Hyundai’s Adorable New Casper Goes On Sale In Korea With A Sub-$12k Price And Plenty Of Kit

Hyundai revealed the first official pictures and information of the Casper two weeks ago and now the company is showing us the interior of the tiny SUV while announcing pricing for the Korean market through the car’s dedicated website.

Despite measuring only 3,595 mm (141.5 inches) long, 1,595 mm (62.8 inches) wide, and 1,575 mm (62 inches) tall, the new Casper appears to have a quite roomy four-seater cabin with plenty of practical features and modern technology.

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Both of the front seats can fold flat (a word’s first for the driver’s seat, according to Hyundai) which in combination with the split-folding rear seats can transform the cabin into a sleeping area. Additionally, the rear seats can slide by 160 mm (6.3 inches) and recline by up to 39 degrees, prioritizing either rear legroom or boot space. The latter has a capacity of 301 liters (10.6 cubic feet) with the rear seats in the most forward position.

Hyundai designers added some colorful touches on Casper’s cabin and make it a more pleasant place to sit, while the plastic materials appear to be more in line with the budget character of the model, at least in the photos.

However, the tech features are impressive for the segment, at least in the flagship trim level, which gets an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation, blue link, voice recognition, and Hyundai CarPlay, while there is also a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 6-speaker audio system (2-speakers on the base spec model).

Next to the transmission shifter, you’ll also find a driving mode switch that includes a 2WD rough road setting (snow/sand/mud) for better traction.

In terms of safety, the Casper is fitted with 7 airbags as standard, including an airbag between the driver and the front passenger. Despite being just a small crossover, it also gets plenty of active safety systems including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist and Lane Keeping Assist as standard. The top trim level adds a navigation-based Smart Cruise Control and Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist.

The most affordable “SUV” from Hyundai

Since the 14th of September, Hyundai started accepting early bid reservations for the Casper, until its official debut which is scheduled for the 29th of September. The model range consists of three grades – Smart, Modern, and Inspiration – with pricing positioning the Casper as Hyundai’s most affordable crossover model (significantly cheaper than the Bayon, Creta, Venue, and Kona B-SUVs).

The entry-level Smart starts from 13,850,000 won ($11,860), the mid-spec Modern starts from 15,900,000 won ($13,612) while the flagship Inspiration starts from 18,700,000 won ($16,010). The latter has plenty of kit for the price, including the 8-inch infotainment, the complete range of Hyundai SmartSense ADAS systems, and 17-inch wheels. Optional features include the sunroof which costs 400,000 won ($342), and the pictured Active bodystyle adding an extra 900,000 – 950,000 won ($771 – $814) to the price for a more purposeful look.

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The engine range in the Korean market includes a pair of three-cylinder petrol motors – a naturally aspirated 1.0 MPI producing 75 hp (56 kW / 76 PS) and a turbocharged 1.0 T-GDI producing 99 hp (74 kW / 100 PS). Both of them are mated to a four-speed automatic gearbox sending power to the front axle.