Skip advert
Advertisement

Hyundai Coupe SIII

Can a bargain price make Korean sports car even more tempting?

Overall Auto Express rating

3.0

How we review cars
Find your Hyundai Coupe
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car
Advertisement

At its original list price, the Coupé SIII made little sense – there are plenty of hot hatches for similar money that can run rings around it. However, the £5k price cut puts it in a different league with no direct rivals. If you want a sharp looking sports car loaded with kit for the cost of a mundane supermini, nothing comes close.

Advertisement - Article continues below

It’s the credit crunch coupé! Hyundai is currently riding the crest of a sales wave, thanks to the Scrappage Incentive Scheme. Its range of small cars has proven popular with buyers, thanks to their mix of great value and decent kit.

But what about drivers on the hunt for sporting thrills on a budget? Well, there’s the Coupé SIII, which has a huge £5,000 knocked off its list price.

What’s more, you don’t need to trade in an old banger to take advantage of the cut. The range now starts from £12,995 – that’s £2,600 less than when the Coupé was introduced in 1996! – which places it firmly in supermini territory.

So what do you get for your money? Well, it looks sharp, with a low-slung profile and smart 17-inch alloys, although that sporty shape does limit cabin space. There’s plenty of standard kit, though, including air-con, heated leather seats, cruise control, an electric sunroof and iPod connection. Blue backlighting adds a classy touch, but the hard plastic finish and aftermarket stereo are a bit of a letdown.

Under the bonnet is a 141bhp 2.0-litre engine that gives the Coupé a 0-62mph time of 9.3 seconds. Performance isn’t particularly impressive; you need to work the motor and five-speed box hard to make progress, and the Coupé’s buzzy engine lacks refinement at motorway speeds.

Things improve on twisty roads, though. The handling isn’t the sharpest around and the steering is rather numb, but it’s still entertaining, and the stiff suspension means there’s minimal body roll in corners. If you’re in the market for a budget coupé, then the Hyundai genuinely is the last of the breed. And it, too, will soon disappear, as production in Korea has already finished.

Rival: MG TF 135
The TF matches the Hyundai for value with a £13,511 price tag, but the basic design is 15 years old and it lags behind for standard kit and dynamics. Only the prospect of top-down motoring could win it fans.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Senior test editor

Dean has been part of the Auto Express team for more than 20 years, and has worked across nearly all departments, starting on magazine production, then moving to road tests and reviews. He's our resident van expert, but covers everything from scooters and motorbikes to supercars and consumer products.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Ford Capri review
Ford Capri - front

Ford Capri review

This is no sports car, nor even a retro reboot – rather a capable, refined and well-built EV that happens to sport a controversial name
In-depth reviews
29 Oct 2024
New Audi RS 3 2024 review: is there a new hyper-hatch king?
Audi RS 3 - front

New Audi RS 3 2024 review: is there a new hyper-hatch king?

The Audi RS 3 renews hostilities with the Mercedes-AMG A 45, but this time it might just have the edge
Road tests
27 Oct 2024
Hot new Abarth 600e is the performance outfit’s most powerful car ever
Abarth 600e - front

Hot new Abarth 600e is the performance outfit’s most powerful car ever

The fiery electric SUV uses Abarth’s own newly developed e-motor that produces up to 278bhp
News
28 Oct 2024