Hyundai i40 gets a bit of a tweak for 2019

The Hyundai i40, Hyundai’s competition for cars like the Ford Mondeo, gets updated for 2019 with new grille, a new engine and extra safety technology.

The mainstream D-segment – cars like the Ford Mondeo and Skoda Superb – are a very sensible buy for families, but are being made obsolete by the desire for high-riding SUVs and car buyers’ love of a ‘Posh’ badge.

Hyundai’s offering in this segment – the Hyundai i40 – is a decent car, but it’s getting quite old now and seems a little forgotten by Hyundai as they cash-in on the burgeoning SUV market with cars like the new Kona. But they’ve remembered it’s been three years since they last gave it a titivate, so the i40 comes in for some small updates for 2019.

Unsurprisingly, the most obvious change is a new ‘Cascading’ grille bolted on the front and the addition of 18″ alloys too.

Inside there is little changed, but you do get the choice of two new colours – Merlot Red and combination of Grey and Black – with new door panel inlays and metal trim on the dashboard.

Under the bonnet there’s a new Smartstream 1.6 litre diesel engine with 113bhp and a six-speed manual gearbox, and a more powerful 134bhp version which can also be had with a seven-speed DCT ‘box.

Safety is enhanced on the 2019 i40 with Hyundai’s Smartsense adding Forward Collision Avoidance, which warns drivers if a collision looks imminent, and brakes if you don’t.

The updates to the 2019 Hyundai i40 apply to both the saloon and estate.