Our cars: Hyundai i40 Tourer - February 2012

Hyundai i40 Tourer 1.7 CRDi Blue Drive Style

Week ending February 17
Mileage 6910
Driven this week 100 miles
Hyundai i40 Tourer review

Intruding wheel arches make the Hyundai i40 Tourer’s boot more curvy than that of the Passat Estate. So even though it’s big (1719-litres with the rear seats folded), I was slightly nervous that it would struggle to accommodate all my furniture when I moved this weekend. I needn’t have worried, it swallowed everything – even an unwieldy bed stead – in four easy loads without compromising the rear view.

My cat was also grateful for the Tourer’s serenely smooth ride; to say he’s a bad traveller is something of an understatement. However, his cat box fitted snugly in the passenger seat and, although true to form he protested loudly for 60 long miles round the M25, his growls had melted into purrs by the time we’d reached the other end.

Emma.Butcher@whatcar.com


Week ending February 10
Mileage 6803
Driven this week: 503 miles

I borrowed the i40 Tourer last weekend to help with my house move – it was spot-on for the job.

For such a big car, it’s incredibly easy to manoeuvre; in fact, the light steering made it feel like I was driving a much smaller car.

It’s looks really sleek for an estate, too, and the blue cabin lighting is a nice touch. All the controls are also simple to use and within easy reach.

Most importantly, the loadspace was just what I needed. It was easy to slide things in and out of the boot and, although the rear seats didn’t drop completely flat, there was enough space for all my boxes.

I’ll be testing the i40 Tourer again with a few bigger and more oddly shaped bits of furniture this weekend, so it’ll be interesting to see how it copes then.

Emma.Butcher@whatcar.com

Full What Car? Hyundai i40 review

Week ending February 3
Mileage 6300
Driven this week 425 miles

At the weekend had a lot of people come up to me at a local village event asking what car it was. It seems to attract quite a lot of attention… people are attracted to its swoopy styling and when the curvy LED lights are on it certainly stands out from the crowd.

Also I have noticed the car looks better on its normal tyres. The winter ones fitted at the moment are quite skinny and don’t fill the wheel arches as well.

My favourite view is dead front on. It makes you relise how low the i40 sits down on its wheels and how deeply the raked screen goes back which creates the impression of a low coupe rather than an estate.

I love the white pain job but it does have a downside - I seem to be cleaning it constantly, but having a teenage son does help.

The temperature has dropped this week and I have noticed it does take a while for the air-con to generate heat in the cabin. But that’s my only gripe so far.

The car has performed well with good fuel economy and it’s a pleasure to drive. Comfort is key for me and it’s certainly deliver’s on that front. I just wished I had speced heated seats.