Hyundai Inster Earns 4-Star Safety Rating from Euro NCAP — Watch the Crash Test Video

The newly launched Hyundai Inster, a compact electric SUV, has received a 4-star safety rating from Euro NCAP in its latest round of crash evaluations. This rating reinforces Hyundai’s commitment to safety even in the entry-level EV segment. The Inster scored particularly well in child occupant protection and vulnerable road user safety, suggesting its potential as a practical city-friendly electric vehicle with solid safety credentials.

Impressive Safety Breakdown: What the Ratings Say

The Inster achieved:

• 70% for Adult Occupant Protection

• 81% for Child Occupant Protection

• 70% in the Vulnerable Road Users category

• 67% in Safety Assist systems

While not perfect, these scores place it among the safer micro SUVs in its segment and hint at Hyundai’s future roadmap for emerging markets like India.

Frontal Crash Test: Strong Cabin, But Airbag Limitations

During the frontal offset crash test, the Inster’s cabin structure remained stable, a key indicator of body shell strength. However, there were airbag deployment concerns—specifically, the driver’s head bottomed out the airbag, which led to reduced cushioning and a score penalty.

Chest protection for the driver was rated adequate, based on compression readings from crash test dummies. On a positive note, the knees and femurs of both front occupants showed good protection, with Hyundai confirming that this safety level is maintained across different passenger sizes and seating positions.

Compatibility with Other Vehicles in Frontal Collisions

Post-test analysis revealed that the Hyundai Inster poses a lower structural risk to other vehicles in a frontal impact. Data from the deceleration of the impact trolley and examination of the deformable barrier confirmed that its crash profile is less aggressive, which could reduce severity in multi-vehicle accidents.

Mixed Results in Full-Width and Side Impact Tests

In the full-width rigid barrier test, both front and rear passengers experienced marginal chest protection. However, the car excelled in side barrier impact testing, where it offered good to adequate protection across all major body areas. Unfortunately, the driver’s door opened during impact, leading to a deduction in side impact scoring.

In the side pole test, rib compression data again indicated marginal protection for the chest, suggesting this area still needs refinement in high-energy side crashes.

Far-Side Impact and Whiplash Protection

The Inster showed room for improvement in controlling occupant movement across the cabin during far-side impacts. Although it is equipped with a system to limit injuries between occupants in side collisions, it couldn’t secure additional points because of the earlier issue with the door opening in crash tests.

Whiplash protection for the front seats was rated good, but rear seats only achieved a marginal rating, suggesting inconsistent neck injury prevention in rear-end collisions.

Safety Assist Features and Rescue Systems

In terms of active safety, the Hyundai Inster includes an advanced eCall emergency response system, post-crash braking, and escape assistance features if the vehicle becomes submerged. These are valuable additions for real-world crash scenarios and elevate its safety rating, especially in the Safety Assist category.

Child Safety Performance: High Marks with One Concern

In child occupant safety, the Inster scored well in frontal impact tests for both 6- and 10-year-old dummy sizes. However, side impact data showed that the 10-year-old dummy’s chest experienced excessive force, which resulted in a low rating in that area.

On the plus side, the car includes:

• A switch to deactivate the front passenger airbag for rear-facing child seats

• Clear warning indicators about airbag status

• Easy child seat installation

The only drawback: it lacks a child presence detection system, a feature becoming increasingly common in family-focused vehicles.

Hyundai Inster in India: A Promising Contender

While Hyundai has not yet confirmed an India launch, the Inster could compete strongly with EVs like the Tata Punch EV (₹9.99 lakh) and Citroen eC3 (₹12.90 lakh). With a 4-star Euro NCAP rating and a strong mix of safety and practicality, it would appeal to safety-conscious Indian buyers looking for a compact electric SUV.

Conclusion: Solid Safety, Room for Refinement

The Hyundai Inster's 4-star Euro NCAP rating reflects balanced safety across key areas, especially child protection and side impact durability. Despite a few setbacks—like marginal chest protection and side-impact issues—the Inster remains a compelling option in the growing micro-SUV EV category.