Hyundai Coupe 2.0
Lets say this right up front. This Hyundai Coupe has surprised even us. From being a cut-price alternative to frankly better mainstream models, its now arguably a class leader, even though prices are still tightly pitched. Not only does the restyled version still look great, it also handles sharply and is beautifully built.
Read that again and remember that were talking about a Hyundai here.
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First, a £19,597 price tag which, even for a car this good, seems a lot to pay, given that the badge wont sit easily in the golf club carpark. Second is a rather portly 1390kg of weight, which rather takes the edge off what should be sparkling performance. With an engine of nearly three litres under the bonnet, you cant help but feel from behind the wheel that you really ought to be going a lot quicker. All of which adds plenty of credence to the argument for promoting the £18,022 2.
0-litre 136bhp model featured here as the pick of the range. Dynamically, it may lag slightly behind the Mazda RX-8 and an Alfa GT Coupe probably has the edge in the styling stakes but the pricing of the Hyundai still marks it out. And other than these two alternatives, theres not much else. Want an Alfa Brera, a Mercedes C-Class Sports Coupe, a BMW 3 Series Coupe or even a Nissan 350z for this kind of money? Dream on.
"The concept of less being more isnt always an easy one to swallow, but in this case, it makes sense"
Whereas the top Hyundai Coupe rather feels as if its been saddled with a V6 engine originally developed for something else (two other cars actually, the Santa Fe 4x4 and the Trajet MPV), this 2.0-litre model is a much nicer package, nor only because of the 110kg advantage it enjoys in weight terms. The engines quite sweet and reasonably torquey, all factors that encourage you to make the most of more agile handling. Not that this is really an out-and-out sports car though the rather fidgety ride over poor surfaces at low speeds leads us to believe that its maker thinks it is.
In fact, the handling is what weve come to expect from Hyundai Coupes far better than the matinee-idol looks would suggest, but geared towards entertaining the average driver rather than wringing the last few tenths out of a lap for track day fiends. Think of it more as an old-style GT sports coupe and youll be closest to the mark. In true Hyundai style, equipment levels are complete. Only one well specified variant is being offered here in 2.
0-litre form and it includes leather trim as well as the usual deal iPod-compatible CD player, air conditioning, four airbags, ABS, electric windows, remote central locking, power mirrors and so on. Interior space isnt bad if you count the rear seats as occasional items. The only grumble is headroom, which can be an issue if youre much over six feet tall. If so, dont opt for the sunroof, as this exacerbates the problem.
Otherwise front space is generous and the big boot serves up a welcome dose of practicality. The best thing about this car however, is the way it looks. Not for nothing have the sweeping lines been compared to those of a Ferrari 456. Today theres a restyled front end to consider with longer, meaner headlamps, a thin letterbox grille and a wide air-intake below that hides revised fog lights in its corners.
The trademark side gills now also have integrated side repeater lights. Inside, build quality is surprisingly good and theres a retro feel to the decor. The instruments now illuminate in blue and some of the metallic finishes look quite upmarket. This variant does without the V6 models six-speed manual gearbox, as does the one below it, the entry-level 1.
6-litre model. This has a more spartan specification and only 105bhp on tap, so unless cash is really tight, its well worth shaking the piggy bank a bit harder and going for the 2.0-litre version. Shake harder still and youll be on course to affording the 4-speed automatic option thats £1,000 more.
The concept of less being more isnt always an easy one to swallow. In this case however, you might well feel that in choosing the 2.0-litre Coupe variant, youve really been rather clever.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Hyundai Coupe 2.0 SE
PRICE: £18,022 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 10
CO2 EMISSIONS: 202g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 128mph / 0-60mph 9.2s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 24.8mpg / (extra urban) 38.7mpg /(combined) 32.1mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ABS, Twin front and side airbags
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height mm 5395/1760/1330mm
