The 140 Tourer is the most resolved Hyundai yet seen. It brings together everything Hyundai has been working at so hard over the past decade. This Korean company is among the biggest movers and shakers in the automotive world. As recently as 10 years ago it was known as a competent producer of bargain basement cars, or in Australian terms as basically the Excel Car Company.
There has been an entire new range of models launched locally beginning with the i30 in October 2007, all of which have taken Hyundai deep into Japanese and European territory. If buyers mixed up the i30 with BMW’s 1-Series, the Hyundai marketing dudes didn’t care. And if the new i40 seems more Audi-like than Korean, so much the better.
Hyundai is compiling a quite impressive range of competent, spacious, fuel-efficient and visually striking cars. Five-star safety is becoming a Hyundai given. And the build quality and finish owe more to Mazda or Audi than to the old Excel.
The overriding themes of the new generation Hyundais is design and wherever you see the ‘I’ prefix, that means Europe is at the top of the itinerary. The i40 was designed and engineered at Hyundai’s European Research and Development headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany.
The i40 is a medium-sized wagon that in many respects sits alongside the 145 sedan but which is in fact essentially a whole new vehicle. It is slightly smaller than the i45 and, although the styling has similar themes, the i40 is a unique vehicle. Even the engines are different.
IntroductionThe 140 Tourer is the most resolved Hyundai yet seen. It brings together everything Hyundai has been working at so hard over the past decade. This Korean company is among the biggest movers and shakers in the automotive world. As recently as 10 years ago it was known as a competent producer of bargain basement cars, or in Australian terms as basically the Excel Car Company.
There has been an entire new range of models launched locally beginning with the i30 in October 2007, all of which have taken Hyundai deep into Japanese and European territory. If buyers mixed up the i30 with BMW’s 1-Series, the Hyundai marketing dudes didn’t care. And if the new i40 seems more Audi-like than Korean, so much the better.
Hyundai is compiling a quite impressive range of competent, spacious, fuel-efficient and visually striking cars. Five-star safety is becoming a Hyundai given. And the build quality and finish owe more to Mazda or Audi than to the old Excel.
The overriding themes of the new generation Hyundais is design and wherever you see the ‘I’ prefix, that means Europe is at the top of the itinerary. The i40 was designed and engineered at Hyundai’s European Research and Development headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany.
The i40 is a medium-sized wagon that in many respects sits alongside the 145 sedan but which is in fact essentially a whole new vehicle. It is slightly smaller than the i45 and, although the styling has similar themes, the i40 is a unique vehicle. Even the engines are different.
Exterior and Interior Design
The unfortunate term Hyundai’s designers use is ‘fluidic sculpture.’ They should try harder because in the final analysis all sculpture is fluid. The first example of this new school of design was the ix35 wagon (successor to the Tucson), followed by the i45 sedan. But where the ix35 was arguably over-designed with its exaggerated curves making it look from some angles almost like a caricature car, the i45 was cleaner and probably more elegant than direct rivals such as the Thai-built Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry.
In effect, the i40 is a major editing job on the i45 and looks even better, especially in the relationship between the glasshouse and the body. Its long rear overhang and cab-forward design with short bonnet emphasise the functionality of a load-carrying vehicle while simultaneously making the vehicle look low, rakish and very sporty.
Note, for example, the extremely ‘fast’ A-pillars and the way the glasshouse narrows towards the rear of the vehicle. Hyundai’s D-pillar design is unique. This must be one of the least boxy wagons ever created.
The design has been brilliantly executed from concept car to production vehicle.
In summary, we love the look of it, especially when equipped with those superb 18-inch alloys, a work of art in themselves.
The interior design is quite similar to other recent Hyundais, including the 145 and Elantra. What is notable is the high quality of all the materials and the tasteful way they are combined. There is a more modern feel than in any of its (older) rivals including the Camry and Mondeo.
Even the base model Active impresses with its lovely soft slush mould crashpad (in contrast to the more common injection mould, this method incorporates a layer of foam beneath the plastic), and classy centre stack arrangement.
Accommodation
There is an extraordinary amount of very practically designed space inside this compact wagon.Those who choose the Premium variant will find the sports front seats quite unmatched in this class. The leather is soft and supple. Both front seats are electrically controlled with memory on the driver’s side, as well as heated and ventilated. Facing the highly styled and modern fascia with its piano black highlights, there is the sense that this is a remarkably plush vehicle for $45K, and that Hyundai has come a very long way, Baby.
On the other hand, the Active in six-speed manual form is priced at just $32,490 and although it lacks any hint of piano black, all the ‘fluidic sculpture’ is present and you still get a very long list of standard equipment including nine airbags, anti-whiplash headrests, the usual acronyms plus some more such as HAC (Hill-start Assist Control) and CBC (Cornering Brake Control).
Five-star ANCAP safety rating? Absolutely.
Elaborately designed daytime running lights, an emergency stop system which flashes the brake lights and fires up the hazard flashers when you come to a halt, electric handbrake and cruise control/speed limiter are all standard across the range.
Remembering that, for all the ‘fluidic sculpture’ rhetoric, the i40 is a wagon, load-carrying ability is vital. With the rear seat upright the volume is 553 litres, opening up to 1672 with the seatbacks folded. There’s room for a further 47 litres in a secure compartment under the floor.
And you get a full-size spare wheel.
Performance and Economy
Because the i40 was designed principally for European buyers, maximising fuel economy counted for more than high performance.
There are two engines, a 2.0-litre petrol and a 1.7-litre diesel. The entry level Active variant is available with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox, but the Elite and Premium are all equipped with the automatic gearbox with paddle shifters.
Neither engine is a powerhouse. The petrol unit makes 130 kW at 6500 rpm. Peak torque is adequate at 213 Nm but it arrives too high in the rpm range at 4700. What this means is that initial acceleration is modest and overtaking power is disappointing. One rival vehicle is the Mondeo EcoBoost wagon, which delivers 149 kW of power and 300 Nm of torque all the way from 1750 rpm to 4500 rpm. This translates to far better road performance.
Australian customers accustomed to Falcons or Commodores may find the i40 underpowered but those familiar with a four-cylinder Camry will be happy.
The automatic transmission is quite slow shifting but quicker if you use the neat steering wheel paddles.
Fuel economy is outstanding with the diesel manual Active variant averaging 4.7 litres per 100 kilometres. Automatic petrol i40s are 7.5 (Active) and 7.7 (Elite, Premium). while the Active manual scores 6.8.
Ride and handling
The diesel engine puts a remarkable additional 70 kilograms over the front wheels. You can pick the slightly superior agility of the petrol versions but, really, all i40s boast excellent handling with even diesel-powered wagons turning crisply into tight corners with minimal understeer. The i40 is very rewarding to drive on flowing roads, where it feels distinctly sporty in character.
At low speeds the electric power steering is very light (too light for our taste) but it firms up nicely with speed and at 100 km/h delivers good road feel.
Ride comfort is very good with little road noise making kits way into the comfortable cabin.
Exterior and Interior Design
The unfortunate term Hyundai’s designers use is ‘fluidic sculpture.’ They should try harder because in the final analysis all sculpture is fluid. The first example of this new school of design was the ix35 wagon (successor to the Tucson), followed by the i45 sedan. But where the ix35 was arguably over-designed with its exaggerated curves making it look from some angles almost like a caricature car, the i45 was cleaner and probably more elegant than direct rivals such as the Thai-built Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry.
In effect, the i40 is a major editing job on the i45 and looks even better, especially in the relationship between the glasshouse and the body. Its long rear overhang and cab-forward design with short bonnet emphasise the functionality of a load-carrying vehicle while simultaneously making the vehicle look low, rakish and very sporty.
Note, for example, the extremely ‘fast’ A-pillars and the way the glasshouse narrows towards the rear of the vehicle. Hyundai’s D-pillar design is unique. This must be one of the least boxy wagons ever created.
The design has been brilliantly executed from concept car to production vehicle.
In summary, we love the look of it, especially when equipped with those superb 18-inch alloys, a work of art in themselves.
The interior design is quite similar to other recent Hyundais, including the 145 and Elantra. What is notable is the high quality of all the materials and the tasteful way they are combined. There is a more modern feel than in any of its (older) rivals including the Camry and Mondeo.
Even the base model Active impresses with its lovely soft slush mould crashpad (in contrast to the more common injection mould, this method incorporates a layer of foam beneath the plastic), and classy centre stack arrangement.
Accommodation
There is an extraordinary amount of very practically designed space inside this compact wagon.
Those who choose the Premium variant will find the sports front seats quite unmatched in this class. The leather is soft and supple. Both front seats are electrically controlled with memory on the driver’s side, as well as heated and ventilated. Facing the highly styled and modern fascia with its piano black highlights, there is the sense that this is a remarkably plush vehicle for $45K, and that Hyundai has come a very long way, Baby.
On the other hand, the Active in six-speed manual form is priced at just $32,490 and although it lacks any hint of piano black, all the ‘fluidic sculpture’ is present and you still get a very long list of standard equipment including nine airbags, anti-whiplash headrests, the usual acronyms plus some more such as HAC (Hill-start Assist Control) and CBC (Cornering Brake Control).
Five-star ANCAP safety rating? Absolutely.
Elaborately designed daytime running lights, an emergency stop system which flashes the brake lights and fires up the hazard flashers when you come to a halt, electric handbrake and cruise control/speed limiter are all standard across the range.
Remembering that, for all the ‘fluidic sculpture’ rhetoric, the i40 is a wagon, load-carrying ability is vital. With the rear seat upright the volume is 553 litres, opening up to 1672 with the seatbacks folded. There’s room for a further 47 litres in a secure compartment under the floor.
And you get a full-size spare wheel.
Performance and Economy
Because the i40 was designed principally for European buyers, maximising fuel economy counted for more than high performance.
There are two engines, a 2.0-litre petrol and a 1.7-litre diesel. The entry level Active variant is available with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox, but the Elite and Premium are all equipped with the automatic gearbox with paddle shifters.
Neither engine is a powerhouse. The petrol unit makes 130 kW at 6500 rpm. Peak torque is adequate at 213 Nm but it arrives too high in the rpm range at 4700. What this means is that initial acceleration is modest and overtaking power is disappointing. One rival vehicle is the Mondeo EcoBoost wagon, which delivers 149 kW of power and 300 Nm of torque all the way from 1750 rpm to 4500 rpm. This translates to far better road performance.
Australian customers accustomed to Falcons or Commodores may find the i40 underpowered but those familiar with a four-cylinder Camry will be happy.
The automatic transmission is quite slow shifting but quicker if you use the neat steering wheel paddles.
Fuel economy is outstanding with the diesel manual Active variant averaging 4.7 litres per 100 kilometres. Automatic petrol i40s are 7.5 (Active) and 7.7 (Elite, Premium). while the Active manual scores 6.8.
Ride and handling
The diesel engine puts a remarkable additional 70 kilograms over the front wheels. You can pick the slightly superior agility of the petrol versions but, really, all i40s boast excellent handling with even diesel-powered wagons turning crisply into tight corners with minimal understeer. The i40 is very rewarding to drive on flowing roads, where it feels distinctly sporty in character.
At low speeds the electric power steering is very light (too light for our taste) but it firms up nicely with speed and at 100 km/h delivers good road feel.
Ride comfort is very good with little road noise making kits way into the comfortable cabin.
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