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Hyundai i800

The Essentials

  • Price from £23,820
  • What Car? says: 3 star rating
  • Fuel economy: up to 32.0mpg
  • What is it? Cheap, van-based people-carrier for eight and their luggage

Great

  • Most affordable way to transport eight adults in comfort with their luggage
  • Engine is strong and smooth, even when the car is full laden
  • A five-year warranty comes as standard

Gripes

  • The seating slides but doesn't fold flat, so it's not that versatile
  • The are just two airbags, both at the very front of the cabin
  • The ride can be bouncy if only a few passengers are on board
  • Drive

    The engine is powerful enough but the i800's handling and ride highlight its van roots

  • Inside

    The interior is decidedly functional, but it's smart enough and easy enough to use

  • Safety

    Just two front airbags is a worry, but at least there are some electronic driver aids as standard

  • Reliability

    Hyundai has a good record and the i800 feels built to last

  • Space

    The i800 can take eight and their luggage, but that's the limit to its talents

  • Standard and extras

    Good standard kit list includes air-con and a heated driver's seat

  • What's it like to drive?

    The 2.5-litre diesel engine makes the i800 feel surprisingly swift even when all eight seats are occupied, and it's pleasingly quiet, too. However, the vehicle's handling is more van-like body control is okay but the steering is rather vague. The ride is a bit jiggly with only one or two passengers on board, but fully-loaded things are much better. The tight turning circle is useful given the i800s's size.

  • What's it like inside?

    The priority here is functionality and durability, although the dashboard fairly smart and all the controls are conveniently placed and simple to use. The carpets look hardwearing enough to withstand the rigours of a kids' football team. The i800 is more of a genuine people-carrier than an MPV; it can seat eight but doesn't perform the fancy seat-folding tricks of smaller, seven-seater cars. However, even with eight on board there's plenty of room for luggage, and the sliding doors make access easier in tight parking spaces. Eight seats at this money is already great value, but the deal looks even better when you consider that standard kit includes air-con, alloys, remote locking, a CD player, privacy glass and a heated seat for the driver.

  • How reliable is it?

    The cabin feels built to last and you can expect the mechanical parts of your i800 to be pretty robust, too Hyundai came sixth in What Car?'s latest reliability survey. Driver aids including stability control should help prevent accidents but, even so, the provision of just two front airbags in a family car is disappointing.

  • Should I buy one?

    If you just need to get eight bums on seats, this is by far the cheapest way to do it you'll pay thousands more for a Ford Tourneo Custom or Volkswagen Caravelle, for example. An average fuel economy of 32.1mpg when fully loaded is pretty good, too, while a five-year warranty package is reassuring. Just bear in mind that the cabin isn't anywhere near as flexible as a seven-seat MPV.