Hyundai Coupe TSIII : DONE TO A T

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Hyundais 2.0-litre Coupe TSIII offers a tempting package to buyers seeking a stylish sub-£20K sports coupe. Jonathan Crouch reports

Lets say youve decided you want to buy an affordably-priced sports coupe and youve set a price ceiling of £20,000 on your choice. As a result of this budget, youve concluded, quite understandably, that a Hyundai Coupe SIII is the best option but which one?

Of course, in an ideal world, youd like the range-topping 2.7-litre V6 version which is within your budget. However, you dont really want pricey group 14 insurance or sub-20mpg urban fuel economy. No, what you really need is the car were looking at here, the Hyundai Coupe TSIII.

This has all the looks and flair of the V6 probably a little more without the expensive running costs. And because its based on the 140bhp 2.0-litre mid-range petrol model, it also costs a few hundred less, priced at £19,595, thats £1,575 more than the standard Coupe SIII 2.0-litre model.

Four exclusive paint colour options of Stone Black, Rose Red, Crystal White or Carbon Grey are available on this variant. Crystal White and Rose Red have never been offered on the Coupe before and are exclusively available on the TSIII in very limited numbers. To complement and contrast with these colours, the 17" alloy wheels have a special anthracite finish. At the rear the quad exhaust pipes deliver a sportier engine note, while a larger boot spoiler with integral brake light gives the TSIII a more purposeful look.Â Inside the cabin, TSIII features quilted leather sports seats offering more support and comfort to enhance the driving experience. Matching quilted door trims complete the look. Elsewhere in the interior, chrome sill guards with a TSIII logo, metal-trimmed pedals and footrest add to the sporty feel of the cabin. Air conditioning with climate control, heated front seats and cruise control all come as standard on the TSIII, along with iPod compatible stereo and metal-look finishes on the steering wheel, centre console and air vents.

"The concept of less being more isnt always an easy one to swallow, but in this case, it makes sense"

Its not just the looks that have been enhanced. To increase road holding the TSIII comes with Eibach sport springs which also give the Coupe a lower, more aggressive stance. Under the bonnet though, its exactly like any other 2.0-litre Coupe SIII model.

Dynamically, this Hyundai 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. 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. Sixty is 9.2s away from rest on the way to a maximum of 128mph and you should average over 30mpg.

Insurance is group 10. 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. As well as the TSIII-specific features already mentioned, all Coupe SIII 2.0-litre models get 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. The SIII model was introduced early in 2007 and features a restyled front end 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 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. 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 SIII variant over the V6 flagship model, youve really been rather clever.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Hyundai Coupe TSIII
PRICE: £19,595 - 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