Hyundai i40 1.7 CRDi (136ps) Style Auto 4dr Car Review - March 2012

There are two choices for the 1.7 diesel engine. One of them has a power output of 113bhp and the other, which is the more popular of the two, produces 134bhp at 4000rpm. This 134 bhp model comes in Style trim. It has a 6-speed manual transmission gearbox and can hit the 62mph mark in 10.6 seconds from a standstill. It runs on a 1685cc engine with 4 cylinders and 16 valves with a torque of 240 lb-ft at 2000 to 2500rpm.

The steering of the i40 is electronically-assisted which makes it light and responsive. In fact the steering is actually a little too light and as such tends to lack feel. As for the Hyundai i40’s ride, it is generally smooth and refined. Being tested in the UK, the Hyundai i40 has been fitted with a softer suspension making the ride more comfortable as it is able to deal with speed bumps and potholes easily. Though this may be true, it still falls short of the ride of the Mondeo.

The Hyundai i40 is truly a very attractive saloon car. The i40 sports the ‘fluidic sculpture’ language which Hyundai’s designers are using in the company's new crop of cars. According to the designers, the creases that can be seen in the bodywork of the i40 represent water flowing over rocks, the headlights are eyes of a falcon and the flanks are desert sand dunes.

Hyundai is known for providing its cars with a generous amount of equipment, and the list here is exceptional. The i40 has the following: 17-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition, touch screen display with satellite navigation, cruise control with speed limiter, front and rear parking sensors, rear view camera, alarm, dual zone climate control, electric mirrors, front and rear electric windows, front fog lights, heated mirrors, height adjustable driver’s seat, remote locking, and roof rails. For music, the i40 Style trim has a CD player with MP3, audio remote, and Sony PSP or iPod connectivity.

The Hyundai i40 is roomy and spacious enough to seat tall passengers comfortably. There should be enough head, shoulder and leg room for adults to stretch out in comfort in the rear. The boot is also impressive. It can accommodate 533 litres with the seats in place and 1,719 litres with the rear seats folded down.

The Hyundai i40 is fitted with quality equipment to ensure passengers’ safety. Its safety features include stability control, hill assist, emergency stop signal and ABS. To cushion passengers if anything unfortunate should happen, Hyundai has equipped the i40 with seven airbags.

Hyundai vehicles come with their Five Year Triple Care warranty with unlimited mileage, five years roadside assistance and five years of vehicle health check.

The Hyundai i40 1.7 CRDi Style Trim is priced at £22,495. It falls under road tax band E with CO2 emissions of 135g/km. In terms of fuel economy the model performs on average at 54.3mpg, while falling under insurance group 14.

These running costs are very impressive for the class, and the i40 is priced cheaper than the Ford Mondeo. Considering its exceptional range of equipment, it provides superb value for money.