If you still cling to the “estates are boring” stereotype, just one look at this head-turner should be enough to make you change your mind. In fact, the i40 (which sits between the Elantra and i45 saloon in the Hyundai range) is so attractive, it managed to make a pretty colleague – who has a penchant for designer labels – swoon. That’s a huge compliment, considering she used to be impressed with European luxury marques only.
It’s not difficult to see why this estate is so compelling. Conceived at Hyundai’s design centre in Germany, the i40 shares its face with the Elantra and manages to avoid the i45’s overly showy styling for a simpler yet more stunning design. It may not look it, but the i40’s overall length and wheelbase are respectively 50mm and 25mm shorter than the i45’s.
Step inside the cabin, however, and you’ll quickly discover just how commodious and well-packaged this wagon is. The cockpit boasts impressive build quality and is equipped with gizmos such as rain-sensing wipers, a chilled glovebox and an auto-dimming rear view mirror with built-in reverse parking camera display. There’s also an electric parking brake as well as a handy auto-hold function that stops the vehicle from rolling backwards on carpark ramps.
Equally convenient is the rear bench, which offers plenty of room for occupants to stretch out on long journeys. Three adults will be able to sit abreast without rubbing shoulders, although passengers well over 1.8m tall might take issue with the sloped ceiling. Opening the panoramic sunroof to make the interior airier should mitigate any feeling of limited headroom at the rear.
Capably dealing with passengers’ stuff is the spacious boot. It has a 553-litre capacity (30 litres more than the i45) with the rear seats in place, which can be expanded to an even more useful 1719 litres with the seats folded flat.
On the go, the i40 feels more nimble than the i45 thanks to its better steering feel and stiffer dampers, although ride quality takes a beating when exposed to poor surfaces. The 2-litre engine doesn’t sound too convincing, but it is a willing worker and goes rather well with the smooth 6-speed automatic.
Estates like this one can hardly be called boring – not when they have the power to sweep doe-eyed colleagues off their feet and onto their back seats.
Hyundai i40 2.0 (A)
Engine 1999cc, 16-valves, inline-4
Max power 166bhp at 6500rpm
Max torque 200Nm at 4800rpm
Gearbox 6-speed automatic with manual select
0-100km/h 10.9 seconds
Top speed 200km/h
Consumption 13km/L (combined)
Check out the latest Hyundai i40
