Car Review: Hyundai i40 Tourer Premium 1.7 CRDi

THERE was a time when it was unlikely that you would find the words “stylish” and “estate car” rubbing shoulders in the same sentence.
Nowadays there’s many a handsome estate, and I reckon the Hyundai i40 Tourer is a leader among them, heading the style stakes, with its sleek and elegant design.

Hyundai i40 Tourer

There’s a sculptural feel to the exterior, with lines that are both sophisticated and distinctive.
And the accent on style continues with the inside story. The cabin is roomy, welcoming and smart, with attractive, pleasantly tactile finishes and comfortable leather upholstery. Fit and finish are first class throughout.

In the load carrying department, the i40 Tourer has a cargo capacity of 553 litres with the rear seat backs in place, and loaded to the top level of the seats, extending to 1,719 litres with the rear seats folded down and loaded to the roof. And the low floor level makes loading easy.

When it comes to the level of equipment the i40 Tourer excels, with kit aplenty, including heated driver’s and front passenger seats with electric adjustment, lumbar support and memory function retaining the seat setting for two drivers, electric tilt-and- slide panoramic sunroof, privacy glass for the rear windows, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors with integrated LED indicators, keyless entry with engine stop/start button, front and rear parking sensors, touchscreen satnav with rear view parking camera and parking guidance system, seven-speaker audio system and Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition.

On the safety front you’ll find a host of features including an anti lock brake system with electronic brake force distribution, and an electronic stability programme.

There’s a choice of engines, a 1.6-litre petrol and a 1.7-litre diesel, with two different power outputs – 115bhp and 136 bhp. My road test car had the latter diesel, mated to a smooth-shifting six-speed manual gearbox. There’s also a six-speed automatic.

Hyundai i40 Tourer

My week with the i40 Tourer was made up of a mix of road conditions from a variety of routes, with town driving, twisting country lanes, undulating moorland stretches and motorway hauls, and the car felt at home in all of them. The power unit feels smooth and responsive, with plenty of torque.

The i40 Tourer is an accomplished car with lots of usable technology, a tremendous level of kit and plenty of comfort.

TECH SPEC

Make/model: Hyundai i40 Tourer Premium 1.7 CRDi
Technical: Four-cylinder, DOHC, 1685cc diesel engine with six-speed manual transmission.
Performance: 0 to 62mph, 10.6 seconds; top speed, 124mph
Fuel: 55.4mpg (combined)
Emissions: 134g/km
Price: £24,650 OTR

From more info visit www.hyundai.co.uk

Frank Turner

Frank Turner is a triple award-winning journalist and a member of the Northern Group of Motoring Writers. Contact him at turnermedia@gmail.com