2011 Hyundai I40 Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Hyundai i40 as a used buy. The Hyundai i40 was initially sold only as a station wagon, called the Tourer, when it arrived in Australia in October 2011. With the Tourer Hyundai Australia was chasing potential buyers of crossover SUVs, offering a more

SUVs march unrelentingly through the suburbs at a pace that has left rival vehicle types in the shade.Two questions: Do you need all that space? And aren't SUVs becoming a bit passe?The answer may be the humble wagon. Now freed of the additive "station'' -- implying expansive grazing lands and lazy windmills -- the wagon has matured to cleverly blend leisure with some family duties. Even better, thanks to their popularity in Europe, they are stylish and many share the enthusiastic engines of their sedan counterparts.Wagons are on an equal footing with their sedan sisters in equipment, safety and performance. The Skoda Octavia wagon here, for example, has the same high-output turbo-petrol engine as its sports-oriented RS sedan model -- itself a reskinned Volkswagen Golf GTI. Wagons also share the handling, agility and performance acumen of their sedan equivalents.But the wagon has a more flexible load area and the ability to haul a range of awkward-sized cargo thanks to split and fold-down rear seats. In comparison to an SUV, the wagon also retains the less cumbersome style of the sedan, in effect offering the best of both worlds.Find a good sedan and if there's a wagon equivalent, then generally it will share any of the sedan's advantages and disadvantages. These three examples are very different in origins and execution. All are current models -- though the Holden and Skoda are poised for replacement -- and will have relatively low mileage.The Skoda is the sports model and is more expensive than its rivals, though has more equipment and has a turbocharged petrol engine with a dual-clutch automatic transmission -- all quite expensive stuff.Resale values are strong for the Hyundai (50 per cent retained after three years) and Skoda (49 per cent) but weak for the Holden (41 per cent), indicating that seeking a near-new used model can be more advantageous for the Holden buyer. TOP TIPSWagons are made for work -- but check to see if it hasn't been abused. You may save big fuel money by choosing a smaller engine. A cargo net or barrier is a wise investment2012 Skoda Octavia RS 147TSI Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo petrolTransmission: 6-speed dual-clutch autoThirst: 7.9L/100CARSGUIDE SAYS"These wagons boast an incredible amount of storage space -- there's even an extra cubby hole beneath the boot floor. Skoda makes durable cars and though the Octavia is rather plain in appearance, it has a lot of features and is well built. The RS version adds sporty equipment and gets the upmarket 147kW engine and DSG transmission. There are paddle shifters for manual-mode gearchanges, 18-inch alloy wheels, satnav, sports seats and daylight running LEDs. The car has all the safety equipment including six airbags and electronic stability and traction2011 Hyundai i40 PREMIUMEngine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl petrolTransmission: 6-speed automaticThirst: 7.7L/100kmCARSGUIDE SAYS"Hyundai has confirmed the i40 range will continue after it drops the similar i45 models, ensuring the i40 has a strong future. This is a 2.0-litre petrol-engined model -- there is also a 1.7-litre turbo diesel which is better suited to shorter duties such as in the city and suburbs. The Premium model gets a big list of standard equipment including 18-inch alloy wheels, satnav and Bluetooth, cruise control, sunroof and leather seats. There are split-fold rear seats though the available cargo space isn't as generous as the Skoda. Hyundai has a capped-price service schedule and a five-year warranty, which is reassuring for used-car buyers.2012 Holden Commodore SV6Engine: 3.6-litre V6 petrolTransmission: 6-speed automaticThirst: 9.8L/100kmCARSGUIDE SAYS"The Australian is a strong workhorse with plenty of style and ability. It's also a reliable and easy-to-fix wagon. The SV6 version is a more upmarket model that retains the 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine and six-speed automatic transmission but adds 18-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension and a sports body kit. Standard equipment includes six airbags, electronic stability and traction control, a reverse camera, airconditioning and cruise control. It also has a capped-price service schedule and buyers have a portion of the three-year warranty still intact. 

As luck would have it, Hyundai Australia is able to source models designed for Europe and from Korea, meaning some doubling up in certain segments. Buyers stand to benefit with a rich selection, all with more improvements, features, safety and style.Latest cab of the rank is the i40 Tourer, a medium size wagon designed in Germany and built in Korea. It's slightly smaller scale than i45 sedan but more handsome and thanks to local development, better mannered and a better drive.The i40 Tourer is so good in this department as to rate the best ride/handling vehicle in the current local Hyundai lineup.Three variants are offered; Active, Elite and Premium with ascending levels of specification. There are two engine choices - a new direct injection 2.0-litre petrol four cylinder and a new 1.7-litre turbodiesel. They are matched to a choice of six-speed transmissions in manual and auto. But manual is only available on the entry Active model.VALUEActive petrol manual starts at $32,490 with diesel attracting a two grand premium and auto another two grand. Elite auto is $39,490 and Premium auto is $44,490 WHAT YOU GET All score alloy wheels, nine air bags, active safety systems and cornering lights. All have a five star crash rating.Cornering brake control is standard as are LED front driving lights, air conditioning, remote central locking, a full size spare, electric parking brake and multi media connectivity with Bluetooth phone and audio. Upscale models get more with, get this, air conditioning to the seats featured on the top variants. Premium gains leather, premium audio, 18-inch alloys, button start, front and rear park sensors, panoramic sunroof and reversing camera.All are well equipped.ENGINESBoth engines are new to Hyundai and will flow into other models in some form or other. The diesel is good for 100kW/320/330Nm (auto/manual) and as little as 4.7-litres/100km. The petrol is good for 130kW/213Nm and as little as 6.8-litres/100km. The engines rate 3.5-5.0 in the government's Green Car ratings.With 70 litres aboard, Hyundai reckons the diesel manual has a range of 1489km an astonishing distance for a car selling in the mid 30 grand price range. The six-speed auto is generic in Hyundai and Kia's lineup and offers paddle shift and sports mode right down to the entry model.DESIGNComing out of Hyundai's German design studio, the swoopy looking i40 Tourer is one of the better looking wagons on the market right now. It follows through with a family Hyundai look to the front complete with a hexagonal grille and eagle eye headlights. The interior is modern, stylish and functional leaving many Japanese contenders in its wake.DRIVINGWe got to drive the Active turbodiesel auto and the Premium petrol and frankly, prefer the base model Active diesel though both are impressive. Hyundai has totally nailed the ride/handling in i40 which offers sporty but controlled handling, responsive stering and feels well tied down.The diesel's luscious torque is a strong point over its petrol stablemate, plus the fact that it is super economical. It doesn't feel like a wagon when pushing hard on a winding, undulating road and scoots along smoothly and quietly on the highway.The interior is comfortable providing luxurious rear seat room and comfy seats. The diesel is noisier than the petrol but only under hard acceleration.VERDICTBest in Hyundai's lineup. Eclipses many Japanese (and European) competitors at less money. Striking looks. Unbeatable warranty.HYUNDAI i40 TOURERPrice: from $32,490 - $46,490Warranty: 5 years/unlimited kmResale: N/AService: 15,000km/12mthsThirst: 6.8-7.7L/100km, 91RON, CO2 159g/km; 4.7-6.0L/100km diesel CO2 124g/kmSafety equipment: 9 airbags, ESP, ABS, EBD, traction control, stability controlCrash rating: N/AEngines: 2.0-litre 4-cyl petrol 130kW/213Nm; 1.7-litre turbodiesel 100kW/325NmTransmissions: 6-speed manual, 6-speed auto with paddle-shifters, FWDBody: 4-door sedan, 5 seatsDimensions: Length 4770mm, width 1815mm, height 1470mmWheelbase: 2770mm, tracks front/rear 1591mm/1597mmWeight: 1420-1514kgTyres: 16x7.0; 17x7.5; 18x8Spare: Full-size alloy.

Korean brand Hyundai is steadily pushing away from its downmarket history, and the i40 Tourer - station wagon in Aussie - is the next step on that road.There's not a huge amount of choice if you're looking for an affordable mid-sized wagon, so the arrival of another contender was always going to be welcome. And with the i40, Hyundai is launching the range here with the wagon this month. It will be joined by a sedan by the end of the year in overseas markets, but i40 Tourer will serve here as the wagon complement to the brand's i45 in the mid-size field.VALUEThe i40 Tourer is available in three trim levels - Active, Elite and Premium. Prices start at $32,490 for the manual petrol drivetrain in Active trim with standard kit including daytime running lights and 'static bending' headlamps, electronic park brake, Bluetooth, cruise control, 16-in alloys wheels, full-size spare and premium steering wheel with audio and phone controls.Adding $2000 gets you the automatic transmission, and a further $2000 swaps the petrol engine for the diesel across the range.The auto-only Elite spec is $39,490 for the petrol, and includes premium audio, 17-in alloy wheels, larger disc brakes, alloy pedals, foglights, front and rear park assist, powered driver's seat and rain-sensing wipers.The same drivetrain in Premium spec is $44,490, and includes 18-in wheels, heated/cooled leather seats front and rear, adaptive cornering high-intensity headlights, reversing camera, panoramic glass roof and extra cosmetic garnish.With Toyota's Camry wagon having exited, the i40's main rivals are the Ford Mondeo, Mazda6 and Subaru Liberty wagons. But while it's priced and equipped to nip at their sales, it could be in trouble if people ever stop ignoring the great drivetrains and fit-out of the even better-priced Skoda Octavia.DESIGNThe signature for this car is bound to become the arabesque LED running lights. It's a startling feature but some people are going to find the curvilinear accent too fussy. The body is a sharply-penned translation of Hyundai's 'fluidic' design language, and every panel seems to be creased, folded and curved.The car sits low - which lends a sporty hint to the looks but means the front fascia is in danger of scraping over deep driveways - while a large roof spoiler and elongated light clusters add a sense of attitude.The stylish cabin relies mainly on the sculpted surfaces and lines of the dash flowing through onto the doors, picked up with metallised accents in the Premium spec. At this level you also get top-flight finishes and well-matched perforated leather for the heated/cooled seats front and rear. The centre console wouldn't look out of place in a German premium brand, but the steep angle means a lot of the digital information is unreadable in bright light.Hyundai has gone big on a vast array of blue-lit dials and instruments - 14 lights on the steering wheel alone - transforming the cockpit into an uber-tech display, but it risks attracting a queue of dazzled nightclubbers if you stray into the wrong postcode.TECHNOLOGYThe i40 Tourer range arrives with just two engines. The petrol unit is an all-new direct-injection 2.0-litre developing 130kW of power and 213Nm of torque.Official fuel figures for the petrol engine are posted as 6.8 l/100km when it's mated with the six-speed manual (in base model Active spec only) and 7.7 l/100km when it's joined to the six-speed auto.The turbodiesel engine is a 1.7-litre four-cylinder that develops 100kW of power and 320Nm of torque when mated to the auto transmission, giving a fuel figure of 5.6-6.0L/100km, while going for the manual gives you an extra 10Nm of torque while improving economy to 4.7L/100km.Like the i45 sedan it joins, the i40 Tourer's suspension set-up is MacPherson struts for the front and multi-link for the rear. However, after the poor reception to the i45's dynamics - which resulted in Hyundai recalibrating the sedan's suspension and steering - the Australian HQ's in-house engineers have reworked the wagon to bring it more in line with local driving styles and conditions.SAFETYIt has just a five-star ANCAP crash rating, with the local body awarding the stars based on the results of the i40's European NCAP test. The car has a standard list that includes nine airbags, stability and traction control, and anti-skid brakes with brakeforce distribution to counter uneven loading and brake assist to give extra 'boot' for panic stops.DRIVINGThe work done to 'Australianise' the steering and suspension shows, with a noticeable improvement on the revised i45. The steering is accurate and has much better-considered weight, although it's still on the light side. There's still nothing in the way of feel, but that's not out of order for buyers of a family wagon. They'll be similarly satisfied with the reasonably compliant ride and safe, dependable cornering, but it's not a car for the hard-driving enthusiast.We tested both engines with the six-speed auto, and found while the petrol unit is very quick from standstill, the torque doesn't keep tipping in as you climb.  You can use the paddles for quick-think changes to pre-empt what the economy-focused transmission will do, but otherwise it's responsive enough without being spectacular.Our pick is the diesel, which isn't as zippy off the line, but delivers comfortably as you climb the rev range above 2000rpm, and never sounds agricultural on the job. It's the heavier unit, but you don't notice the difference.While the sharply angled front and rear windscreens enhance the looks, they undermine the visibility - compounded in the top spec by the larger rearview mirror, which includes a reversing camera to help you see out the back but leaves you a slot to peer underneath out the front.VERDICTWhile the i40 Tourer loses to some its rivals dynamically, it's a practical family package. It's well-priced against the competition, and better-styled than most of them. The fit-out is excellent at all levels, but the base model is especially good value - it leaves you wondering why you'd spend the extra to cram in any more features and garnish.HYUNDAI i40 TOURERPrice: from $32,490 - $46,490Warranty: 5 years/unlimited kmResale: N/AService: 15,000km/12mthsThirst: 6.8-7.7L/100km, 91RON, CO2 159g/km; 4.7-6.0L/100km diesel CO2 124g/kmSafety equipment: 9 airbags, ESP, ABS, EBD, traction control, stability controlCrash rating: N/AEngines: 2.0-litre 4-cyl petrol 130kW/213Nm; 1.7-litre turbodiesel 100kW/325NmTransmissions: 6-speed manual, 6-speed auto with paddle-shifters, FWDBody: 4-door sedan, 5 seatsDimensions: Length 4770mm, width 1815mm, height 1470mmWheelbase: 2770mm, tracks front/rear 1591mm/1597mmWeight: 1420-1514kgTyres: 16x7.0; 17x7.5; 18x8Spare: Full-size alloy