[Dazzler]

I had an i40 CRDi Premium Sedan for about half an hour this morning. Did perhaps 20 Km of mixed driving including 3 x 3KM runs on the Highway an some winding up and down stuff (road to our house) ..

... and the good news is I didn't fall in love with it 

I have 18 photos and plan to do a table comparing (rating) it out of 10 in all key areas compared with our current Hybrid, Trish's FD CW petrol and the 2012 Hybrid Camry I drove a couple of months ago ...

For now just general impressons (hope to do the more detailed report tonight as we have a busy weekend ahead)

Basically, looks, features, driving position top marks... 

Steers nicely, brakes ok (but nothing special)

Interior noise and ride a bit disappointing... (obviously I didn't check the tyre pressures but seemed harsher ride an noiser than Veloster I drove a few weeks back)

Performance (throttle response) o/k but not the grin factor of the CRDi i30 as I remember it (or my existing hybrid)

Overall a nice car but more show than go (pretty much the opposite of the new Camry Hybrid which is awesome to drive but looks ordinary)

anyway, I'll post the photos and table tonight (hopefully)

I am now looking forward to a drive of the Veloster Turbo when one is available as they are roughly 10K less and the only thing I didn't like about the non turbo model was the throttle response...

[rustynutz]

That's a bit disappointing to hear, mate....

As for the Turbo Veloster, I was checking one out yesterday, but unfortunately I wasn't offered a drive..... 

[Dazzler]

Interestingly when I did this table using quick first impressions it did win the comparison yet to be honest I was pleased to get back in my Hybrid..  (I might refine these ratings a bit but think they are pretty accurate) Think my additions are right ..

[Dazzler]

Don't miss the table in post 3 .. here are the photos.. Absolutely stunning looking vehicle in white .. great driving position, pity about the road rumble and just average performance..

Don't get me wrong, no slug but no rocket ship either..





















Nice Pearl White finish ..





Great attention to detail..

[Surferdude]

Looks nice Dazz.
Maybe the road noise is just the tyres.
What's on your Hybrid? Bridgestone?

[rustynutz]

 

Oh, and maybe it has something to do with the 18" wheels?

What's on your Camry, I can't remember.... 

[rustynutz]

Hey Daz, what's an "oad test", anyhow? 

[Shambles]

Hey Daz, what's an "oad test", anyhow? 

Old Aged Driver


Not sure about that maplight over the grab handle (final pic) but it sure is good to see a 12v power outlet in the rear compartment

Overall, I'd pass on that vehicle.

[bumpkin]

Wow!

I was sure you would be thoroughly impressed with the i40 mate, just goes to show.

The firmer ride and road noise in the car you tested surprised me until I thought about it.  Certainly the Tourer I have is really quiet and as Kim's mum (who is not interested in cars in the slightest) put it, "wow, it feels like its floating".

I agree with Trevor and Russ, we already know that tyre type has a big impact on noise (which may be "boomed" by the boot space as opposed to dissipated better in the Tourer??
Further to that the 18" wheels with low profile tyres do give a firm ride, perhaps more so in the i40 for other areas.  Hyundai make a big deal about tuning their cars suspension to suit UK roads over here, something the motoring press have concurred with when comparing with Kia stablemates which are always given less points for ride comfort.

How much does the Camry weigh in comparison to the i40 Dazz?  I am mildly surprised by the 1.6 GDi engine, it pulls really quite nicely, bit of work required in the gearbox when tackling the hilly stuff, but then I suspect that would be the case with most 6 speed boxes. 

I take it this model is the 136ps (rather than the 117 BD)? In which case the motor is only producing the same power as the petrol variant, you diesel guys have been spoiled, the i40 is certainly brisker than the ix20 was, I would put my old 1.6 petrol i30 somewhere in the middle of the two, the diesel i30 was more powerful than the petrol one, but in the i40 they have equalised them a little.

If you get the chance it might be worth having a go of a Tourer, one step down (not Premium), that is the same model as mine, not with a view to buying, just as a comparison against the sedan.

I looked at the sedan and would have been really keen, but was put off by the boot.  The parcel shelf takes away some of the usability, as does the fact that the seats don't fold to make it bigger.  I don't have the odd positioned map lights, mine are in the centre overhead and one in the rear cabin.  The power outlets are in the front (behind the gear lever, one in the rear console vents and one in the boot.

[Doggie 1]

Thanks for the write-up and pics, Dazz.
I'm surprised you weren't blown away too, but I still think that Hyundai have some issues perhaps with road noise insulation, although I accept that Alan disproved that with the new i30.
I think the 18" wheels and low profile tyres would play a big part, plus Hyundai's lack of sound-proofing throughout.
I do wonder what you would think if you drove an Active, with the same 1.7 crdi engine but with 6 speed manual.
My bet is it would "feel" livelier.
I'd also be interested to see the FD diesel hatch in your comparison table and I wouldn't alter anything in what you've done as first impressions are probably the most accurate.
How did the salesman take the news? 

[bumpkin]

Another thing I really like but which is not obvious in daytime pics of the i40 is the DRL arrangement.  As you can see from Dazz's pic the LED's only go to under the headlight  cluster, but at night you actually get light all the way round the curve and over the dipped beam / corner bulbs, looks very cool

In the close up pic of the headlight you can also see the static cornering bulb, it is the just angled one at the top left of the cluster, the large bulb is the dipped beam, the indicator is in the flat bottom area and main beam above that, just below the DRL strip.

[Shambles]

That's interesting Brian, about the DRL arrangement.

I've had a couple of i40s pass me recently during the day, and the arrangement is like an inverted V - looks very uncool in my rear view mirror. So at night, that changes? Interesting...

[bumpkin]

Yeah, it is like an inverted V during the day, but at night it becomes (here comes Hyundai speak),  fluidic, as I say it curves all the way around the strip.  As stated before the DRL's also act as the sidelights, but they dip brightness when the lights are on.  I'll take a pic of mine for you next time it is dark and I have the camera handy

[Dazzler]

OK, I thought I might get some interesting comments...

The Tyres are Nexen on the i40 (which surprised me as I thought they were a lesser brand)

I think the road noise and harsh ride was a lot to do with the 18 inch wheels and the low profile tyres as I have driven a petrol Tourer (base Model with 16" wheels I think) and that was quieter with a better ride...

My Hybrid has 16" wheels with Goodyear Excellence Tyres Replacing the original Dunlop 300E Tyres. The Hybrid has spoilt me with the cosseted ride and quietness (as my table shows I believe the i40 handles a bit better)

The Performance of the 1.7 Ltr Diesel (100 Kw / 320 Nm) seemed very similar to the petrol i40 Tourer I drove a while back. I expected it to feel a bit more "gutsy" ...

They are a very similar weight Brian i40 (1626 KG) Hybrid (1645 KG)

I was thinking about the fact I rated it higher than the new Hybrid Camry .. I think if I rated it against the similarly priced top of the range H-L model I would have rated the interior higher (so fairly close race)

But when it comes to the crunch I would rather have the better driving experience than the better body i think.

Trish didn't come for a ride but did love the look of it and had a sit in it.. In hindsight I should have got her to come for a ride and give me her opinions as she is very perceptive...

When we get serious I will drive a couple of variants with Trish .. At this stage the new Hybrid has leapfrogged the i40.. I think I will drive the Turbo Veloster and then maybe a Diesel i30 

[Doggie 1]

Dazz, do Toyota do a sports version of the hybrid?
Like body kit, lowered a bit, bigger alloys, etc.......
If they do it might be worth a look, then you could auction the cardigan on eBay and buy a nice woollen jumper. 
In all seriousness though, I wonder if it would make the driving experience even better than now and also improve the aesthetics (not that I think it needs it).

[Dazzler]

Maybe by the time I'm ready they will pretty the Hybrid up a bit.. I looked into putting side skirts on our existing Hybrid but it wasn't going to make enough difference to justify the cost..

I think our car is nicer looking than the new model but the new model is a bit better drive than ours or the new i40...

The i40 with the new Hybrid drivetrain would be to die for 

[eye30]

The small oblong on the bumper below the light.  What is it for?


Is it for headlight washers?

[Doggie 1]

Yes, that would be the washers.
The i30 Premium has them too.

[Dazzler]

Trish and I were in Motors Devonport today looking at a Manual Elite GD i30 CRDi, unfortunately it was 1.30 and they were closing at 2 PM and the salesman said one of the other Salesmen had pinched his Trade Plates  But I think I will go back early next week for a test drive ...

I had another look at the i40 Premium Diesel (absolutely superb looking car inside and out) but unfortunately, just not enough performance for me .. in the Jato Comparison on the Hyundai Website it give the 0-100km time for the i40 Diesel Auto as 12 seconds Versus 8.0 for the Camry Hybrid  (no wonder I was underwhelmed with the drive) 

Thought the Manual might be better but still about 10.6 (which is o/k) the 2.0 GDi is 9.7 but a bit thirstier...

Doesn't appear to be an i40 Diesel manual in Sedan or Tourer available in OZ for me to test drive 

[Doggie 1]

No, they're a rare bird. It seems most people want the auto.
My dealer tried to get me into an i40 but when I said I would want the diesel manual he said it would have to be ordered.
I'd like to know your thoughts on the i30 crdi manual though.

[Dazzler]

I'd like to know your thoughts on the i30 crdi manual though.

Hopefully it is still there early next week.. As we were driving off at about 1.55pm after a good look around and a bit of a chat with the salesman several cars pulled up including a late model Range Rover. A "well to do" older couple hurried over and were looking at it enthusiastically

[Phil №❶]

How come you always arrive when places are about to close, you should get up earlier

[Dazzler]

How come you always arrive when places are about to close, you should get up earlier

I had to do my list of duties 1st (I get up at 6am - sometimes earlier..) even on weekends 

[Phil №❶]

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