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Hyundai i40

Our verdict on the diesel Hyundai i40 saloon - it looks great and is good to drive, too

Hyundai i40 front tracking

Text: Ross Pinnock / Photos: Autobild

October 2011

We've already been impressed by the new Hyundai i40 Tourer estate – but will the saloon be as good? We tried the 1.7-litre diesel model in top-of-the range Premium trim, and the four-door makes a strong first impression.

The current fashion for sporty estates means that most family cars tend to look their best in their most practical form, but the i40 saloon bucks the trend.

 It looks every bit as good as the Tourer, and the shallow angle of the rear windscreen gives it a sleek, well proportioned profile.

Inside you get lots of top-quality trim, high-class switchgear and acres of space. Four or five adults will fit with ease, and the saloon body has done little to dent assenger space.

The obvious difference is at the back, where you get a 525-litre boot instead of the 553-litre luggage area of the estate.

The opening is wide and the rear seatbacks fold forwards for extra practicality. This allows you to carry longer items, but they’ll have to be slender as the resulting hole through the bulkhead to the cabin is pretty small.

The interior and exterior of the i40 aren’t the only things we’ve praised about the estate, as it’s arguably the most convincing Hyundai yet from behind the wheel. And it will come as no surprise to learn the four-door is just as impressive.

Its 1.7-litre diesel engine can do 0-62mph in 10.6 seconds and return around 50mpg, while if you spend an extra £300 you’ll get the Blue Drive model, which adds stop-start to slash CO2 emissions to only 119g/km.

Take the plunge and chances are you won’t be disappointed, as the smooth riding and refined Hyundai is perfectly at home at motorway speeds.

And the positive manual gearbox, progressive brakes and tidy handling mean this is a car with few genuine weaknesses. There’s a bit too much body roll in tight corners and it doesn’t have the precise handling of the Ford Mondeo or reassuring grip of the Skoda Superb, but the Hyundai is very capable indeed.

Better still, even the more affordable Style trim includes touchscreen satellite navigation, a rear view parking camera and cruise control as standard.

We think the extra practicality of the Tourer makes it the best i40 option, but if you want a saloon, the latest addition to the line-up takes some beating. Impressed? You bet. 

For an alternative review of the latest Hyundai i40 visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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7 Comments

Handsome

If I was still on the road clocking up 30000 plus miles a year I would be very happy to do it in one of these I think. Be worried Ford, Vauxhall etc

By yellowbear on 11 October, 2011, 8:15am

Looks good

It nice too see a saloon being offered for a change in a market full of hatchbacks.

By cousins11 on 11 October, 2011, 12:16pm

Big Fault

The one thing that would put me of this car is what looks like a tiny boot opening. some Audi's are the same which would make it impossible to put something like a large box in the boot. From your picture I'm not sure I like the look of the dash either. Other than that it looks like a a very nice car. It will have a battle with all the other cars in this segment of the market though.

By Dieselman on 11 October, 2011, 3:21pm

RIP Vauxhall and Ford?

Vauxhall, Ford, this could be the first nail in your coffin.
Increase your warrantys, drop your prices.
Unlike the 70s,you no longer have the monopoly of the British car buying public.

By toycollector on 11 October, 2011, 6:32pm

2nd that toycollector and add Mercedes to that list with it's hideous CLS estate,
Another great value looker coming soon KIA's Optima.

By armac31 on 13 October, 2011, 9:20am

BMWs the company car!

plenty of derogatory remarks about Ford & Vauxhall - surely they're just day hire cars? The ronnie rep cars that do the high mileages are the likes of the BMW diesels?

By Teifion2 on 13 October, 2011, 2:53pm

Alien dashboard

Why do so many cars just now have dashes that look like they've escaped from a sci-fi movie?

They are plug ugly and this is one of the worst. Whatever happened to simple and stylish?

By MIKELLOYD3 on 17 October, 2011, 6:15pm

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Pictures

Hyundai i40 front tracking
Hyundai i40 rear tracking
Hyundai i40 driving
Hyundai i40 boot
Hyundai i40 panning
Hyundai i40 dash
Hyundai i40 rear seats
Hyundai i40 boot

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FIRST OPINION

    The Hyundai i40 saloon is another excellent Hyundai – a family car that will give mainstream rivals such as the Volkswagen Passat and Peugeot 508 something to think about. Flagship Premium models are well equipped but expensive, so aim for the mid-range Style models for the best value – the 1.7-litre diesel is £20,995. Low emissions will make Blue Drive models a hit with company car drivers and Hyundai’s Five-Year Triple Care deal looks after private buyers, so it’s a car with something for everyone.

 

AT A GLANCE

    Price: £23,395
    Engine: 1.7-litre 4cyl diesel
    Power: 134bhp
    Torque: 325Nm
    Transmission: Six-speed manual
    Boot capacity: 525 litres
    0-62mph: 10.6 seconds (est)
    Top speed: 124mph (est)
    Economy: 55.4mpg
    CO2 emissions: 134g/km
    Equipment: Bluetooth, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, leather upholstery, panoramic sunroof, touchscreen sat-nav, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, alloy wheels
    On sale: Now 
     
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