Hyundai upgrades its $20,000 EV: Meet the 2026 Casper Electric
The Casper Electric is Hyundai’s cheapest electric SUV, sold overseas under the name Inster EV. Hyundai launched the 2026 Casper EV in Korea on Tuesday, introducing a few new features and more. Prices start at about $20,000, but with government subsidies, the actual purchase price could be closer to $15,000.
Hyundai launches the 2026 Casper EV
Hyundai opened pre-orders for the Casper Electric, its flagship entry-level electric SUV, last July, starting at just 31.5 million won ($23,000).
In its first full sales month, the Casper Electric was Hyundai’s top-selling EV in its home market. Hyundai said the electric SUV was a hit due to its low starting price and “ample driving range” of up to 196 miles (315 km).
Hyundai took advantage of the initial demand, launching a new entry-level trim priced at just 27.4 million won ($27,400).
For the 2026 model year, Hyundai introduced new infotainment and safety features. The 2026 Hyundai Casper EV now includes a 10.25″ navigation screen, anti-glare rearview mirror, and an LED sun visor lamp as standard starting from the Essential trim.
Hyundai’s entry-level Smart model now includes an anti-glare mirror and driver’s seat LED sun visor lamp as standard.
Additional safety features are now included on the Inspiration trim, including Highway Driving Assist, Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control, Rear Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, and more.
The base 2026 Casper Electric Premium starts at 27.87 million won ($20,000), while the Inspiration and Cross variants are priced from 31.37 million won and 33.37 million won, respectively.
With government and local subsidies, Hyundai expects the actual purchase price for the 2026 Casper EV Inspiration trim to be in the “early to mid 20 million won range,” depending on the region. That’s around $14,500 to $18,000, not too bad for an electric SUV.
A Hyundai official said the “Casper is Hyundai’s representative entry SUV with a robust design and various safety and convenience features.” The upgrades for the 2026 model year will make it “an even more attractive choice.”
Hyundai is hosting a delivery event after opening sales on Tuesday. Those who take delivery by July 31 receive a free leather car key case worth 50 million won ($36,000), or nearly double the value of the vehicle itself.
According to local reports, demand for the Casper Electric is so high in Korea that buyers are waiting over a year for delivery.
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Tesla’s retro-futuristic diner with Superchargers and giant movie screens is ready to open, and I have to admit, it looks pretty sick.
This project has been in the works for a long time.
In 2018, Elon Musk said that Tesla planned to open an “old school drive-in, roller skates & rock restaurant at one of the new Tesla Supercharger locations in Los Angeles.” It was yet another “Is he joking?” kind of Elon Musk idea, but he wasn’t kidding.
A few months later, Tesla applied for building permits for “a restaurant and Supercharger station” at a location in Santa Monica. However, the project stalled for a long time, apparently due to local regulations.
Nevertheless, Tesla still moved forward with a Supercharger at the location, but it had to move the diner project to Hollywood. In 2022, Tesla filed the construction plans with the city, giving us the first look at what the automaker intends to build.
In 2023, the automaker broke ground on the site of the diner.
7 years after being originally announced, the project appears now ready to open:
Musk said that he ate at the diner last night and claimed that it is “one of the coolest spots in LA.” He didn’t say when it will open, but Tesla vehicles have been spotted at Supercharger and people appear to be testing the dinning experience inside.
A Tesla Optimus Robot can be seen inside the diner on a test rack. It looks like Tesla might use one for some tasks inside the diner.
Earlier this year, Tesla integrated the diner into its mobile app – hinting at some interaction through the app – possibly ordering from it.
Electrek’s Take
I think it looks pretty cool. I am a fan of the design and concept.
However, considering the state of the Tesla community, I don’t think I’d like the vibes. That said, it looks like Tesla isn’t prominently pushing its branding on the diner.
You can come and charge there, but it looks like Tesla is also aiming to get a wider clientele just for dining.
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Hyundai’s electric minivan is finally out in the open. The Staria EV was caught without camo near Hyundai’s R&D center in Korea, giving us a closer look at the electric minivan undisguised.
Hyundai’s electric minivan drops camo ahead of debut
The Staria arrived in 2021 as the successor to the Starex, Hyundai’s multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). Although the Staria has received several updates throughout the years, 2026 will be its biggest by far.
Hyundai will launch the Staria EV, its first electric minivan. Like the current model, the 2026 Staria will be available in several different configurations, including cargo, passenger, and even a camper version.
We’ve seen the Staria EV out in public a few times already. Last month, we got a glimpse of it while driving on public roads in Korea.
Despite the camouflage, new EV-like design elements were visible, including updated LED headlights and a full-length light bar. Although it’s still unclear, the electric version appears to be roughly the same size as the current Staria from the side, but slightly wider from the front.
New images posted on the South Korean forum Clien reveal a test car, expected to be Hyundai’s Staria electric minivan, without camo.
Like most Hyundai test cars, the prototype has a black front and a grey body. It still features a similar look to other prototypes we’ve seen, but you can clearly see the new facelift.
Earlier this year, a Staria EV was spotted in a parking lot in Korea, featuring a similar look. The electric version is nearly identical to the Staria Lounge, but with an added charge port and closed-off grille.
The Hyundai Staria EV is expected to make its global debut later this year. Technical details have yet to be revealed, but it’s expected to feature either a 76 kWh or 84 kWh battery, providing a range of around 350 km (217 miles) to 400 km (249 miles).
Hyundai’s electric SUV arrives after Kia introduced its first electric van, the PV5, which launched in Europe and Korea earlier this year.
In Europe, the Kia Passenger PV5 model is available with two battery pack options: 51.5 kWh and 71.2 kWh, providing WLTP ranges of 179 miles and 249 miles, respectively. The Cargo version has a WLTP range of 181 miles or 247 miles.
Source: TheKoreanCarBlog, Clien
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