How The Instalment Is Worked Out
Each month, interest is charged on what you still owe. The instalment stays the same, so early payments are mostly interest and later ones mostly principal. That is why an extra repayment early in the loan saves more interest than the same amount paid later.
A one-point rise in the rate matters more than most people expect. Try the same loan at 2.6% and 3.6% and compare the total interest.