Universal E40 Elliptical Review

When it comes to mid range elliptical machines, this is one of the more expensive ones to go with. The Universal E40 Elliptical Machine is built to last, has a decent computer system, reliable magnetic resistance, and more. While the quality of this elliptical machine is high, keep in mind that there are many other mid range elliptical machines for the same or lower price, which actually have more features.

Find the best price for the Universal E40 Elliptical

Overview

Unfortunately, at this time, there is no video overview of the Universal E40 Elliptical Machine from the manufacturer. However, the Universal E40 Elliptical Machine is the updated version of the 2013 Schwinn A40 Elliptical Machine. Just to clear up confusion, Universal is a sub-brand of Nautilus Inc (the home company of Schwinn) intended to provide affordable cardio products to people. We do have a video for the Schwinn A40 but keep in mind that there have been many improvements made since the Schwinn A40, mainly the console and display.

Main Features

The Universal E40 Elliptical Machine has a few different features that are definitely worth mentioning, so what are they?

Dimensions & Weight

As far as mid range elliptical machines go, the Universal E40 Elliptical Machine is a fairly small and compact model that does not weigh all that much.

Assembly

Assembling the Universal E40 Elliptical Machine could definitely be a little easier, but it is also not all that difficult. The instructions are fairly clear and straight forward, plus all of the tools needed are included. However, this is really not a one-person job, as it would take one person around 3 hours to fully assemble the Universal E40 Elliptical Machine. If you like, you can purchase expert assembly for an extra $100.

Warranty

The Universal E40 Elliptical Machine does come with a fairly good warranty. It has a 3-year warranty on the frame, a 1-year warranty on mechanical parts, a 1-year warranty on electrical parts, and a 60-day labor warranty.

What We Like About The Universal E40 Elliptical Machine

There are a few different things about the Universal E40 Elliptical Machine which we do like a lot, so let’s just talk about those quickly.

We like the fact that the Universal E40 Elliptical Machine uses magnetic resistance to provide you with a challenge. This model uses a high speed and high inertia flywheel in order to provide you with smooth and quiet resistance. It is a reliable form of resistance in an elliptical machine, one that usually does not require much maintenance. There are actually 8 different levels of resistance which can be chosen from using the LCD display.

Something else that we like about the Universal E40 Elliptical Machine is that it is fairly small and compact. As you can see from the dimensions, the Universal E40 Elliptical Machine does not take up too much space, which is convenient for anyone with a smaller size home. The Universal E40 Elliptical Machine also comes with transportation wheels to make moving it around a lot easier than it otherwise would be.

Yet another thing we like about the Universal E40 Elliptical Machine is the 8 preset programs that it comes with. You can choose a quick start program or any of the other 7 preset programs in order to give you the challenge that you need. The LCD display is also very useful because it displays things such as time, speed, calories, and more. It is not the best fitness tracking software around, but it definitely does the trick.

Something else that we like about the Universal E40 Elliptical Machine is that it comes with multi-function handlebars. It comes with one set of motion handlebars so you can get a good upper body workout while using the elliptical. Also, the Universal E40 Elliptical Machine comes with stationary handlebars equipped with heartbeat sensors so you can keep track of your cardio output.

What We Don’t Like About The Universal E40 Elliptical Machine

There are a couple of things which we really don’t like about the Universal E40 Elliptical Machine, perhaps more than there ought to be.

The Universal E40 Elliptical Machine’s LCD display runs on batteries or an AC cord that is sold separately. For the price that this model comes in at, we would expect something as trivial as a power cord to come included.

We don’t like the fact that the Universal E40 Elliptical Machine cannot be adjusted in terms of its incline.

Also, we don’t like the fact how this particular elliptical trainer only has 8 levels of resistance and 7 preset programs.

Alternatives To The Universal E40 Elliptical Machine

So you can have a point of reference when comparing different mid range elliptical machines, let’s take a look at some of the other best mid range models you could choose.

Schwinn 430 Elliptical Machine

Both the Schwinn and the Universal cost about the same, yet the differences between the two are quite large. When it comes down to it, the Schwinn 430 Elliptical Machine has a quite a few more features than the Universal E40 Elliptical Machine, all for virtually the same price. The Schwinn has a slightly better resistance mechanism with way more resistance levels, it has an adjustable incline, a higher weight capacity, more preset programs, it has data export capabilities, a fan, speakers, and more, all of which the Universal E40 does not. On the other hand, the Universal E40 does help you save lots of space.

Exerpeutic 5000 Magnetic Elliptical Trainer

The Exerpeutic 5000 costs around 200 bucks less than the Universal E40 Elliptical Machine, yet it might actually be the better model. We are not saying that the Universal E40 is a bad elliptical machine, but when you compare its price and the accompanying features with that of the Exerpeutic 5000 Magnetic Elliptical Trainer, the price difference does not make all that much sense. The Exerpeutic has more electronic features, preset programs, fitness tracking capabilities, more resistance levels, and the build is just as good, not to mention that they both save space.

Final Thoughts On The Universal E40 Elliptical Machine

The Universal E40 Elliptical Machine is definitely a good mid range option to go with. It is a fairly expensive model of elliptical trainer for the features it comes with. It does have a reliable resistance mechanism, good dual action arms, a decent LCD display, and the overall build quality is quite high. However, it just seems as though the Universal E40 Elliptical Machine has the same number or even fewer features as other mid range models of the same or even drastically lower price.