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08/01/2012, 16:55
Car Review By EWAN KENNEDY
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Who says station wagons have to be boringly practical in their looks? Certainly not the stylists at Hyundai who penned the company’s i40 Tourer that is the subject of this week’s road test review.
Visually the new Hyundai station wagon looks to be a variant of the Hyundai i45 sedan, but the i40 is actually shorter than the sedan, sitting roughly midway between the Hyundai Elantra and i45.
Interior space is reasonable, with good-sized seats for those in the front. Rear seat occupants will be short on knee space unless those in the front are willing to give up a little of their legroom. Despite the sleek roofline, headroom is good in all seats, even with the full-length sunroof that comes standard in the topline i40 Premium Tourer.
Luggage space ranges from 553 litres with the rear seat backs in place to 1719 litres with the rear seat backs folded. There’s an extra 47 litres of hidden compartments below the cargo floor. The loading lip is low for ease of loading and there is a luggage rail fitted to the Elite and Premium models.
On the downside, the sloping rear end takes away the ability to carry bulky items when the back seats are in use.
Three model variants are offered in the new Hyundai i40 range: Active, Elite and Premium. Each comes with the option of a 2.0-litre petrol or 1.7-litre turbo-diesel engine. Our test vehicle for the last week was fitted with the diesel, it has peak power of 100 kW, and torque of 320 Nm between 2000 and 2500 rpm. The petrol unit reaches 130 kW, and produces 213 Nm at a pretty high 4700 rpm. The entry-level i40 Tourer Active is offered with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission; the Elite and Premium only come with the automatic.
The diesel may be small in capacity but it’s a modern design with a big heart. We were impressed by its strong torque and the fact that turbo lag is kept to a minimum. Consumption of diesel fuel can be below five litres per hundred kilometres with a bit of attention to maximising economy. Five to six litres is the norm either on motorways or easy country roads. Around town the consumption still doesn’t go much over seven to eight litres per hundred kilometres. These are excellent numbers from a good-sized family station wagon.
All i40 Tourer models have Bluetooth connectivity including audio streaming, as well as auxiliary and USB sockets. The Hyundai i40 Active has a single CD player, Elite and Premium have a six-disc changer with a more advanced audio system. Both systems can play MP3 and WMA discs. Elite and Premium models also use a proximity key with push button start/stop.
Ride and handling are both good, with a sensible balance between firmness and comfort. Cornering is nothing to get excited about, but the Hyundai i40 holds on securely and is well within its limits when driven in a manner likely to be used by the typical buyer.
Standard in all models of the Hyundai Tourer are ABS brakes with electronic brakeforce assistance and brake assist. The system automatically activates the hazard lights when high brake pressures are applied. Active safety features include cornering brake control, vehicle stability management system and swivelling headlights. Additionally, the i40 Elite and Premium have front and rear parking sensors, supplemented in the Premium with a reversing camera.
Nine airbags are the biggest feature of the passive safety items.
As with all Hyundai models, the i40 Tourer has a five year/unlimited kilometre warranty. There’s free roadside assist for the same period provided the car is serviced by a Hyundai dealer.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE AND PRICING*
Active 2.0-litre petrol: $32,490 (manual), $34,490 (automatic)
Active 1.7-litre turbo-diesel: $34,490 (manual), $36,490 (automatic)
Elite 2.0-litre petrol: $39,490 (automatic)
Elite 1.7-litre turbo-diesel: $41,490 (automatic)
Premium 2.0-litre petrol: $44,490 (automatic)
Premium 1.7-litre turbo-diesel: $46,490 (automatic)
*Prices do not include dealer or government charges. Contact any Hyundai dealer for driveaway prices.
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in all models
Automatic Transmission: Optional in Active, standard in Elite and Premium
Cruise Control: Standard in all models
Dual Front Airbags: Standard in all models
Front Side Airbags: Standard in all models
Electronic Stability Program: Standard in all models
Rear Parking Sensors: Standard in Elite and Premium
Reversing Camera: Standard in Premium
USB/Auxiliary Audio Inputs: Standard in all models
Bluetooth: Standard in all models
Steering Wheel Mounted Controls: Standard in all models
SPECIFICATIONS (Hyundai i40 Tourer 1.7 litre diesel five-door wagon)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.685 litres
Configuration:Four cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 17:1
Bore/Stroke: 77.2 mm x 90.0 mm
Maximum Power: 100 kW @ 4000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 320 Nm @ 2000 - 2500 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Front
Manual Transmission: Six-speed
Automatic Transmission: Six-speed
Final Drive Ratio: 4.533:1
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4770 mm
Wheelbase: 2770 mm
Width: 1815 mm
Height: 1470 mm
Turning Circle: 10.9 metres
Kerb Mass: 1420-1574 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 70 litres
Towing Ability: 650 kg (1700 kg with braked trailer)
Boot Capacity: 553 litres (1719 with rear seatbacks folded)
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: MacPherson struts
Rear Suspension: Multi-link
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Disc
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: Diesel
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/02): 6.0 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 7.5/10
Air Pollution Rating: 6.0/10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Five years/unlimited km |
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