zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Buying
/
Let's Hear It For The Hyundai Casper, The Cutest Micro SUV You Can't Have
Let's Hear It For The Hyundai Casper, The Cutest Micro SUV You Can't Have-August 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:09:29

Image for article titled Let's Hear It For The Hyundai Casper, The Cutest Micro SUV You Can't Have

That adorable bundle of form and function you see above is the Hyundai Casper, a tiny SUV the South Korean automaker this morning. Details are sparse at the moment, but it seems as though the Casper is destined at least for South Korea and India. Certainly not the U.S., which is a shame for yours truly. Having now seen it, I want one in every color.

The Casper is small. How small? It’s 141.5 inches long and 62.7 inches wide, according to India’s . For reference, the measures 143.5 inches long and 64.7 inches wide. The Casper is about 8 inches too long and 5 inches too wide to qualify as a kei car, but in still images it may as well be one.

The is the smallest crossover Hyundai’s willing to sell over here, and that car’s 20 inches longer than this one. But the faceless Venue doesn’t share the Casper’s cute-but-unamused-about-it exterior, or eye-catching grille and lighting design. The Casper is sort of like a less ugly that’s also been hit by a shrink ray, or a cross between a Fiat Panda Wild 4x4 and a .

Image for article titled Let's Hear It For The Hyundai Casper, The Cutest Micro SUV You Can't Have

There’s so much to like! In what few pictures Hyundai’s released, the grille can be seen in silver or black, which is a cool touch; that burnt orange-and-aluminum combo is perfect. I love how the side windows don’t quite match or meet in a predictable way, and the decision to paint the B-pillar body color makes the Casper much more interesting in profile. The curvy glass of the hatch fits so perfectly. How about those taillights, echoing the triangular grille pattern?

The Casper is built on Hyundai’s K1 platform, which is also used for the i10 supermini. Like the i10, it’ll be offered with a choice of 1-liter three-cylinders; a base engine producing about 76 horsepower, and an optional turbo-equipped one making 99 HP. Apparently an all-electric version is in the pipeline, too.

And before you make assumptions about the origin of this little guy’s name, apparently it’s not a reference to the friendly ghost, but rather a skateboard trick — something Hyundai also released today. Reservations are opening for customers in South Korea this month, and the automaker plans to release more information on the vehicle in the coming weeks.

I don’t know how Hyundai does it. These days, if there’s a car to build or a category it hasn’t served yet, it finds a way to fill that gap. Soon you’ll be able to get a Veloster, an or even a with the same high-output turbo-four; this is also the same company that will sell you a three-row SUV. At this rate, I expect Hyundai to keep introducing progressively smaller and larger vehicles at opposite ends of the spectrum until it has both the Cozy Coupe and Chevy Suburban buyers covered.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Buying
Is This Olds-Powered 1979 Trans Am A Winner At $5,500?
Is This Olds-Powered 1979 Trans Am A Winner At $5,500?
The seller of today's Trans Am claims it to be Grand, and to have the 'shift kit from hell.' It also has an older Olds mill, but is it priced to have you saying why the hell not? I'm sure you've heard the old saw that one man's meat is...
Aug 26, 2025
What Do You Want To Know About The Jaguar XJR?
What Do You Want To Know About The Jaguar XJR?
It's Labor Day Weekend. It's a weekend to get out of town, do something relaxing, have some fun. I have an XJR to help facilitate that relaxation. What do you want to know about it? This is a short wheelbase XJR in crystal blue and two tone tan/black interior. It...
Aug 26, 2025
Could this 1979 Jeep CJ5 - And Two More - Pull $3,500?
Could this 1979 Jeep CJ5 - And Two More - Pull $3,500?
Today is Labor Day here in the U.S., and to celebrate, we've got a Jeep that looks like it might be a labor of love. It does come with friends, but will the trio prove to be worth some hard worked-for cash? Look, I know that today is a day...
Aug 26, 2025
Could This Custom 1976 Mercedes Benz 450SE 6.9 Grab $7,500?
Could This Custom 1976 Mercedes Benz 450SE 6.9 Grab $7,500?
Today's 450SE has been dubbed by its builder the 'Frankenbenz' owing to all its 6.9-sourced parts. That's a big motor, and you'll need to decide if this custom Benz also has a big price. It's remarkable how close in specs the '90s Mercury Capri is to the same era Mazda...
Aug 26, 2025
For $1,900, This 1991 Mercury Capri Puts The Top Down On Fun
For $1,900, This 1991 Mercury Capri Puts The Top Down On Fun
Two Mazda-based sports convertibles were born in 1989, the Miata, and the Australian-built Capri. One of them was the answer to all of life's problems, while today's Mercury proves, there's a big difference between nurture and nature. Just like everywhere else, Brazil is full of people trying to make a...
Aug 26, 2025
The Ten Best Supercars You Can Buy On eBay For Under $50,000
The Ten Best Supercars You Can Buy On eBay For Under $50,000
Yesterday. I asked the financially responsibly lot of you about , and you certainly delivered. Here are the cars that are the automotive equivalent of a fine steakhouse, for the price of a value meal. Yesterday. I asked the financially responsibly lot of you about what supercars you would buy...
Aug 26, 2025
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved