We review the Hyundai i800 from price to economy and all its features

SUMMER driving can be a nightmare especially if youve got screaming kids in the back. So to prove how the new i800 can cope with a large family, Hyundai filled their people carrier with inflatable dolls.

SUMMER driving can be a nightmare – especially if you’ve got screaming kids in the back.

So to prove how the new i800 can cope with a large family, Hyundai filled their people carrier with inflatable dolls.

Huge success ... Hyundai i800

It showed just how big the i800 is and it just might be just one of 2008’s HUGE successes.

That’s because it is massive.

The problem with most seven-seat people carriers is that they carry seven people but not baggage for seven people.

Well, the new Hyundai i800 not only accommodates EIGHT occupants but also all the paraphernalia that goes with that.

I’ve just had the first drive of the i800 and I was surprised at just how good it was.

It actually looks very smart, not just a van with extra glass.

There’s something quite stylish and classy about it.

The i800 oozes road presence and a mean appeal, like the sort of people carrier that would transport pop stars between gigs.

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Despite being £10,000 cheaper than the VW Caravelle, the top-spec Style model I drove is still packed with equipment and kit such as alloys, air-con, privacy glass, trip computer, parking sensors and heated seats.

There’s even colour-changing “mood” lighting in the back. The kids loved that.

Some of the trim and upholstery materials are a bit plasticky but some might argue that wipe-clean surfaces are more important than fancy fabric in a family runabout.

There is tons of glass all around, which makes the interior airy and light – and my two monsters loved the panoramic view.

On the road, the i800 feels very big but the ride was smooth while the handling and steering are also decent.

The 168bhp 2.5litre diesel, which you drive through a five-speed gearbox mounted on the dash, gives surprising acceleration and a top speed of just over 100mph.

I liked the fact that in high gear the i800 still produced a good amount of power, even up steep hills.

This new Hyundai makes terrific sense for the big family out there.

At a bargain price of £18,495, clearly the only inflated aspect of this i800 were the passengers.

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