Item: Hyundai i40 Tourer
Rating: 2
Author: What Car? Team

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

<p>Given that Hyundai doesn’t offer large engines in the i40 Tourer, it’s perhaps not surprising that the car looks quite cheap on paper. But it is genuinely well priced; keep it sensible on our favourite SE Nav trim and it’s slightly cheaper than the equivalent Ford Mondeo Estate or Skoda Superb Estate. That said, its residual values are worse than the Superb Estate’s, so despite the i40 Tourer’s lower list prices, you can expect their finance payments to be closer in reality.</p>

<p>Some will be considering an i40 Tourer as a company car but, unfortunately, neither of the diesel engine options is particularly clean by the latest standards. The i40’s low P11D price may help it claw back some ground but, as with finance payments, it’s likely that many will be tempted to pay the small extra for the more rounded Superb Estate.</p>

<p>Standard equipment is very good, though. S trim is the cheapest way into an i40 Tourer and comes with 16in alloy wheels, air-con, auto headlights, electric windows front and rear, Bluetooth and a USB connection. We’d spend the small extra on the better-equipped SE Nav, which adds 17in alloy wheels, an electric driver’s seat, auto wipers, heated front seats, front and rear parking sensors and a touchscreen navigation system with a DAB radio. SE Nav Business and Premium trims sit above that and offer some choice luxuries, but are too expensive to recommend.</p>

<p>Every i40 Tourer comes with seven airbags (Premium cars get rear side airbags too) and tyre pressure monitoring, while Premium models add lane departure warning and lane-keep assist. It’s disappointing that no model comes with automatic emergency braking – not even as an option. As such, although the i40 saloon (on which this car is based) scored five stars in 2011, its scores can’t be compared with the results from newer rivals. At least security firm Thatcham Research has said it is excellent at resisting being driven away and good at resisting a break-in.</p>

<p>And Hyundai’s standard five-year warranty is among the best anywhere – and certainly one of the best in the estate class. Hyundai placed an impressive seventh out of 32 manufacturers in our latest reliability survey. While we don’t have specific data for the i40 Tourer model, the i40 saloon on which it’s based placed a very poor last position from 14 executive cars included in our study.</p>

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<p>Hyundai has no petrol options at all for the i40 Tourer. Instead, you get a choice of two versions of the same 1.7-litre diesel, one with 113bhp and the other 139bhp.</p>

<p>The lower-powered version is cheaper to buy and has enough get-up-and-go around town and beyond for it to make the most sense for most people. It pulls pretty well from low revs and hauls the i40 Tourer up to motorway speeds without ever feeling out of its depth.</p>

<p>The more powerful model will be preferable if you regularly carry a full car of passengers and luggage; it’s faster in a sprint and pulls hard in gear – this might come in useful over particularly hilly terrain. Most buyers, though, will find the 113bhp version just fine. Bear in mind that almost all of the i40 Tourer’s rivals offer far more powerful diesel (and petrol) variants.</p>

<p>Whichever version you end up with, Hyundai’s 1.7 diesel engine isn’t the most refined of the class. It’s grumbly in cold weather and sends some vibration back through the controls when pushed hard, making quite a din in the interior at the same time.</p>

<p>The i40 Tourer’s ride and handling aren’t much to write home about either. Models with smaller alloy wheels are more comfortable, and at higher speeds it manages to remain decently controlled. At lower speeds, though, especially with 18in wheels, the i40 Tourer can thump into ruts and potholes, getting quite out of shape.</p>

<p>In addition, the steering is pretty uninspiring; it’s fairly precise but quite slow, weirdly weighted and devoid of feel. Pair that with a body that leans quite a long way in bends and the i40 Tourer feels dull to drive next to a Ford Mondeo or Skoda Superb Estate.</p>

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<p>Do you remember a time when your drive across Europe to a sunny holiday destination was almost exclusive carried out by an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/estate">estate</a> car? When you’d pull up on the ferry next to a sea of them? These days, the estate is losing out to the SUV, but they’re still on sale and they still make a lot of sense.</p>

<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PAMGwqGJVKM"></iframe></p>

<p>The Hyundai i40 Tourer is an attractive proposition for families. It’s competitively priced, well-equipped and spacious inside, but it needs to stand out next to strong competition such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/mondeo/estate/review/n107">Ford Mondeo Estate</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/insignia/estate/review/n114">Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer</a> and the simply cavernous <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/superb/estate/review/n17344">Skoda Superb Estate</a>.</p>

<p>There are four trims to choose from, plus two versions of a single engine, so read on for which version to buy, along with how the i40 Tourer drives, what it’s like inside and how much it’ll cost you to run. Head over to our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/configure/hyundai/i40/estate/">new car deals page</a> to find some hefty discounts off list price if you do want an i40 Tourer.</p>

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<p>Few will complain about the i40 Tourer’s driving position. Even entry-level S models get a wide range of manual adjustment at the driver’s seat and steering wheel, while electric lumbar adjustment is also standard. Together with nicely centred pedals, the i40 Tourer makes a comfortable place in which to spend lots of time over many miles.</p>

<p>Forward visibility is good, making roundabouts and T-junctions easy to judge, but the view over the shoulder isn’t quite as clear due to large rear pillars. Entry-level S models don’t get parking sensors to help mitigate this, either, so we’d recommend spending extra on SE Nav trim, which gets front and rear sensors as standard, as well as a reversing camera. You can add xenon lights to range-topping Premium models for better nighttime visibility.</p>

<p>S models make do with a simple analogue radio, but step up to our favourite SE Nav trim and you get a 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system. It’s easy to follow the system’s menus and the large on-screen buttons are easy to hit, but its fairly low-resolution screen is looking a little outdated next to other estate car systems such as Skoda’s.</p>

<p>The i40 Tourer is feeling its age in terms of its interior quality, too. Everything is solidly constructed, but there are too many buttons littered around the dashboard, while the plastics and switches look and feel cheap next to rivals such as the Skoda Superb Estate.</p>

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Estate

<p dir="ltr">Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.</p>

<p dir="ltr">As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.</p>


HYUNDAI

<p>A well-equipped estate with decent space, but there are alternatives that are higher-quality inside and better to drive</p>


<p>Two tall adults will have no problems in the front; there’s good head, leg and shoulder room, while each front door has a generous pocket. There’s also a large cubby at the base of dashboard for throwing in your phone and keys, as well as one beneath the central armrest.</p>

<p>In the back, there’s enough leg room for a couple more adults, but taller passengers might find their heads brushing the ceiling. An additional middle occupant will also have to contend with a raised floor and a protruding seatback that’s quite uncomfortable. At least each rear door also gets a generous pocket.</p>

<p>However, behind the rear seats sits a comparatively spacious boot. Access is very good and inside it’s a practical square shape and officially offers 553 litres, which is more than you’ll get from a Ford Mondeo Estate. The rear seats split in a 60/40 configuration and fold down as standard.</p>

<p>Bear in mind that the Skoda Superb Estate trumps both the i40 Tourer and Mondeo Estate for space and practicality in every single area.</p>

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A well-equipped estate with decent space, but there are alternatives that are higher-quality inside and better to drive

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Huge boot and excellent practicality</li> <li>Plenty of interior space so you can carry passengers as well as luggage </li> <li>Strong engines to pull a heavily laden car</li> <li>Comfortable ride, especially on the motorway</li> <li>Low running costs for company car drivers</li></ul>

<p>If you’re after bags of space but you don’t want to commit to the van-like dimensions and styling of an MPV, there are some great estate cars on offer that should do the job.</p>

<p>Tricks to look out for include an electric tailgate&nbsp;that opens automatically when you wave your foot under the rear bumper; this is&nbsp;particularly handy if you’re trying to load in a heavy or&nbsp;bulky item. You should also look for handles in the side of the boot itself that can drop down the rear seats; these are much more convenient than having to walk around the side of the car to do it.</p>

<p>There are some terrific estates at most price ranges. The humble Skoda Fabia Estate offers cavernous space for not much cash at all, for example.</p>

<p>Further up the price range, another of our perennial favourites is the Skoda Superb Estate;&nbsp;it’s great to drive and as practical as most people should ever need. Meanwhile, for serious mile-munching ability and a premium, well-finished interior, it’s hard to look beyond the BMW 5 Series Touring.</p>

Hyundai i40 Tourer review

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The Hyundai i40 Tourer on the road review including ride and handling information. Pick the best engine and compare performance with similar cars.

Hyundai has no petrol options at all for the i40 Tourer. Instead, you get a choice of two versions of the same 1.7-litre diesel, one with 113bhp and the other 139bhp.,The lower-powered version is cheaper to buy and has enough get-up-and-go around town and beyond for it to make the most sense for most people. It pulls pretty well from low revs and hauls the i40 Tourer up to motorway speeds without ever feeling out of its depth.,The more powerful model will be preferable if you regularly carry a full car of passengers and luggage; it’s faster in a sprint and pulls hard in gear – this might come in useful over particularly hilly terrain. Most buyers, though, will find the 113bhp version just fine. Bear in mind that almost all of the i40 Tourer’s rivals offer far more powerful diesel (and petrol) variants.Whichever version you end up with, Hyundai’s 1.7 diesel engine isn’t the most refined of the class. It’s grumbly in cold weather and sends some vibration back through the controls when pushed hard, making quite a din in the interior at the same time.,The i40 Tourer’s ride and handling aren’t much to write home about either. Models with smaller alloy wheels are more comfortable, and at higher speeds it manages to remain decently controlled. At lower speeds, though, especially with 18in wheels, the i40 Tourer can thump into ruts and potholes, getting quite out of shape.,In addition, the steering is pretty uninspiring; it’s fairly precise but quite slow, weirdly weighted and devoid of feel. Pair that with a body that leans quite a long way in bends and the i40 Tourer feels dull to drive next to a Ford Mondeo or Skoda Superb Estate. 

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Hyundai i40 Tourer review

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