Driving the Hyundai Tiburon GT is a satisfying experience. The V6 engine revs freely to 6,000 rpm, giving it a sporty feel, and its free-flowing exhaust gives the engine a pleasantly husky sound. Slam the gas pedal down and the front wheels scrabble for grip, at least until the 215/45R17 Michelin Pilot tires get to work and the car sprints forward.
Shift up through the five gears and you're cruising. If you get lazy and forget to downshift as you putter around town, it's no problem as the 181 pound-feet of torque are available at low rpm. We found it'll pull reasonably well in top gear from 35 mph. Though boasting only 172 horsepower, Hyundai's V6 delivers good low-end torque. This makes for a different driving experience than that of cars that thrive on high revs.
If you prefer an automatic transmission, go for the GT V6 and you'll not give up much in performance. That's another benefit of a V6 with strong torque, it works well with automatics. When you're in a sporty mood, the Shiftronic manual control on the automatic allows more involvement in the driving fun.
The power rack-and-pinion steering is precise, with just enough feedback for fast driving. With the power of the V6, torque-steer in this front-wheel-drive coupe is inevitable, but it's controllable and actually kind of fun when you're driving around town. (Torque steer is a common phenomenon with high-powered front-wheel-drive cars and is usually experienced as a slight tug on the steering wheel during hard acceleration.) It's only noticeable when you take off really quick or stand on the gas at low speeds.
Handling is good, with little body roll. Up front are MacPherson struts, with lower links isolated by a subframe. A multi-link suspension with Chapman struts holds up the rear. All models get stabilizer bars and gas-filled shock absorbers. The sport-tuned suspension on the GT V6 has 10-percent stiffer spring rates, stiffer compression in the gas-charged shocks, and thicker stabilizer bars front (23mm vs. 20mm) and rear (19mm vs. 18mm).
On the race track and on autocross circuits, the Hyundai Tiburon is easy to throw around. Like all front-drive cars, it tended to understeer (the front wheels lose grip before the rear wheels). However, we could easily compensate for this using the throttle, brakes, and steering wheel, and get the rear end to come around and help the car turn in for the tight corners. The four-wheel disc brakes worked well and stopped the car quickly.
Out on the highway, and on smooth roads, the Tiburon rides well. The sports suspension and low-profile tires tend to transmit excessive harshness into the cockpit on rough road surfaces, however.
