Driving Impressions

Although we concentrated on the FX model, we found that the basic Tiburon's 130-hp 1.8-liter engine produces decent acceleration by the standards for this class. The 10 extra horsepower generated by the 2.0-liter FX engine comes into play in the upper rpm range, and its extra torque--133 pounds-feet, versus 122 for the 1.8-liter version--makes for quicker accleration and less shifting around town. The Tiburon engines are neither the smoothest nor the quietest on the market, but fall within acceptable bounds. Hyundai worked hard to minimize friction and vibration by using lightweight parts, silicon-impregnated pistons and fluid-damped engine mounts. Hyundai definitely did its homework on the Tiburon's chassis. It's among the stiffest in its class, which is probably why the Tiburon weighs a bit more than some of its competitors. Chassis stiffness is where agile handling starts, and we were very favorably impressed with the Tiburon's athletic responses in quick maneuvers. Even in extreme lane-change and slalom exercises, the car felt balanced and stable, and the power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering is quick and accurate. The Tiburon is one of those cars that made us go out of our way to give it some exercise on favored stretches of winding back roads, something that can't be said for some of its competitors. If there's any minus in the Tiburon's dynamic traits, it lies in the action of the five-speed manual gearbox, which feels less precise than some others in this class. In particular, low-speed downshifts into first gear can be a challenge. Making a proper upshift in hard low-speed cornering also requires a little extra care, a trait that's not at all uncommon in small front-drive hot rods such as this. However, at higher speeds the gearbox works fine and the gearing is well suited to the engine's power characteristics. The optional four-speed automatic takes much of the sport out of this--or any--sport coupe. If you don't want to shift for yourself, we suggest the FX, with its more powerful engine.

Final Word

We think the Tiburon is a good buy--inexpensive, well equipped, stylish and a lot of fun to drive. Beyond that, it represents another proof that Hyundai is very serious about upgrading the image and quality of its products.