Fiat 500 vs Hyundai Inster
Figures updated
The Hyundai Inster is a new rival to the Fiat 500, one of the UK's most popular city cars. We compare the 500e (2020–) and the Mk1 (2024–) Inster on price, size, boot space, performance, safety, official economy and running costs.
The short answer
The Fiat 500 comes out ahead, with the lower price and lower fuel costs; the Hyundai Inster is close on everything else.
- The Fiat 500 is the cheapest to buy new: from £18,995, £4,000 less than the Hyundai Inster.
- No MOT reliability comparison yet: the Hyundai Inster is too new for MOT records (cars first take an MOT at three years old).
- The Fiat 500 is the cheapest to fuel: comparing electric, charged at home versions, about £110 a year less than the Hyundai Inster at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the suspension on a Fiat 500: it fails on them 1.9 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Fiat 500500e (2020–), 3-door hatchback | Hyundai InsterMk1 (2024–), 5-door SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | from £18,995October 2026 price list (best) | £22,995 to £28,245August 2026 price list |
| Body | 3-door hatchback | 5-door SUV |
| Seats | – | 4 |
| BootSeats up / folded | – | 280 litres / 1,059 |
| Length | 3,632mm | 3,825mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,683mm | 1,610mm |
| Height | 1,527mm | 1,575mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | – | 97–115 PS |
| 0–62mph | – | 10.6–11.7 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2021) | ★★★★★ (2025) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Electric, Petrol | Electric |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 53.3–61.2 mpg | – |
| CO2 | 105–129 g/km | – |
| Electric range | 118–209 miles | 203–230 miles (best) |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.7p a litre, today's UK average | £1,080 (54.2 mpg) | – |
| Electric, charged at home26.3p per kWh standard tariff | £438 (5 mi/kWh) (best) | £548 (4 mi/kWh) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £438 (electric) | £548 (electric) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200 | £200 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 79Well below average | Too new for MOT data |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 32.1% | – |
| Failed at 3 years old | 12.1% | – |
| Failed at 5 years old | 17.3% | – |
| Failed at 10 years old | 35.9% | – |
| Most common MOT fault | Pins and bushes (5.5% of tests) | – |
| Fails more than average on | Suspension (1.9×), Body and structure (1.4×) | – |
| MOT tests analysed | 334,216 | – |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | City car | City car |
| Owners' average miles a year | 5,800 | – |
| On sale | 2020 on | 2024 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Fiat 500 or the Hyundai Inster more reliable?
It's too early to say from MOT records: the Hyundai Inster is too new, as cars take their first MOT at three years old. The Fiat 500 has a reliability score of 79 (100 is average) from 334,216 MOT tests in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Fiat 500 or the Hyundai Inster?
The Hyundai Inster is 193mm longer (3,825mm against 3,632mm).
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Fiat 500 or the Hyundai Inster?
The Fiat 500: new prices start at £18,995, £4,000 less than the Hyundai Inster (from £22,995). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Fiat 500 or the Hyundai Inster?
Comparing electric versions, the Fiat 500 costs about £110 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£438 against £548), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Fiat 500 or the Hyundai Inster?
Euro NCAP gave the Fiat 500 4 stars (2021) and the Hyundai Inster 4 stars (2025). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Fiat 500 or the Hyundai Inster?
The Fiat 500 comes out ahead, with the lower price and lower fuel costs; the Hyundai Inster is close on everything else. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.