Hyundai Coupe Siii
Ratings
3 stars
Summary
Average. Decent mid-sized coupe combines handsome looks with tough construction - but it's not particularly thrilling to drive.
Review
Sporty two-doors without premium badges are now a minority interest, with Hyundai being one of very few companies to keep the faith with the current Coupe. It's a fine, unpretentious car - and if you can't quite stretch to a Nissan 350Z it's pretty much the only cut-price alternative left out there.
The handsome looks have always been the best feature of this generation Coupe. When it first came out it was likened by many to the Ferrari 456, and there's certainly something pleasingly predatory about the sharp styling.
Inside the cabin the Hyundai's case takes a knock, though. The interior feels very cheap and insubstantial with plasticky components and some nasty supplementary dials stuck to the middle of the dashboard. The seating position is cramped for front seat occupants, while only the smallest and most flexible can be sent into the even tighter rear. Boot space is reasonable, though.
On the road the Hyundai has plenty of raw charm, although it never manages to muster much in the way of finesse. The ride is firm to the point of harshness, crashing over potholes and undulations, although the pay-off is some impressively sporty driving dynamics when the going gets twisty.
The entry-level 1.6 litre petrol engine can't provide the firepower you'd expect for a coupe, although the 2.0 litre unit is respectably brisk (although loud). At the top of the range a 2.7 litre V6 provides decent performance and a nice, rorty soundtrack.
Ratings Breakdown
Styling
4 star
Still a handsome car, despite the approach of late middle age. There's something Ferrari-ish about the frontal design and proportions.
Handling
4 star
Grippy and keen to change direction thanks to the firm suspension settings. Raw, but in a good way.
Comfort
2 star
The stiff chassis gives the Coupe a very rough ride over poor road surfaces and there's lots of road and wind noise to deal with too.
Quality & Reliability
2 star
The interior feels very downmarket for a supposedly aspirational Coupe. Stuck-on supplementary instruments in the dashboard look terrible.
Performance
3 star
The entry-level 1.6 litre petrol motor is a bit on the slow side, but the larger 2.0 litre and 2.7 litre V6 units both give respectable, if unexceptional, urge.
Roominess
2 star
Cramped for front seat occupants and awkward to get in and out of. Rear seats are barely nominal, although the boot is reasonably sized by segment standards.
Running Costs
4 star
Like all Hyundais, the Coupe offers excellent value with cheap servicing and insurance in addition to some impressively sturdy residual values. The V6 version is thirsty when worked hard.
Value for money
4 star
The absence of any real rivals means that the Coupe has this bit of the market pretty much to itself. Respectable equipment levels, although buyers looking for extra practicality can land quicker hot hatches for less money.
