KEY POINTS:
The previous-generation Hyundai Tiburon - launched in 1996 and known simply as "Coupe" in most export markets - was a landmark car for the Korean brand, arguably its first with truly international appeal.
It looked wild, had handling to please the enthusiast and brought Hyundai to the attention of a whole new group of buyers.
Hyundai has changed a lot in the past decade, of course. It's no longer a purveyor of second-class family transport, it's now firmly in the mainstream, with a massive model range that competes with the best on quality and dynamic competence.
In short, Hyundai no longer needs an image-boosting "hero" model such as the Tiburon. But you can understand why the company would retain a soft spot for the sporty two-door, which is why the Tiburon soldiers on as the maker's oldest model.
The outrageously curvy styling was dropped in favour of faux-Ferrari styling cues on the current model, which dates from 2002.
But even those have been softened on the Tiburon's most recent facelift, with the distinctive Ferrari 575-style "kick" in the door straightened into a smoother, more conventional crease line. Less copying - the sign of a more confident carmaker?
It still looks sharp but the Tiburon's main asset these days is that it stands without any true competitors.
Our top-spec 2.7-litre test car costs just $39,995 and comes fully loaded. If anybody can think of another sexy-looking V6-powered coupe for less than $40,000, $50,000 or even $60,000, please drop me a line.
There simply aren't any. Nor is there much in the four-cylinder market to match it - one-time rivals such as the Honda Integra and Toyota Celica have now passed on.
A coupe with an aura of uniqueness is an appealing thingindeed. It's almost a bonus that the Tiburon is also quite engaging to drive.
The base stock isn't that promising. It's loosely based on the platform of the previous-generation Elantra hatchback, but with the wheelbase shortened by 80mm and longer suspension arms to extend the track. However the Tiburon delivers a pretty impressive driving experience.
The 2.7-litre V6 is a bit old-hat next to the 3.3-litre unit used in the newer Sonata, but it sounds good under load and if you opt for the manual-gearbox model you get a slick six-speed gearbox with a progressive clutch action. The V6 is somewhat lazy at low speed, but the gearbox is a close-ratio unit and allows you to keep the powerplant spinning in a healthy rev range.
It handles, too, albeit without the tail-out attitude of the previous model. It's determinedly front-drive in its responses, but balanced and nimble enough to be entertaining. Stability control is standard.
The low cabin is better suited to the height challenged than full-size adults, but what's cramped in a sedan is usually called "intimate" in a coupe, so the Tiburon can be excused.
The dashboard architecture isn't as curvaceous or well-finished as some of the brand's newer family-car offerings, but it does impart a suitably sporty feel.
The large circular ventilation outlets sitting atop the centre console seem Alfa Romeo-inspired, but it's not clear where the idea of a torque meter came from. This small dial purports to tell you how many newton metres the V6 is developing in real time. Pointless.
As are the tiny rear seats. Sit an adult in there with the rear hatch open, and when you close the lid you could clonk them on the head. The car carries warning stickers to that effect. But you can't judge a coupe too harshly for being packaged like, well, a coupe.
A decade ago, the Tiburon was the most impressive thing in Hyundai's line-up. The fact it's now one of the least impressive is a measure of how far the brand has come, rather than a comment on the car's quality.
Despite its age, it still occupies a special place in the market.
Hyundai Tiburon V6
We like: Still looks sharp, close-ratio manual gearbox.
We don't like: Cramped interior, peaky engine.
The facts
Basic price: $39,990.
Options fitted: None.
Price as tested: $39,990.
Warranty: 3 years/100,000km.
Powertrain and performance
Engine: 2656cc petrol V6.
Power: 123kW at 6000rpm.
Torque: 245Nm at 4000rpm.
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-drive.
0-100km/h: 8.4 seconds.
European Combined fuel consumption: 9.9 litres per 100km.
Safety
Active driver aids: Anti-lock braking with force distribution and brake assist, traction and stability control.
Passive restraints: Front and side airbags, four lap-sash seatbelts.
EuroNCAP occupant crash test rating: Not tested.
Vital statistics
Wheels and tyres: 16-inch alloy wheels, 245/75 tyres.
Length: 4395mm.
Height: 1330mm.
Width: 1760mm.
Wheelbase: 2530mm.
Kerb weight: 1335kg.
Boot volume: 418/683 litres (seats up/down).
Fuel tank: 55 litres.
