Hyundai i40 review

Hyundai has come a long way since its first boxy models appeared in the UK. Its latest cars give rivals a serious run for their money and the i40 is no exception. Both the saloon and Tourer have sleek bodies, with swept-back headlights, a large hexagonal grille and a sloping roof.  

All versions come with alloy wheels and heated door mirrors, so you’ll always have a clear view no matter the weather. Upgrading to higher trim levels adds parking sensors, a reversing camera and larger alloys.  

The i40 was facelifted in 2015 and these updated cars, complete with LED daytime running lights, are the ones you’ll find for sale on cinch. 

The Hyundai i40’s engine range consists of a 1.7-litre CRDi diesel unit with a couple of power outputs. The lower-powered ‘115’ engine is a good all-rounder and can even cope pretty well on the motorway. The more grunty motor is useful if you regularly carry passengers or cargo. Some versions with the perkier engine are fitted with an automatic gearbox. 

The i40 has a comfortable ride, especially when fitted with smaller wheels, and the speed-sensitive steering gets more assistance when you slow down, which makes life easier in town.  

The body leans more on bends than the Ford Mondeo, which is also more fun to drive. The i40 is still a sure-footed thing both in town and on country roads. 

The Hyundai i40 is fitted with plenty of equipment, even in entry-level ‘S’ trim. That’s evident the moment you sit in the driver’s seat as it comes with a good range of adjustment – including for lumbar support, which helps your lower back.  

Cars in S trim get a six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, auto lights, air-con, 7 airbags and a multi-function steering wheel. SE trim has a digital radio and 7-inch infotainment screen that features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As you may be able to guess, SE Nav trim adds sat-nav, while other trims add leather upholstery and a heated steering wheel and front seats for keeping pinkies and bums warm on winter days. 

The interior feels solid and the dashboard has a swooping design with a clearly defined upper and lower section. There are a fair number of buttons scattered across it. It doesn’t take long to learn what does what, and analogue dials sit in front of the driver. 

The i40’s key rivals are larger, so it doesn’t have quite as much space for occupants. There’s still enough head and legroom for 4 adults, although taller people may find their head brushing the ceiling because of that swooping roof. There’s also room for a third, centre rear passenger for shorter journeys. 

Storage space for those in the front seats includes a cubby in front of the gear lever and ones either side of the centre console, plus another beneath the arm rest, door bins, a glovebox and cup holders behind the gear lever. Door bins also feature in the rear along with nets in the back of the front seats to keep books for kids or a map if you don’t go for the sat-nav versions.  

The saloon’s boot is large and well-shaped, and can carry some cases and squashy bags in one go. The rear seat backs are split 60/40 and fold to extend the load space. Naturally, the Tourer is the one to go for if you need to load bulkier objects, thanks to its larger boot opening. 

Both versions of the 1.7-litre diesel engine should average around 45mpg when fitted with a manual gearbox, and the auto box in the more powerful engine makes it slightly more efficient.

The Hyundai i40 offers a lot of car for the money. For starters, most cars are comprehensively equipped with tech and safety kit – this helped it get the maximum five-star rating from crash safety experts Euro NCAP. Then there’s the practical interior and decent space to stretch out – and a boot big enough to take everyone’s luggage with minimum fuss. This makes the i40 ideal for growing families.