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

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

Given Hyundai doesn’t offer large engines in the i40, 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 the i40 is easily cheaper than the equivalent Audi A4, BMW 3 Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class, while even undercutting a similar Ford Mondeo.

That said, the i40’s residual values are worse than its German competition, so despite its lower list prices you can expect the cars’ finance payments to be much closer. For many, they may be so close that its more rounded rivals look better value overall.

Most will be considering an i40 as a company car, though. Unfortunately, neither of the diesel engine options is particularly clean by the standards of the executive class. The i40’s lower 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 stronger German competition.

Standard equipment is very good, though. S trim is the cheapest way into an i40 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.

Every i40 comes with seven airbags (Premium cars get rear side airbags) 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 scored five stars in Euro NCAP’s crash test in 2011, its scores can’t be compared with the latest executive cars. At least security firm Thatcham Research has said the i40 is excellent at resisting being driven away and good at resisting a break-in.

In addition, Hyundai’s standard five-year warranty is among the best anywhere – and certainly one of the best in the executive class. Hyundai also placed an impressive seventh out of 32 manufacturers in our latest reliability survey, although the i40 itself didn’t do so well: it came last out of the 14 executive cars included.

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Hyundai has no petrol options at all for the i40. Instead, you get two versions of the same 1.7-litre diesel unit, 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 sense for most people. It pulls pretty well from low revs and hauls the i40 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’s rivals offer far more powerful diesel (and petrol) variants.

Whichever version you end up with, Hyundai’s 1.7 diesel unit 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’s ride and handling aren’t much to write home about either. Models with smaller alloy wheels are more comfortable, and at higher speeds the i40 manages to remain decently controlled. At lower speeds, though, especially with 18in wheels, the car can thump into ruts and potholes, getting quite out of shape.

What’s more, 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 looks dull to drive next to a Ford Mondeo or BMW 3 Series.

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Close down your spreadsheet and make your way over to the office window for a moment. What do you see in the car park? Probably a fair few German executive cars. But what if you want to stand out a bit?

Well, something you don’t see quite so often is the Hyundai i40. It’s unusually stylish for an executive motor and has the ingredients that company car drivers love: a diesel engine for low CO2 emissions and good fuel economy, good space and plenty of equipment.

Trouble is, there’s a reason you see a lot of German executive cars – they’re very good. Indeed, the i40 has to take on and beat cars such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a4/saloon/review/n105">Audi A4</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/saloon/review/n91">BMW 3 Series</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/c-class/saloon/review/n70">Mercedes-Benz C-Class</a>, as well as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/mondeo/hatchback/review/n15">Ford Mondeo</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/superb/hatchback/review/n93">Skoda Superb</a>.

Read on to see if the i40 can indeed beat its rivals as we tell you what it’s like to drive, how practical it is and how cheap it is to run. And, if you decide you want one, then head to <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/configure/hyundai/i40/saloon/">our deals page</a> for the best prices.

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Few will complain about the i40’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 standard too. Together with nicely centred pedals, the i40 makes a comfortable place in which to spend lots of time over many miles.

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 cars 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.

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 executive car systems such as Skoda’s.

The i40 is feeling its age in terms of interior quality, too. Everything is solidly constructed, but there are too many buttons littered around the dashboard, and the plastics and switches look and feel cheap next to rivals from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

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Saloon

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.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

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.

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.

HYUNDAI

The i40 is showing its age; it’s neither great to drive nor luxurious inside, while its running costs are average

Two tall adults will have no problems in the front seats; 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 the dashboard for throwing in your phone and keys, as well as one beneath the central armrest.

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 gets a generous pocket.

Behind the rear seats, though, sits a comparatively spacious boot. It suffers from the same problem with access as other saloons, so getting particularly large items inside can be a squeeze. However, inside it’s a practical square shape and officially offers 525 litres, which is more than you’ll get from the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, although it’s slightly less than the boot in a Ford Mondeo. The i40’s rear seats split in a 60/40 configuration and fold down as standard.

Of course, the Skoda Superb trumps all of these cars for space and practicality in every area.

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The i40 is showing its age; it’s neither great to drive nor luxurious inside, while its running costs are average

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Effortless long-distance capability</li> <li>Strong standard specification</li> <li>Low running costs</li> <li>Comfortable driving position</li> <li>Comprehensive yet easy-to-use infotainment system</li></ul>

Executive cars are often the choice of company car drivers, so factors such as CO2 emissions (which govern your monthly tax bill) are just as important as cruising refinement for those long motorway journeys, a plush cabin and (whisper it) the image of the badge on the bonnet.

The good news is that there are options for all budgets and tastes. If rear space is crucial and you’re willing to put up with a less-than-premium badge, the Skoda Superb is tough to beat, while if you want a premium badge on the bonnet then the BMW 3 Series is consistently one of our favourites in this class.

And don't think you're limited to just petrol or diesel-powered choices in this class,&nbsp;because at the top end the Tesla Model 3 is well worth considering for its long range and engaging driving style.

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Hyundai i40 review

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The Hyundai i40 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. Instead, you get two versions of the same 1.7-litre diesel unit, 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 sense for most people. It pulls pretty well from low revs and hauls the i40 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’s rivals offer far more powerful diesel (and petrol) variants.Whichever version you end up with, Hyundai’s 1.7 diesel unit 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’s ride and handling aren’t much to write home about either. Models with smaller alloy wheels are more comfortable, and at higher speeds the i40 manages to remain decently controlled. At lower speeds, though, especially with 18in wheels, the car can thump into ruts and potholes, getting quite out of shape.,What’s more, 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 looks dull to drive next to a Ford Mondeo or BMW 3 Series. 

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