While the ix35 bought the manufacturer up to scratch with its European counterparts, the i40 has moved the game on that little bit further. All dials and buttons are easy to find and use, while the flowing dash design gives the inside of the car that little extra stylish touch it needs to take on the competition. One criticism though is that the array of materials used makes everything look a bit too busy.

Some of the plastics are disconcertingly shiny, but this is mixed in with the more upmarket feeling stuff and doesn’t cause too many problems.

There’s plenty of adjustment in the front seats, so getting in to a comfortable spot should be easy. Even at its lowest point the driver’s seat felt a little too high, however, while there was limited reach and height movement for the steering wheel. The front seats are comfortable enough for long journeys although the side bolstering could be better to hold you in round tighter corners.

Go for the mid-spec choice on 17-inch wheels and the ride feels fairly compliant. Head for the top trim with 18-inch alloys though and things do get a bit bumpier on undulating roads, which could be even worse once you get it on the UK’s rougher roads. There’s minimal road and wind noise and even in the diesel models engine noise is limited.