2003 Hyundai Tiburon

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$16,249

starting MSRP

2003 Hyundai Tiburon

Key specs

Base trim shown

Coupe

Body style

5

Seating capacity

173.0” x 52.3”

Dimensions

Front-wheel drive

Drivetrain

Overview

2 trims

Starting msrp listed lowest to highest price

Wondering which trim is right for you?

Our 2003 Hyundai Tiburon trim comparison will help you decide.

See also: Find the best Coupes for 2023

2003 Hyundai Tiburon review: Our expert's take

By

Hyundai takes another giant step forward with its quick, enjoyable Tiburon sports coupe.

Tiburon for 2003 has been significantly changed and upgraded from a bland little cruiser to a fast and attractive craft that performs as good as it looks. In the Tiburon GT V6, there’s a hot little V-6 engine with a sweetly aggressive exhaust note, an optional six-speed transmission, handling that is lithe and balanced, and a well-equipped interior with supportive seats and an excellent stereo.

All for $18,000. In this price range, most automakers flounder with low-end base models that often offer little more than image, while Hyundai brings in a satisfying performer with few complaints.

Tiburon continues Hyundai’s march from obscurity, when it was building lumpish, unremarkable economy cars with a sour reputation for falling apart. In the past couple of years, Hyundai has moved up into the big leagues, with decent products and booming sales.

From the highly successful Santa Fe sport utility vehicle, the Sonata family sedan, XG350 luxury sedan and now Tiburon, Hyundai keeps raising its standards and undercutting the competition.

Hyundai seems to have its quality problems under control, but one thing had me wondering. That was the shift knob, a two-piece assembly held together by what seemed like a sheet-metal screw. It kept coming loose and spinning around, even coming off in my hand. Nothing that a dollop of epoxy wouldn’t fix, but it made me question how the rest of the car was put together.

Other than that glitch, I was pretty well impressed with the Tiburon. It’s really an object lesson on how much car can be offered for how little.

Part of the budget equation is Hyundai’s reliance on existing components, such as the platform from the Sonata, which was tweaked by suspension engineers for greater response. Or the 2.7 liter V-6 from the Santa Fe and Sonata, still putting out 181 horsepower but delivering more spark in this lighter vehicle.

The base model Tiburon still soldiers on with a 140-horse four cylinder, with the base price around $16,000. That certainly would be adequate, but there’s no way the strong, flexible V-6 should be passed up, considering the performance edge it represents.

The optional six-speed – a five-speed is standard – shifts nicely, and the close gear ratios help keep the engine’s power band right in its sweet spot. There’s also an available four-speed automatic.

Although the Tiburon is front-wheel drive, the torque-steer effect is negligible, and understeer is well-controlled. Handling is excellent, but the tradeoff is a stiff ride and tires that rumble and thump. On the freeway, the tire noise gets annoying. On city streets, formerly unnoticed irregularities become significant thuds.

But you have to admire engineers who chose handling over comfort for this sports coupe. On tight, two-lane roads, the Tiburon dances through turns, with quick steering response and so lid suspension control.

The look is sporty and distinctive with deeply grooved character lines on the hood and classic proportions to the fastback cabin. The 45X17 Michelins bolster the look , though they do contribute to that harshness and road noise.

Being a Tiburon, which is Spanish for shark, the gills behind the front wheels are both fun and appropriate.

The interior is roomy for two, but forget that tight back seat with its complete lack of legroom or headroom.

At its base price of $17,999, the Tiburon GT V6 includes all the goodies, including sport-tuned suspension; fog lights; 17-inch alloy wheels; power windows, locking and side mirrors; eight-speaker stereo with booming subwoofer; side air bags; leather seats and steering wheel; and cruise control.

The only options on the test car were in an UltraSports package, which included the six-speed, racy aluminum pedals and a towering rear spoiler (anyone over 18 should skip that affectation), all for $ 0. Freight and handling cost $495.

It adds up to a successful new entry among small sports coupes, affordable yet without compromises in performance or style. Plus, think of the amusement factor as your friends stare wide-eyed and exclaim, “That’s a Hyundai?”

Hyundai Tiburon GT V6

Vehicle type: Four-passenger, two-door hatchback, front-wheel drive.

Base price: $17,999.

Price as tested: $18,744.

Engine: 2.7-liter V-6, 181 horse power at 6,000 rpm; 177 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm.

Transmission: Six-speed manual.

Wheelbase: 99.6 inches.

Curb weight: 3,023 pounds.

EPA mileage: 18 city, 26 highway.

Highs:

– Nice performance.

– Sporty styling.

– Value pricing.

Lows:

– Weird quality glitch.

– Harsh ride.

– Worthless back seat.

Consumer reviews

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.3
  • Interior 4.5
  • Performance 4.3
  • Value 4.5
  • Exterior 4.6
  • Reliability 4.3

Most recent consumer reviews

4.0

Sporty and reliable- good on gas.

I bought my 03 Tiburon used in 2006, with 52,000 miles. It is really reliable. Drove it from Virginia through W. Virginia to Kentucky for years. I service and do basic maintenance myself, it is quite easy to upkeep and is good on gas. I am confident on the interstate around large vehicles as it has the quickness to getaway. No plans to sell that baby- Torah!

5.0

Zoom Zoom!!!!!

only car i ever bought based solely on how it looked!! i was a trucker at the time, and hubby said it was time to get me a new (to me) car, so i started paying attention to the four-wheelers i saw on the interstates. when i first saw one, i had no idea what it was.... a mustang? a porsche? definitely had the style of a fancy foreign job!! when i finally noticed the emblem, my first thought was *it's a hyundai!! it can't be that expensive!!!* hubby went to carmax, test drove it, and bought it for me. it was a year old and had 10,000 miles on it. a friend of our went with him and drove it home, was very impressed!! i nearly had kittens when i came home and saw it in the driveway!! fast forward 18+ years.....car just turned over 65,000 miles (i was a trucker, i just visited my car when i came home). in the beginning had a couple minor glitches with the window motor, warranty took care of that. and the centerpiece fascia(sp?) has gotten a bit sticky, picked up an aluminum replacement for that. other than that, i LOVE my car!!! i've blown the doors off every car that's challenged me, and it still feels like a new car to me!! so much fun to drive, decent fuel mileage, if i could change anything about the design, i would have the mirrors on the hood, their location on the doors is a blind spot for me, maybe because i'm short?? my car is almost 20 years old, and i will be pried from it!!! this little old lady LOVES her zoomie car!!! i get lots of compliments on the way it looks, and i love that i don't see very many around....i feel like i'm driving an elite sports car!! and, my hubby has told me, he's never seen one broke down on the side of the road.....and i live in mountainous area, and my road trips are always on winding mountain roads. woohoo!!!!

5.0

Very reliable sporty and very fast very fine

This is a very nice vehicle fast reliable and very good looking inside in very nice conditions it has been very well tookin care of .

See all 32 consumer reviews

Warranty

New car and Certified Pre-Owned programs by Hyundai
New car program benefits
Bumper-to-bumper
60 months/60,000 miles
Corrosion
60 months/100,000 miles
Powertrain
120 months/100,000 miles
Roadside assistance
60 months/unlimited distance
Certified Pre-Owned program benefits
Maximum age/mileage
Less than 80,000 miles; less than 7 years old (currently MY18- MY24)
Basic warranty terms
Remainder of the 5-Year/60,000-Mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty. From original in-service date and zero (0) miles.
Powertrain
10-Yr/100K-Mile Powertrain Limited Warranty. From original in-service date and zero (0) miles.
Dealer certification required
173-point inspection
Roadside assistance
Yes
View all cpo program details

Have questions about warranties or CPO programs?

See all 2003 Hyundai Tiburon articles