1 Mar 2002
Hyundai’s third generation front-wheel drive three-door coupe was one of the year’s surprise packages, showing just how much the South Korean brand had matured.
High points include style, performance and refinement, with the 127kW/245Nm 2.7-litre V6 offering very solid performance, especially when coupled with the six-speed manual gearbox in lieu of the four-speed auto.
The 102kW/181Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder version was also a viable Toyota Celica or Honda Integra alternative, but a lack of buyer interest killed it off from March 2004. It seems many couldn’t get past the cheapo Hyundai image.
Other Tiburon strengths include the fine finish, distinctive design, involving handling and pleasant cabin. Only the hard V6’s rock-hard ride detracts.
Still, either Tiburon represents good style and value in an infamously fickle coupe market.
A minor facelift with small specification and trim revisions arrived from early 2005.
