Korean brand Hyundai has made no bones about its designs on a slice of the fleet sector with the i40.
Both the Tourer (estate) and the saloon represent the company’s first crack at the upper medium sector in the UK, and as far as we can see it’s an exceptionally worthy first attempt.
We went for the popular choice – the 136hp 1.7-litre CRDi engine. It’s now available in Blue Drive guise with 119g/km, which is an even greater unashamed pitch to the fleet sector with its respectable power and such low emissions for a car of its size.
You can have all of this for £20,140 with the entry-level Active model, which isn’t exactly lacking in equipment in itself. Our car’s Style trim level goes one better and adds upmarket equipment like satnav, a reversing camera [1] and an electronically adjustable driver’s seat among other luxuries. It increases the P11D value to a somewhat steeper figure of £22,240, but it’s a classic case of ‘you get what you pay for’.
Aside from affordability, one of the i40’s strongest suits is its spaciousness. It’s a big car in every sense and you’re not short of room no matter where you’re sitting. At 553 litres, the boot is truly huge [2]. Our only criticism in this area is a lack of space for rear passengers’ feet beneath the front seats.
It’s old news to say that Hyundai’s quality and polish has come on a long way. It’s now pretty much common knowledge that the firm has all but shed its former cheap ‘n’ cheerful, slightly tacky image associated with earlier models. Established cars like the i10 and the outgoing i30, itself being replaced in 2012, have long since put pay to that.
But it has to be reiterated that the i40’s cabin is a genuinely classy thing [3] – it’s exceptionally comfortable, attractive and well finished. Only the odd low-grade bit of trim – like the indicator and wiper stalks – lets the side down. If you’re familiar enough with its rival to get the reference, then the best description we can give is that the i40 is to Hyundai what the Superb is to Skoda. It’s just a coincidence that they’re fierce competitors.
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