2007 Hyundai Tiburon V6 quick drive

Tiburon is the Spanish word for “shark” and when the original Tiburon was introduced in the mid 90s, it represented a daring take on how to style a sports coupe.

It had thrown conservative design out the sunroof and sliced the envelope in half with its shark-fin spoiler.

When looks matter, inside or our, this machine delivers.

Sharks never stop moving even while they sleep, and that’s fitting because the styling of the latest Tiburon makes it look like its speeding along even at rest. This isn’t a coupe version of some sedate sedan, and as such its designers were free to play.

Scandalous lines electrify its presence, and it demands attention with a low ride, big wheels and dual-outlet exhaust at the rear.

Metallic trim throughout the tastefully restrained cockpit lends itself to the cars overall sporting spirit, and the loaded tester also came with power windows, locks and mirrors, air conditioning, heated leather seats, automatic climate control, keyless entry, and an air quality system.

Build quality is very good, and aside from a few dated switches and controls, interior construction feels the part of a higher priced machine.

Under the hood is a familiar 2.7 litre V6 engine that generates 172 horsepower.

That’s four-cylinder output for many competitors, but the little six is eager to rev, delivers decent mileage and sounds pleasing.

It’s not lightning quick nor particularly smooth, though power is adequate once the revs start to climb.

The test car spun the front tires through a tight six-speed manual gearbox. An automatic transmission is available.

The chassis is composed, solid and eager to play, clearly tuned for performance first, and comfort second. These goals are well met, as the Tiburon goes exactly where you point it without a fuss.

At the end of the day, it is a coupe- meaning limited room for more than one friend and their things. Your author measures 5″9′ and 220 lbs- and if you’re much bigger than me, you’ll feel cramped.

But as a complete package, this Tiburon will be hard to beat, with the combination of Hyundai’s warranty coverage, sporting attitude, quality, styling and features. It’s a highly energetic vehicle that’s a real treat to drive.

This shark’s been around, but its teeth are still sharp.