2003 Hyundai Tiburon Review

Sports coupes are considered "boutique'' cars in the industry and have a relatively short life. That's partly why Hyundai has replaced its Tiburon sports coupe with a sleeker, more powerful early 2003 model. The first Tiburon sports coupe was derived from a racy looking auto show concept car, and arrived as an affordable 1997 model with a nifty, unusual design from Italy's Giugiaro. The new model has a body from Hyundai's design studio and has an edgier look. The Tiburon's four-cylinder engine made it fairly quick.

It was fun to drive, although it lacked the higher level of refinement that Hyundai is putting in cars. Thus, the new Tiburon (Spanish for "shark'') coupe has been made stronger and quieter. It's slightly longer, wider and higher, with a longer wheelbase. And it's been restyled, inside and out. The new 181-horsepower V-6 is borrowed from the Hyundai Sonata sedan and Santa Fe sport-utility vehicle. It's for those who don't want the standard 140-horsepower four-cylinder engine.

The 2-liter four-cylinder is a holdover from the old Tiburon and provides decent performance. The smoother, quieter 2.7-liter V-6 delivers faster acceleration, but the new Tiburon still is no hot rod (0-60 mph in 8.2 seconds) because it's fairly heavy for its size at about 3,000 pounds. The V-6 can be hooked to a six-speed manual transmission, which is rather notchy, but generally shifts well and works with a good clutch. The 65-75 mph passing time was good even in sixth gear on the highway and the V-6 is so well-mannered you can loaf around town in fourth gear. Other transmissions are a revised five-speed manual and four-speed Shiftronic automatic with a manual shift feature.

Fuel economy ranges with the four-cylinder is an estimated 23 mpg in the city and 30-31 on the highway. It's 18-20 in the city and 26 on highways with the V-6. The Tiburon comes with regular and GT model designations. Sharing chassis parts with the Hyundai Elantra keeps costs down, so base prices range from $15,999-$19,997. My test model was a GT V-6 with a $1,998 UltraSports option package that included the six-speed gearbox, aluminum foot pedals, sunroof, anti-lock brakes and body colored rear spoiler. Still, the bottom-line price was a tad under $20,000.

Standard equipment for all models includes air conditioning, AM/FM/CD stereo, remote keyless entry and power windows and door locks. Steering is quick and handling is good during normal driving. However, this is a front-drive sports coupe, not a rear-drive sports car, so it doesn't like being pushed hard. The brakes felt good, and the all-independent suspension provides a supple ride, although it's firm enough to let occupants feel large bumps. Also, wavy roads cause the ride to get a little bouncy. Handling is improved with the optional 17-inch wheels, which come with a revised suspension. The new model has more interior room up front in supportive bucket seats, but the tight rear seat area is strictly for kids or pets. However, rear seatbacks flip forward to enlarge the cargo area. The V-6 version has an especially quiet interior.

The thick steering wheel is easy to grip, and cupholders are conveniently placed on the console. Gauges can be quickly read as long as the interior isn't in shadowy areas, and controls are fairly large. The glovebox is tiny, but there are small storage pockets in the doors. Power window controls are especially easy to reach on the driver's door, and the ignition switch is conveniently positioned on the dashboard--not buried on the steering column. Large outside mirrors help provide good visibility, and front occupants have side-impact air bags. Those who plan to keep the Tiburon a long time should be comforted by the fact that its powertrain warranty is good for 10 years or 100,000 miles and that its bumper-to-bumper warranty lasts for five years or 60,000 miles.