Hyundai: Medium-car cavalry let loose

Hyundai's i40 wagon. Photo / Supplied

The medium-car segment is one of the most difficult in New Zealand. Its share of the market has diminished by 24 per cent in the last five years, with buyers hopping both ways: some into small cars, others into crossovers. It's dominated by sedans (75 per cent) and petrol engines (80 per cent).

None of that has stopped Hyundai New Zealand being especially excited about its stylish new i40, which is being launched only in wagon form and depends on a brilliant new turbo diesel engine for much of its appeal.

"We think this car will grow the segment," says Hyundai New Zealand chief operating officer Tom Ruddenklau. "It's a great-looking wagon and will encourage people back out of SUVs. I probably shouldn't say this, but it's actually the first car we've launched where our own staff are really fighting to be able to drive it. That's a good sign."

The i40 is the product of Hyundai's German design studio and is a made-for-Europe machine. That's the main difference between it (there's an i40 sedan too, which is currently under evaluation for New Zealand) and the i45, which is a Korean-designed model aimed more at Asia and America.

The i40 looks long and low, but it's actually on a 25mm-reduced wheelbase and is 50mm shorter overall than the i45.

The other big difference between the i40 and i45 is the availability of a high-tech diesel engine in the new wagon. The petrol i40 uses a 130kW/213Nm 2.0-litre powerplant, but the CRDi gets a 1.7-litre turbo diesel whose small capacity doesn't seem to affect output: it makes an impressive 100kW/320Nm.

Coupled to a six-speed automatic gearbox, the i40 CRDi achieves 5.6 litres per 100km in entry-level trim, or 6.0 litres in top Elite specification.

Yet to arrive is a green-themed Blue Drive manual model, which uses low rolling resistance tyres, an intelligent alternator and active grille flaps (which shut automatically to improve aerodynamics) to achieve a deeply impressive 4.5 litres per 100km. With a 70-litre tank, that's a potential open-road range of 1500km.

Prices start at $44,990 for the entry-level petrol and run through to $59,990 for the flagship Elite Limited.

Style will be one attraction for potential buyers, equipment will be another: even the entry model has nine airbags (including rear-seat and knee), stability control with corner-brake control, Bluetooth cellphone connectivity and Hyundai's signature iPod integration. As with the brand's other mainstream models, a cargo net is standard-fit. The Elite adds luxury items like keyless entry/start, trip computer, leather, reversing camera and larger 18-inch wheels. The Elite Limited goes all the way with glass roof, heated/cooled seats, a heated steering wheel and power tailgate.

There's no doubt that a 1.7-litre engine will raise a few eyebrows among buyers and user-choosers more accustomed to big-capacity four-cylinder engines.

On the road, it's hard not to be impressed by the torque of the turbo diesel powerplant and the smoothness of the six-speed automatic gearbox. Only occasionally does the little engine feel lacking - on steep hills at speed for example, where you get signals that it's working hard with little in reserve.

The 2.0-litre petrol delivers more at the top end, but for the vast majority of driving, it's the diesel that comes out on top for driving pleasure and, especially, fuel efficiency. There's a $2000 premium for the CRDi over the GDI direct-injection petrol.