The year 1968; Harold Wilson was Prime Minister, the Beatles released the white album and Hyundai was born. Hyundai started from humble beginnings, taking on the task of assembling the British Ford Cortina. It wasn’t until 1975 when the company actually released a car of its own design, dubbed the Pony. Fast forward to 2012, and Hyundai is the fourth bestselling auto manufacturer in the world beating out the likes of Ford and Nissan. With products like the 2014 Hyundai i40, it’s easy to sell why the company has been so successful.
There are four engine choices available under the bonnet of the 2014 Hyundai i40, including two petrol and two diesel options. Both petrol units come equipped with direct injection and offer ample power, the 1.6 GDi making 133bhp at 6300rpm and the 2.0 GDi producing 174bhp at 6500rpm. Due to most of the power being in the upper end of the RPM band, it takes plenty of engine revving to get the petrol cars moving. The petrol also lacks manners, leaving the oil burner as the choice for those looking for torque and refinement. The 1.7-litre CRDi common rail puts out 115bhp and 192lb/ft of torque at a much more reasonable 1250rpm, while the 136bhp version of this engine generates 240lb/ft at 2000rpm. The 2014 Hyundai i40 is just as at home on the road course as it is tearing up the quarter mile too, due to the front-wheel drive’s precise handing and excellent ride quality.
There are two versions of the 2014 Hyundai i40 available – the saloon and the estate, both of which are as handsome as any cover of GQ magazine. The estate features a smooth ‘sportback’ style whereas the saloon offers all of the functionality of a four-door with the good looks of a coupe. The striking lines and bold front end keep both variants of the 2014 Hyundai i40 from being labelled boring family haulers. The living quarters are pleasing as well, with high quality materials and attractive design throughout. Front and rear seats offer liberal leg room, with the driver being provided a multi-adjustment steering wheel. Even though headroom is somewhat limited, with the amount of ergonomic adjustments available, everyone should be comfy. Should you opt for the estate version, there’s no need to leave any belongings at home. You can pack the kitchen sink given the 553 litres available below the parcel shelf, and the 1719-litres obtained with the shelf removed and seats folded.
You won’t have to revert to eating the instant noodles of your college days in order to afford the 2014 Hyundai i40 either. With pricing between £19,000 and £30,000, the Hyundai is very accessible. The Five Year Triple Care warranty sweetens the deal even more with five-year unlimited-mileage warranty, five years’ roadside assistance and five years of vehicle health checks. You won’t have to worry about breaking down and having to bum rides from your in-laws. The sleek 2014 Hyundai i40 can be had in three trim levels; active, style, and premium. Even the bargain-bin model comes standard with “16 alloy wheels, Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition, leather steering wheel with audio controls, electric heated door mirrors with integrated LED indicators, electric windows and electric parking brake. If you upgrade to the style model you get even more swag in the form of touch screen satellite navigation with rear view camera, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control and dual zone climate control. If you’re feeling really ritzy, pop for the primo model and you will get cow hide throughout, panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and a ginormous LCD instrument panel display. In addition there’s the option of the Lane Departure Warning and Smart Parking Assist, a heated leather steering wheel (who doesn’t need one of those) and ventilated front seats.
How much does it cost to maintain an 2014 Hyundai i40? Far less than it does to sustain your spouse. Hyundai has implemented their Blue Drive system on the i40, which includes a snazzy Stop/Start system, low rolling resistance tyres and an Eco indicator so you can obsessively monitor your “greenness”. You will fare well at the pump given the Blue Drive 1.6 petrol engine’s average of 47.1mpg and the Blue Drive 115bhp oil burner netting 65.7mpg, while keeping the environment healthy with 140g/km and 113g/km respectively.
Hyundai may have had modest beginnings, but offerings like the i40 are anything but. There’s no denying the eye-catching design and exceptional engineering, all at an affordable price. If you really want to look smart and stand out from the bland family movers in the supermarket car park, give the 2014 Hyundai a chance.
If you want to get hold of the 2014 Hyundai i40 then don’t hesitate to leave us a message on our contact us page or give us a call on 01903 538835 to find out about our Hyundai lease deals.
