Hyundai i40 review (2011-2020)
The Hyundai i40 is a family car available as a saloon and an estate, known as the Tourer. It competes with the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia and gets plenty of standard equipment when new, which makes it terrific value as a used buy. See what we make of this car in our road-tested Hyundai i40 review
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Pros
- Cheap to run
- Reliable model
- Plenty of space for up to five
Cons
- Uninspiring drive
- Limited engine options
Interior
Our rating: 6/10
Tech and features
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.
i40 models in S trim get a six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, auto lights, air-con, seven airbags and a multi-function steering wheel.
SE trim has a digital radio and seven-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 you 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.
Performance
Our rating: 7/10
Engines and power
The Hyundai i40’s engine range consists of a 1.7-litre CRDi diesel unit with a couple of power outputs.
The lower-powered 115hp 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.
Handling and ride comfort
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.
Practicality
Our rating: 7/10
Rear seats
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 four 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 solutions
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.
Boot space
The saloon’s boot is large and well-shaped, and can carry some cases and squashy bags in one go. The rear seatbacks 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.
Running costs
Our rating: 9/10
Fuel economy
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 verdict
Interior
6/10
Performance
7/10
Practicality
7/10
Running costs
9/10
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.
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