like
- ✓ One of the cheapest Korean EVs in Australia
- ✓ Quick DC charging for the class (120 kW peak)
- ✓ Configurable interior with sliding rear seats
What we don't
- ✕ Slow 0–100 even by city-EV standards
- ✕ Shorter battery warranty (100,000 km vs 160,000 km on Kona)
- ✕ Not yet ANCAP tested at launch
Fiat 500e
What we like
- ✓ Genuine Italian design charm
- ✓ Compact 3.6 m length perfect for city parking
- ✓ Quick 25-min DC charge (10-80%)
What we don't
- ✕ Just 3-year vehicle warranty
- ✕ Tiny 185 L boot
- ✕ 4-star ANCAP rating trails most rivals
Frequently asked: Hyundai Inster vs Fiat 500e
Quick answers to the questions cross-shoppers most often ask about this pair.
- Which is cheaper, the Hyundai Inster or the Fiat 500e?
- The Hyundai Inster is the cheaper of the two — it starts at $39,000 versus $52,500 for the Fiat 500e, a $13,500 difference. Prices shown are manufacturer recommended retail excluding on-road costs.
- Which has the longer driving range?
- The Hyundai Inster has the longer WLTP-claimed range at 360 km, 49 km further than the Fiat 500e's 311 km. Real-world range typically lands 10–20% below the WLTP figure depending on speed, terrain, climate and load.
- Which one charges faster on a DC fast charger?
- The Hyundai Inster accepts a peak DC charging rate of 120 kW versus 85 kW for the Fiat 500e. Peak rate only holds for a short window during the charging curve, so real-world 10–80% times often diverge less than the peak numbers suggest. Compatibility with 350 kW chargers depends on the vehicle's onboard architecture, not just the published peak.
- Which is quicker off the line?
- The Fiat 500e does 0–100 km/h in 9.0 seconds — 1.6 s quicker than the Hyundai Inster's 10.6 s. EV acceleration figures hold up at speed better than equivalent petrol cars because electric motors deliver peak torque instantly.
- Is the Hyundai Inster better value than the Fiat 500e?
- On paper the Hyundai Inster is $13,500 cheaper AND beats the Fiat 500e on most of the headline specs we measure — meaning by spec-sheet logic it's the stronger value play. What a spec sheet can't capture: brand prestige, dealer network depth, build feel, software polish, and likely resale.
Which one should you buy?
The short version, based on where each car pulls ahead.
Choose the
Hyundai Inster
if…
- ✓ you want to save $13,500 on the sticker
- ✓ maximum range matters (49 km further per charge)
- ✓ you regularly load it up (95 L more boot)
- ✓ peace-of-mind warranty matters (2 more years of cover)
Choose the
Fiat 500e
if…
- ✓ you want quicker acceleration off the line
- ✓ you match the profile: city singles
Verdict reasoning is derived from published specs; brand preference, dealer experience and how a car drives are personal — always take a test drive before deciding.