Good to look at, but tough to gauge the size of – the i40 has fine lines that suggest it is compact, yet inside it feels spacious and wide, despite being narrower than Focus and matching Astra. You will find, in length, it is midway between Focus/Astra and Mondeo/Insignia at 4,770mm and at 1,470mm is lower than all of them. 

The external styling is elegant, the only complaint perhaps being the rear quarter window, which tries to track the line of the hatch, resulting in a fussiness not seen elsewhere in the car. 

Inside, the seats are comfortable and hold you in position well. There is good adjustment in all directions and, together with the height and rake-adjustable steering wheel, few people will be unable to find a comfortable driving position. The dashboard and console are well laid out and instruments easy to read, although this area suffers one or two afterthoughts. For example, the main headlight/beam indicator light is dead centre of the instrument display, yet the sidelight indicator light is tucked away in the bottom right-hand corner. Also, on the automatic (a good, well-ratioed, six-speeder), the Sport button is positioned up on the lower console, illogically on the passenger side. But these are minor details. The plastics are of a very high quality, feel good to the touch and can be expected to be robust. 

A small disappointment is perhaps the load capacity; at a reported 553 litres, it is only marginally better than the smaller Astra and Focus at 525 and 532 litres respectively.

To drive, this is a well-tuned, good performer. The suspension delivers a good, comfortable ride yet will hang on well, with little roll, when pushed to extremes. The steering, whilst perhaps a little light at low speeds, is direct and possesses a good turning circle. However the brakes could do with inspiring a little more confidence. 

In 136PS diesel form (119g/km CO2), the i40 performs well at both acceleration and cruising speeds. In automatic form, it comfortably delivers 6.6 l/100km after a day of high-speed cruising and the occasional spirited urban and rural road drives.

Fresh, with sharp styling and a real road presence, the i40 Tourer is doing what Hyundai always threatens – taking on the competition head to head and doing it well.

Oh yes – lose the bright and breezy welcome and farewell music…

'Strengths'

Well priced with high build quality and an attractive design, the i40 Tourer is an impressive package that will give many of its competitors a good run for their money, and win.

'Weaknesses'

Not many. Badge snobs will have a problem, but be assured they will be missing out. Across Europe wherever the estate car is used more as a workhorse, the payload may prove to be the i40’s Achilles heel. 

Certainly in the UK, where the difference between a true “fleet” dealer and a retail dealer is stronger, Hyundai will need to instill a broader fleet network.

Just hurry up with the sedan.

'Opportunities'

If you look at some of the comparison pages of its competitors’ websites where there is an absence of Hyundai product, there is clearly a distinct “head in the sand” attitude when it comes to considering Korean product as a real threat. If Hyundai takes the bull by the horns, with i40 sedan soon to be released and new i30 following, it can trounce the opposition while they are still sipping their espresso doppio.

'Threats'

The main threat is really from its sibling, Kia. Same basic model, same quality, similar pricing.

Other manufacturers will struggle to match, let alone beat this offering.

Hyundai’s ability to produce sufficient volumes may prove an obstacle, too.