Hyundai i800 Estate engines, drive and performance
One engine is available in the i800 – a 2.5-litre CRDi diesel which delivers 170bhp, but more importantly, plenty of low down pulling power. It’s a fairly refined unit which remains smooth, even when pushed hard and a 0-62mph time of 14.5 seconds is impressive for such a large vehicle that weighs more than two tonnes. It’s the in-gear pace which really stands out though and makes the i800 surprisingly swift on the motorway or when it comes to overtaking.
Economy isn’t bad either with an average figure of 33mpg while the five-speed manual gearbox offers positive changes
It may look like a large, boxy people carrier but the i800 certainly doesn’t handle like one. The well-weighted steering is responsive and the Hyundai turns neatly into corners with body roll kept well in check, plus there’s good grip too. It’s certainly more car-like to drive than you’d imagine and feels surprisingly agile from behind the wheel. It can happily tackle twisting roads, although it’s more at home on long distance cruises where the excellent ride soaks up bumps and potholes, even with a full load of passengers on board.
With an overall length of more than five metres it can feel a little daunting in town while a width of almost two metres can make squeezing through gaps difficult. However it has a decent turning circle and the standard fit rear parking sensors make manoeuvring into spaces a little easier.