Until January 26, the 81st Montreal Auto Show is in full swing at the Palais des congrès. Hyundai used its prime spot at the heart of the main show floor to unveil, as a Canadian premiere, a rather unexpected concept: the Crater. This 100% electric SUV has almost nothing to do with the IONIQ lineup. More angular and more rugged, it clearly leans toward off-roading rather than city cruising. Its design also draws inspiration from Hyundai’s XRT family, the brand’s adventure-oriented trim. So what makes it different, exactly?
A concept made for fun
The Crater was first created to let Hyundai’s design team cut loose, and you can tell at a glance. Every detail seems to point in the same direction, as if the vehicle were conceived as a small, coherent world rather than just a flashy shell. The most striking example? The cabin floor, inspired by a topographic map of a crater on Korea’s Jeju Island, ties directly into the vehicle’s name and its mineral, terrain-ready vibe.
Add to that the visual references to Craterman, a little character invented for the occasion, sprinkled throughout as playful Easter eggs. The result is confident, almost whimsical and, I’ll admit it, genuinely impressive. I should also say I’m already a fan of Hyundai’s EV styling, whether it’s the IONIQ family or the electric Kona. The familiar cues, like the pixel-style headlights, work surprisingly well here, blended into a squarer silhouette with taut surfaces and a stance that feels decidedly tougher.
Accessories like a Swiss Army knife
The other big surprise with the Crater is the sheer number of built-in gadgets and accessories in a vehicle that remains, all in all, fairly compact. The dashboard, for instance, is designed to let you use your own device as the main display. The side mirrors can be removed and repurposed as flashlights. There’s also a turntable in the cargo area, a first-aid kit, and even a fire extinguisher housed directly in the door. On paper, the Crater is ready for adventure.
That said, it’s worth tempering the excitement right away. The Crater is nowhere near a production model, and I strongly doubt Hyundai will ever sell it as-is. Still, it would be surprising if this concept didn’t influence future, more rugged EVs from the brand. And when they arrive, let’s hope they’ve kept at least a bit of the attitude that gave the Crater its spark.
