Hyundai i40 Saloon (12 on) - Review

Stacks of equipment, low running costs and a five-year warranty makes the Hyundai i40 a quality alternative when pitted against rivals such as the Ford Mondeo and the Vauxhall Insignia. The four-door saloon sector has been shrinking in the UK but that may be changing thanks to the emergence of the Hyundai i40, Kia Optima and the Peugeot 508, all of which are serious rivals to the VW Passat and the Ford Mondeo. Hyundai has made major advancements to its most recent models since it launched the ix35 and the company is making waves in the fleet market. The i40 has fuel-efficient engines and emits relatively low CO2 making it a viable option for fleets looking to keep costs to a minimum. If you’re buying a saloon but need practicality and space, the i40 has both in abundance. Three trim levels are available on the Hyundai and even the entry level Active model is stacked with lots of standard kit including automatic headlights, front fog lights and Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition which will be very important for company car drivers. Rear passengers have lots of head- and legroom and can stretch out in comfort and therefore feel refreshed at their journey’s end. There are plenty of cubby holes for nik-naks and loose change and the boot has lots of space although the hinges may hinder you when loading awkward items. As well as the generous kit levels Hyundai offers the Five Year Triple Care package – a five-year/unlimited mileage warranty that should give potential buyers extra peace of mind. The most popular engine is likely to be the 113bhp 1.7-litre CRDi diesel Blue Drive. It emits 113g/km of CO2 slotting it into a relatively low tax band for the class. Hyundai has a fight on its hands to break into the fleet market but the i40 is perfectly positioned and it should send a few shockwaves out to its rivals. So can this car tackle the established competition including the VW Passat, the Ford Mondeo or the Peugeot 508? Read the full Hyundai i40 review to find out…