Hyundai’s upcoming compact electric SUV will debut in India in Q1 2027. The carmaker had initially outlined a debut by March 2027 at its 2026 CEO Investor Day, before Hyundai Motor India MD and CEO Tarun Garg told our sister publication Autocar Professional that the EV would arrive earlier, by the end of 2026. According to our sources, the Hyundai compact EV is now slated to debut in January 2027.
Hyundai compact EV: Platform and battery details
Codenamed HE1i, the upcoming compact electric SUV will use Hyundai’s E-GMP (K) platform, which also underpins the Inster EV sold overseas. The new model will be manufactured at Hyundai’s Sriperumbudur plant in Tamil Nadu and has been planned specifically for the Indian market.
It will be offered in two versions: Standard Range and Long Range. However, the exact specifications are under wraps. For reference, the Inster EV is offered with 42kWh and 49kWh battery packs, with claimed WLTP ranges of up to 300km and 355km, respectively. The Inster Standard Range produces 97hp and 147Nm, while the Long Range version produces 115hp and 147Nm.
The compact EV will initially use battery cells supplied by Svolt. Hyundai plans to shift to locally sourced cells through its association with Exide, following delays in the latter’s battery production.
Hyundai compact EV: Features and rivals
Hyundai has confirmed that the compact EV will feature Level 2 ADAS and a ‘next-generation infotainment system’, which could be the Pleos Connect system seen in some of the brand’s newer models.
For reference, the international-spec Hyundai Inster gets dual 10.25-inch displays for the instrument cluster and infotainment system, automatic climate control and a 360-degree camera with blind-spot monitoring. It remains to be seen which of these features will make it to the India-spec compact EV.
The Hyundai compact EV will rival the Tata Nexon EV, Mahindra XUV 3XO EV and Kia Syros EV in India.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
