Hyundai i40 Active Tourer 2018 Review

Well-received when it arrived here six years ago, the Hyundai i40 was the very embodiment of the company’s contemporary Fluidic Sculpture styling theme. Up against newer Hyundais such as the Tucson, Sonata and i30/Elantra, the i40 is nevertheless looking a little dated.

To illustrate how, just take a gander at the interior design and some of the fixtures in the i40 Active Tourer's cabin. The centre fascia style premiered with Ford's Fiesta in 2008 and the dash is like a Camry's from two generations ago.

There's a key to insert in an ignition lock barrel to start the engine, with no starter button in sight. And though it’s easy enough to use, the infotainment touch-screen is tiny and distant from the driving position.

Buttons are scattered around the Hyundai i40 Active Tourer in seemingly random fashion: The drive-mode selection button is closer to the front passenger than the driver, for example. We're pretty sure that Hyundai's understanding of ergonomics has improved considerably since.

Sliding LED-lit scales for air-conditioning and fan-speed settings look like they should be operable by dragging the finger up and down, a la Lexus or Honda. But no, it's a visual display only.  The settings are changed by using the buttons alongside and the fan speed buttons, on the other side of the fascia, are a stretch for the driver.

The trip computer has three displays only and there's no digital speed reading to complement the large analogue dial.

While none of these are issues of great import, they do highlight the Hyundai i40's design age.

A credible offering

You just won't find another diesel wagon to offer so much for the price, with so many virtues in its kit bag.

Driveability is a strength of the Hyundai i40 Active Tourer. Handling was very consistent overall and the roadholding was commendable for what is basically a family wagon. The turn-in is very good and the electrically-assisted steering is quite communicative.

Although the i40 did get slightly squirrely accelerating hard out of a side street into traffic on an arterial road, even on moderately damp surfaces there was no evidence of torque steer and no problem holding it on a specific track along winding country bends. It might not match a hot hatch in the twisties, but it's closer than you might think.

The downside of all that is the i40 Active Tourer's ride. Given the 16-inch alloys and reasonably high-profile (60 series) Hankook tyres, it is unexpectedly firm – although the suspension does offer a little 'give' over smaller bumps and at lower speeds. It's well controlled for better driving dynamics at open-road speeds.

Brakes provided enough pedal feel to squeeze the life out of the stoppers in a very measured way, bringing soft retardation that is aided by the smooth dual-clutch transmission. And Hyundai's traction control system allowed the driver to precisely use the torque for fast exits out of corners without stifling the car's performance or messing up the handling.

The i40 Active Tourer's engine noise was subdued at lower speeds and when cruising (1800rpm at 100km/h), but under load, from around 3000rpm, the small-displacement diesel became quite 'shouty'.

Road noise was present at all times and it's impossible not to wonder whether the i40's ride quality and noise suppression wouldn't benefit from a tyre upgrade.

In Eco mode the diesel powerplant was subject to some lag, although that went away when switching to Sport mode. The engine is not especially strong, but the i40 loped along with ease on free-flowing arterials, country roads and freeways.

It's when you stand on the accelerator pedal after the lights change to green that the i40 feels lethargic. That is offset by the fuel economy: as low as 7.6L/100km in what was a bad week for traffic.

What performance the i40's small turbo-diesel engine has to offer is complemented by the very effective dual-clutch transmission, which changes gear efficiently and smoothly. It is also highly adaptive and will find the right gear for engine braking on a downhill run.

Unlike the DCT in a German car tested recently, the Hyundai's transmission was virtually beyond reproach, although it does tend to 'pulse' when reversing at low speeds. This phenomenon is something we've experienced in other cars with DCTs as well, although not so much recently.

The i40's halogen headlights are better than some samples of the breed when driving in the country at night. They weren't especially bright, but they did shine further down the road on low beam than quite a few similarly-priced halogen-equipped cars. Bring on the LEDs though, even at this price point.

Space ship

Because the Hyundai i40 Active Tourer drives much like a small car, one tends to forget it's actually a mid-size wagon, with all that means for rear-seat accommodation and luggage-carrying capacity. It's very roomy in the rear – and there are adjustable air vents too.

In the large boot there's an under-floor tray for carting around smaller items without them rolling around loose. Under that, there's a full-size spare with matching alloy wheel. And a pull-out cargo blind and a lift-up cargo net ensure the safe and secure cartage of larger and more valuable items. Locating pins that slot into place in the headlining hold the cargo net fastened in place vertically.

There are no levers in the boot to flip the seats forward for extra carrying capacity, and the seats don't fold entirely flat either, which are two minor niggles in a wagon. Also, while there's a 12-Volt power outlet in the boot and another for the rear-seat passengers, there's only one USB port (in the centre fascia) for music and phone recharging

Beyond that, there's not much to criticise. The driving position is generally very good, with well-shaped front seats (although lumbar adjustment would be nice to have) and the plasticy shift paddles, while doing the job, detract from the overall fit and finish of the car.

One other point on that score is the creaking and rattling from the rear of the car, presumably due to the cargo blind or luggage net rubbing against harder fixtures. The i40 makes up for that in other ways though, with solid and secure, effort-free door closing.

What's apparent about the Hyundai i40 Active Tourer is that it’s a fundamentally good package – and, with a thorough update, has some life left in it. As it stands, the current Hyundai wagon does remain a strong product, at the right price.

2018 Hyundai i40 Active Tourer pricing and specifications:
Price: $33,090 (as tested, plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.7-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 104kW/340Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 5.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 134g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star (ANCAP, 2015)