2015 Hyundai i40 Tourer Premium Series II Review –
The skinny: As its name suggests, the i40 Series II is a mid-life update of the three-year-old sedan and wagon range. It mainly adds a stronger diesel, a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, and more active safety equipment while also cutting prices.
The i40 Series II remains Euro-focused, and forms part of Hyundai’s two-pronged attack in the medium segment following the recent launch of the US-based Sonata.
They complement rather than compete with each other – the Sonata is larger and with petrol power; this i40 is slightly smaller and offers a wagon variant with frugal diesel power (as we’re testing here in flagship $44K Premium guise).
Vehicle Style: Medium wagon
Price: $43,990 (plus on-roads)
Engine/trans: 104kW/340Nm 1.7 4cyl turbo-diesel | 7sp dual-clutch automatic
Fuel Economy claimed: 5.1 l/100km | tested: 6.8 l/100km
OVERVIEW
The Hyundai i40 has been largely forgotten by buyers, but then most medium sedans and wagons are overlooked these days in favour of on-trend SUV models (including Hyundai’s own Tucson).
Want proof? The new Tucson has been on-sale for the last three months, yet has racked up 1037 sales to September 2015. The i40 has had the whole year – or another six months – to muster just 1339 units.