Hyundai Coupe
The Hyundai Coupe travels at top speed even when its parked. The looks both inside and out make you think back to cars drawn by school kids on the back on work books. There are hints of Italian exotica with the round air-vents and with the rear haunches of the sports car.
If you don’t like the look of this car there has to be something wrong with you. Some accuse the car of stealing design ideas from other manufacturers, but they are missing the point. The car still looks stunning.
The curvy lines look, from the outside, as if the car would be difficult to maneuver in tight spaces. However, just the opposite is true, from the inside the lines are prominent enough to judge easily where the vehicle’s edges are.
Panel gaps are even and the only shimmer I saw came from the bonnet when I went over a particularly big and unexpected pot-hole.
The dashboard hasn’t so much been constructed as styled. Functionality remains throughout but attention to detail is amazing. It is obvious a great deal of care and attention has been put into the car.
The airbag filled steering wheel is not as small as some of the latest designs but does not obscure any dials or switches. The only lacking area is head-room. At six two my hair lightly rubbed the sunroof. I would have preferred to have done with out the sunroof and stuck with the ultra-efficient air-conditioning.
The highly-adjustable seats helped the Coupe’s ride a great deal. But it is the overwhelming grip and handling prowess that impresses most. Feedback from the steering wheel and brakes is better in some other cars but you quickly learn to trust the car will go round corners faster and faster without fuss or drama. Even when you come across a corner that tightens unexpectedly all remains calm.
When you do reach the limit of grip, and most people won’t on a public road, the Hyundai’s handling is exceedingly safe. Understeer creeps in first and if you lift off the line tightens rather than the usual change to oversteer.
The two-litre engined version I drove was wonderful around town but the car could easily have taken more power. The car wasn’t in the slightest bit slow but I would have liked it to be a little bit more raw. A more powerful engine would have matched the impressive looks better.
The Coupe is available with a 1.6-litre unit too, but although this is a touch lighter would, I think, be a disappointment.
The two-litre is capable of 0-60 in 8.6 seconds and has a top speed of 125 mph, while the 1.6 covers the same in 10.9 seconds and has a maximum speed of 120 mph.
Not only is the car great to look at but also the price is stunningly low too. Prices start at £13,999 for the base model 1.6 and rises to £16,999 for the 2-litre SE which includes extras such as air-con, cruise control, remote central locking, amazing CD player and leather seats.
On top of all this residuals are rock solid and way above the competition and running costs are low too. I achieved a 32.2 mpg average while driving enthusiastically.
This has to be one of the best 2+2 coupes on the market. With looks like this only the snobby badge obsessed BMW driver would overlook the Hyundai Coupe.
