Hyundai i40 1.7 CRDi (136ps) Blue Drive Active 4dr Car Review - February 2012

The diesel engine in the i40 is powerful enough when it is running, but the problem that affects this diesel engine is a sluggish pull at low revs. This does mean that drivers will find they have to change gear more often than they should. The handling on the car is a little unresponsive, and doesn't feel natural when cornering. The suspension on the i40 is a little firmer than many of its rivals, allowing a little too many of the bumps on the road to be felt in the cabin.

In terms of the engine's performance, even though it is sluggish at low revs it can still go from 0-62mph in 10.6 seconds and has the capacity to reach a respectable 124mph. That these figures can be achieved in a car with such good fuel efficiency figures is really a remarkable piece of engine design.

The i40 has taken many of its design cues from the other saloons on the market, and the triangular headlights sloping into the lines of the car are very similar to those to be found on a Ford Mondeo. The lines are clean and the rear of the car slopes attractively into the boot, and although it isn't a spectacular car, it is certainly attractive enough not to stand out in the office car park. Inside the car is well designed, and the small number of buttons on the centre console is a good design choice.

Although this is the entry level of trim on the i40, it still comes with alloy wheels and air conditioning as standard, and the Bluetooth connectivity is also a welcome addition. The fully adjustable steering wheel makes finding a comfortable driving position easier, and the entertainment features are perfectly adequate for the car.

The safety of the i40 is one of the biggest selling points, getting some excellent scores and being awarded the five star rating in the Euro NCAP safety test. The car comes with the full range of airbags to look after driver and passengers. There are also the important driving aids including ESP, ABS and traction control which all help the driver to keep in control of the car at all time. The security features such as alarm and immobiliser are all standard on cars in this class, and are all present on the i40.

In terms of the practicality of the car, the i40 does have plenty of space to the front of the car, and the back seats will comfortably take another two passengers, but the central armrest in the front seats affects the space available for anyone riding in the middle seat in the back of the car. The boot space is reasonable for a car of this class.

This is probably the biggest reason that most people will consider the i40 in this trim, because the list price of £19,195 is one of the most competitive saloons available at the moment. Size and space would be expected for a car of this size, but there is a reasonable level of luxury even at the basic end of the i40 scale.

The fuel performance is one of the most impressive aspects of the i40's package, delivering an average 62.8mpg. The insurance group is also lower than many other saloons, which makes it an even more attractive proposition, and the i40 also benefits from the excellent five year warranty and five year breakdown cover policy.