Hyundai, a South Korean car company, showed off the Hyundai i40 estate at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011. At the Barcelona Motor Show a year after the wagon came out, Hyundai showed off a new i40 with a saloon body style. The Hyundai i40 saloon was the most expensive car the company had ever made. It quickly became a popular family car because of how strong it looked and how well it ran. By 2014, every i40 had a 1.7-liter CRDi four-cylinder diesel engine that could be tuned to different levels of fuel efficiency. The 115PS trim has a top speed of 124 mph and goes from 0 to 62 mph in 12.4 seconds. The 121PS trim goes from 0 to 62 mph in 10.1 seconds and has a top speed of 126 mph.
If there was one thing that was always true about old Hyundais, it was that the bigger they got, the less competitive they were. The brand’s i40 was a Mondeo-sized mid-range competitor that came out in 2011 with the goal of putting an end to that kind of thinking. Back then, it wasn’t anything new for the Korean company to offer affordable prices, a lot of space, and a lot of equipment. What was new, though, was the quality of the finish and the maturity of the design. Let’s see what the Hyundai i40 is like as a used car.
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What should you expect to find in a Hyundai i40?
The Hyundai i40 is available in four different trim levels: S, SE Nav, SE Nav Business, and Premium. Hyundai gave all trim levels a long list of equipment, with the base S trim getting:
- Alloy wheels that are 16 inches in diameter
- 7 airbags
- Cooling and heating
- Vehicle lights
- Bluetooth
- Electric mirrors that heat up
- Technology to stop and start
The base trim also has LED daytime running lights and lumbar support. The Hyundai i40 SE Nav comes with all of the following features as standard:
- DAB radio and sat-nav
- The front seat heater is electric.
- Seats and a steering wheel that get warm
- With front fog lights and sensors in the front and back
- Back glass for privacy
If you get the SE Nav business, the front seats are made of leather. The Premium trim line has front seats that can be cooled, back seats that can be heated, electric blinds for the back window, and a panoramic sunroof. The list of options for upgrades isn’t very long, which is typical for Hyundais. There are parking sensors, a camera, keyless entry, a satellite navigation system, 17-inch wheels, and 18-inch alloys to choose from.
Hyundai i40Â Drive and performance
Hyundai doesn’t offer any gasoline options for the Hyundai i40. You get two different versions of the same 1.7-liter diesel engine, one with 113 horsepower and the other with 139 horsepower.
The version with less power costs less to buy and has enough speed to get around town and further afield for most people. It pulls pretty well at low revs and can get the i40 up to highway speeds without ever feeling out of its depth.
If you often have a full car of people and things, you should get the more powerful model. It goes faster in a sprint and pulls harder in gear, which could be helpful on hilly terrain. Most people, though, will be happy with the 113bhp version. Keep in mind that almost all of the i40’s competitors have diesel and gasoline engines that are much more powerful.
No matter which version you choose, Hyundai’s 1.7 diesel engine isn’t the smoothest in its class. It grumbles in cold weather and makes a lot of noise when pushed hard. It also sends some vibrations back through the controls.
The ride and handling of the i40 are also nothing to write home about. Models with smaller alloy wheels are more comfortable, and the Hyundai i40 does a good job of staying in control even at high speeds. But at slower speeds, especially if the car has 18-inch wheels, it can bump into ruts and potholes and get very out of shape.
Also, the steering isn’t very interesting; it’s pretty accurate but slow, oddly weighted, and lacks feel. When you add that to the fact that the body leans quite far in corners, the Hyundai i40 looks boring to drive compared to a Ford Mondeo or BMW 3 Series.
Hyundai i40 interior
The interior of the Hyundai i40 won’t get your heart racing, but there are a lot of soft plastics and most models come with satellite navigation as standard.
Style
The interior of the Hyundai i40 isn’t very interesting to look at, but all the controls you’ll use often are easy to reach, and most of the surfaces you’ll touch every day feel soft and squishy.
Even though it doesn’t feel as nice inside as a Skoda Superb, most of the Hyundai’s hard plastics and brittle trims are hidden by the door bins and under the dashboard.
All i40s have an infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen, but if you want satellite navigation and smartphone mirroring for Apple and Android devices, you have to get a SE Nav model or higher.
Entry-level S cars have black dashboard inserts with a glossy finish, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and ambient lighting to help you find small items lost in the Hyundai’s storage spaces.
If you choose a SE Nav car instead, you’ll get satellite navigation along with smarter chrome dashboard trims, upgraded heated seats, and a heated steering wheel. SE Nav Business models have part-leather seats and more lumbar support to help prevent backaches on long drives, while the top-of-the-line models have full-leather seats. The Hyundai i40 is so popular with minicab drivers because it has metal pedal covers and heated back seats.
Engines and Performance of the Hyundai i40
The Hyundai i40’s mechanical parts are the same as other cars in its class. Hyundai has two different four-cylinder engines that are mounted sideways under the hood and power the front wheels.
The base 1.7-liter diesel has 114bhp of power, while the top-of-the-line version of the same engine has 140bhp. This low-power diesel also has technologies that help it get better gas mileage. Hyundai calls these technologies “Blue Drive.”
With an automatic engine starter-generator, an intelligent alternator, low-resistance tires, a gearchange indicator, and an automatic radiator blank, its emissions drop to just 110g/km, and its fuel economy goes up to 65.7mpg on the combined cycle.
So, this Hyundai is one of the most fuel-efficient family cars you can buy right now. From a car company that didn’t have much experience making diesel engines until not too long ago, that’s quite an accomplishment.
Hyundai i40 Models Price and Specs
Depending on which trim level you choose, the price range for the Hyundai i40 changes. Starting at $18,700 and going all the way up to $39,270 for the model’s last year of production. Starting with the engine and transmission specs below, the model range is available in the following body styles.
| Year | Body Type | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Specs | Price from | Price to |
| 2019 | Wagon | 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO | $18,700 | $39,270 |
| 2019 | Sedan | 1.7L, Diesel, 7 SP AUTO | $19,000 | $37,510 |
| 2018 | Wagon | 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO | $16,200 | $34,980 |
| 2018 | Sedan | 1.7L, Diesel, 7 SP AUTO | $16,500 | $33,440 |
| 2017 | Wagon | 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO | $14,000 | $30,910 |
| 2017 | Sedan | 1.7L, Diesel, 7 SP AUTO | $14,300 | $29,590 |
| 2016 | Wagon | 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO | $11,800 | $27,610 |
| 2016 | Sedan | 1.7L, Diesel, 7 SP AUTO | $11,900 | $26,400 |
| 2015 | Sedan | 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO | $9,600 | $23,540 |
| 2015 | Wagon | 2.0L, ULP, 6 SP AUTO | $11,000 | $23,210 |
Hyundai i40 Tourer estate (2011-2019) – Reliability & safety
The Hyundai i40 isn’t as reliable as other Hyundais, but the dealers are good.
The Hyundai i40 Tourer has a long five-year warranty with no mileage limits, and owners are very happy with Hyundai’s main dealers. But despite this, our Driver Power customer satisfaction survey shows that the Hyundai i40 might have more problems than a Mazda6, Peugeot 508, or Skoda Octavia.
Hyundai i40 Tourer reliability
Since 2015, when it came in 85th out of 200 cars and 151st for reliability in our annual Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, the Hyundai i40 Tourer hasn’t been on the list. Hyundai did well in our 2017 survey, coming in 10th out of 27 brands, but in our 2018 Driver Power survey, it fell a bit, coming in 15th out of 26.
Safety
There’s no question about how safe the Hyundai i40 Tourer is. It got a full five-star rating from Euro NCAP, but what really stood out was that it got 92 percent for protecting adults and 86 percent for protecting children. These scores are close to those of the Peugeot 508 estate, the Skoda Octavia Estate, and the Mazda6 Tourer. However, it’s important to note that the Skoda and Mazda models were tested in slightly more difficult ways.
Even with those scores, the i40 doesn’t have automatic emergency brakes, which can make a crash less likely or less severe. It does, however, have seven airbags, headrests that protect against whiplash, anti-lock brakes (ABS), an electronic stability program (ESP), and two ISOFIX child seat mountings in the back, and a switch to turn off the front passenger airbag. The top model, the Premium, has a lane departure warning system with a lane keep assist feature, but the rest of the range can’t get it.
Hyundai i40- Practicality & Boot Space
The outside of the Hyundai i40 Tourer looks nice, but the interior isn’t as nice. The thick, sloping windscreen pillars make some big blind spots, and the narrow back window makes it hard to see out, especially since it seems like you can’t see very far back.
Hyundai i40 Tourer interior space & storage
The Hyundai i40 Tourer is easier to live with because it has lots of places to put things. There is a large storage bin between the front seats, and the cup holders near the handbrake have a cover to hide things. There is also a place to put things in front of the gear lever.
If you like carrying bottles, you’re in luck: the front door pockets are big and deep enough to hold a one-liter water bottle. This trick can be done again with a big glovebox, and if you choose a Premium model, it will also have a cool function.
There’s enough room inside for four adults, and the back seat has a lot of head and legroom, so it’s not too bad for five people to ride in. The middle seat in the back is bigger than usual, and the footwells are big enough for three sets of feet. Also, the two people in the back can put their feet under the front seats to make themselves even more comfortable.
Boot space
When the back seats are up, the trunk holds 553 liters, but when they are folded down, it can hold 1,719 liters. These numbers aren’t as good as those of the Skoda Octavia Estate, but they are better than those of the Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer.
The Hyundai i40’s trunk isn’t as useful as those of some of its competitors, even though it has a wide opening and no lip to lift luggage over. The wheel arches take up space in the cargo area, and the seats don’t fold down all the way. Still, having storage under the floor helps. At least because it seems like it’s so far away.
Conclusion
It took the South Korean auto industry a long time to make a traditional large family car that could compete in its class. With the Hyundai i40, they finally did. This car had everything it needed to do well in the mid-range Mondeo market at the beginning of the second decade of the 21st century. It is smart, roomy, economical, well-equipped, and built well. In short, it was a very competitive car.
Other competitors are more fun to drive. And some have badges that show they are smarter. But if you’re looking for a used car from this time period that makes sense, you can’t pass up this Hyundai i40.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs) About Hyundai i40
Is the Hyundai i40 a reliable car?
The Hyundai i40 has a good reputation in the business world for being a solid, reliable car with few problems that come with it. In fact, it’s one of the Hyundai models that has helped build the brand’s reputation as a safe bet in recent years. Five-year plan for the brand. The news is good about Hyundai i40 diesel engine problems.
What is the lifespan of a Hyundai i40?
As long as the i40 you’re looking at is in good shape, has a good service/maintenance history, and drives well, it should easily go 200,000–300,000 km and shouldn’t have any trouble going 500,000 km either. Hyundai has a good name for being dependable.
What are the most common Hyundai i40 problems?
- Typical Problems
- Electrics, Transmission/clutch, and Other (1 case)
- Power, Engine, and Other (1 case)
- Other Electrics (1 case)
- Other (4 cases)
- Shifter and clutch (2 cases)
- Electrics, Engine (1 case)
- Electrics (1 case)
- Engine (1 case)
Best pre-owned wagon?
The i40 is a good option because it meets most of your needs. It has everything you need, is well made, and works well. You could also look at wagons like the VW Passat, Ford Mondeo, and Mazda 6, but the i40 is hard to beat.
Hyundai stopped making the i40 because of what?
Due to slowing sales of mid-sized cars around the world, the i40 was taken off the market in early 2019 in places like Australia and New Zealand, leaving the Sonata to fill that niche.
Is the Hyundai i40 diesel a good car?
Well, the Hyundai i40 is something you don’t see as often. It’s unusually stylish for an executive car, and it has everything that company car drivers love: a diesel engine with low CO2 emissions and good fuel economy, a lot of space, and a lot of equipment.
How big is a Hyundai i40?
The Hyundai i40 is an executive car because it is big on the outside and has a length of 4745 mm. 2015 model is for sale as new until 2019.
When did i40 come out?
System of Interstate Highways. The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 set up I-40. On August 14, 1957, the numbering was approved, along with most of the rest of the system.
Is the Hyundai i40 the same as Sonata?
The sedan version of the i40 is being released by Hyundai. It has four doors and is built on the same platform and wheelbase as our Sonata. Look at the photos in the gallery below up close and tell us: Based on how they look, would you rather have a new Hyundai i40 sedan or a 2012 Hyundai Sonata (shown below)?
