Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 17 classes based on size, price, and market position. The Sporty/Performance Car class consists of two-seat roadsters, 4-cyl hatchbacks, and V8 muscle cars. Regardless of configuration, all have an emphasis on affordable performance.

Our Best Buys include the Mazda Miata, and Pontiac GTO. Our Recommended picks are the Acura RSX, Ford Mustang, Honda S2000, Mini Cooper, Nissan 350Z, and Scion tC.

Though it's always sold in very small numbers, Tiburon is tipped to get an overdue overhaul for 2007 that may do wonders for its popularity. The new version will be based on the redesigned '07 Elantra, and there's talk that the coupe will be joined by a long-rumored convertible. A concept shown two years ago suggests the convertible may bow with a retractable hard top engineered by Karmann of Germany, which crafted the concept design. Hyundai says this has fewer moving parts than some other "retrac" convertibles and powers up or down in 25 seconds. It will be interesting to see what develops. Coupe or convertible, the new Tiburon is likely to get more power from revised 4-cyl and V6 engines.