Honda Civic vs Hyundai Inster

The Honda Civic starts from $43,250 before on-road costs, while the Hyundai Inster opens at $39,000. That makes the Hyundai Inster the more affordable entry point by $4,250.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $47,575 and $42,900 respectively.

The Hyundai Inster qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Honda Civic, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

The Honda Civic holds a 5-star ANCAP rating vs 4 stars for the Hyundai Inster. Adult occupant protection scored 89% for the Honda Civic and 70% for the Hyundai Inster.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Honda Civic packs more ADAS features with 8 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 4 in the Hyundai Inster.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera.

How long each takes to charge — from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC — estimated from battery size and max charge rates.

The Honda Civic features a 9-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.2-inch digital dash, while the Hyundai Inster gets a 10.3-inch display and 10.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Honda Civic stands out with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging, Bose audio and ambient lighting that you will not find on the Hyundai Inster. The Hyundai Inster counters with Apple CarPlay and V2L. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Honda Civic gets leather upholstery while the Hyundai Inster offers cloth. Climate control is 2-zone in the Honda Civic and 1-zone in the Hyundai Inster.

The Honda Civic uses a Hybrid producing 135kW and 315Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.1 seconds.

The Hyundai Inster responds with a Electric making 71kW and 147Nm, paired to a single-speed driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 10.6 seconds.

The Honda Civic has the clear power advantage at 135kW vs 71kW. In the real-world sprint, the Honda Civic is 2.5s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Honda Civic measures 4,560mm long on a 2,733mm wheelbase, 735mm longer than the Hyundai Inster at 3,825mm (2,580mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Honda Civic generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 410L in the Honda Civic and 280L in the Hyundai Inster, giving the Honda Civic a 130L advantage.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Honda Civic) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Hyundai Inster). Both match on warranty length. Capped-price servicing: 5yr (Honda Civic)—.