Search Consumer Guide Auto and the Web
 

2006 Hyundai Tiburon Full Review
Date Published: 7/31/08
2006 Hyundai Tiburon Review
Antilock brakes are standard on all Tiburons for 2006. Hyundai's sporty coupe is offered in GS, GT, GT Limited, and SE trim levels. The GS has a 138-hp 4-cyl engine, the other models a 172-hp V6. The SE comes only with a 6-speed manual transmission. Other models are available with a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic with manual shift gate. ABS was previously standard only on the SE model. Front side airbags are standard. GT Limited is new for '06 and adds to the GT leather upholstery and a sunroof.
Competition
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 Ford Mustang Mazda Miata, and Scion tC. Our Recommended picks are Acura RSX, Honda S2000, Mini Cooper, Nissan 350Z, and Pontiac GTO.

New or significantly redesigned models include Mitsubishi Eclipse and Pontiac Solstice.

News
Though never very popular, Tiburon is tipped to get an overdue overhaul for 2007 that may do wonders for sales. The new version will be based on the redesigned '07 Elantra, and there's talk of the coupe being joined by a long-rumored convertible. A concept shown a few years ago suggests the convertible may have a retractable hard top engineered by Karmann of Germany. Hyundai says this has fewer moving parts than some other "retrac" convertibles and powers up or down in 25 seconds. Coupe or convertible, the new Tiburon should offer more power from revised 4-cyl and V6 engines.
2006 Hyundai Tiburon Road Test
Pros Cons
Steering/handling Rear-seat room
Entry/exit
Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings
Acceleration

GT, auto. SE Class Average
5 6 6.4

No 4-cyl version made available for test. V6 Tiburons with manual transmission feel peppy, but only with lots of shifting. Six-speed SE test car clocked 7.7 sec 0-60 mph, but shifter and clutch action isn't precise. V6s feel lazy with automatic transmission; Hyundai says 8.2 sec 0-60. Automatic saps midrange punch, though does compensate some with manual shift gate.
Fuel Economy

GT, auto. SE Class Average
5 5 5.5

SEs averaged 15.7 mpg in tests that included gas-eating performance tests, 22.1 in mixed city/highway work. Both engines use regular-grade fuel.
Ride Quality

GT, auto. SE Class Average
3 3 3.9

Large, sharp bumps can jolt, though solid structure lessens apparent harshness. Nervous pattering with 17-inch tires on flawed pavement.
Steering/Handling/Braking

GT, auto. SE Class Average
7 7 8

Capable in most situations, with good grip and only moderate body lean. Steering a bit light. Nose plows in very fast, sharp turns, but high-speed maneuvering stable and fun. Braking strong in ABS-equipped test cars; but non-ABS example needed gentle right foot to avoid early, sudden front-wheel locking in simulated-emergency stops, and its brakes felt touchy in routine use.
Quietness

GT, auto. SE Class Average
3 3 3.2

Engine intrudes under full power, and 17-inch tires generate lots of road roar. Wind rush acceptable in gentle cruising, but excess buffeting discourages lowered windows even at modest speeds.
Controls

GT, auto. SE Class Average
5 5 5.5

Dashboard needlessly stylized, but gauges and most controls within easy view and reach. Some drivers may find manual shift lever is too far back for easiest access to some gears. Cabin materials not top grade, but not cheap looking either.
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

GT, auto. SE Class Average
4 4 5.2

Low-slung seats, so entry/exit can feel like work, and cabin design imparts a closed-in, sitting-in-a-bathtub feel. But even 6-footers should be comfortable once in, though sunroof limits head clearance, and seats could benefit from more lumbar support. Rear visibility hampered by thick roof pillars, sloping rear window.
Room/Comfort (rear)

GT, auto. SE Class Average
1 1 1.4

The young fit. Anyone over 5-ft-6 may bang their head against the roof or rear window--as a sticker inside the hatch lid warns. Difficult entry/exit.
Cargo Room

GT, auto. SE Class Average
4 4 3.2

Hatchback design and standard split folding rear seat are practical, but available subwoofer steals cargo space. Small-item storage OK, but many rivals do better.
Value within Class

GT, auto. SE Class Average
4 5 6.6

It's not that quick, refined, or practical, but the Tiburon is a credible effort and fun to drive. Backed by a long warranty, and with the well-equipped V6-powered SE listing for around $21,000, it's a tempting choice for the budget-conscious sporty-compact crowd.
Total Score

GT, auto. SE Class Average
41 43 48.9
Scores for all Sporty/performance Cars

Low Score
40
Average Score
48
High Score
58
2006 Hyundai Tiburon Prices & Equipment
Model Prices
Prices Updated: 07/14/2006
Trim Name Retail Price Dealer Invoice Destination Charge
GS 2-door hatchback, manual $16,095 $14,808 $600
GS 2-door hatchback, automatic $16,995 $15,654 $600
GT 2-door hatchback, manual $18,495 $16,923 $600
GT 2-door hatchback, automatic $19,395 $17,769 $600
GT Limited 2-door hatchback, manual $20,495 $18,753 $600
GT Limited 2-door hatchback, automatic $21,395 $19,599 $600
SE 2-door hatchback, manual $20,995 $19,211 $600
Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.
NA = price note available, NC = no charge.
Rebates and Incentives
There are no rebates or incentives at this time.
Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.
Standard Equipment
GS
Powertrain
2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission w/manual-shift capability.
Safety
Dual front airbags, front side airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Air conditioning, power steering, tilt steering wheel, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats, center console, cupholders, split folding rear seat, heated power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/CD player, digital clock, tachometer, visor mirrors, variable-intermittent wipers, map lights, rear defogger.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Theft-deterrent system, fog lights, rear spoiler, 205/55R16 tires, alloy wheels.
GT adds to GS:
Powertrain
2.7-liter V6 engine.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Automatic climate control, interior air filter, leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, leather/cloth upholstery, floormats.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
215/45R17 tires.
GT Limited adds to GT:
Comfort and Convenience Features
Leather upholstery, power sunroof, Infinity AM/FM/cassette w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer, trip computer.
SE adds to GT Limited:
Powertrain
6-speed manual transmission.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Kenwood AM/FM/CD/MP3 player.
Optional Equipment
Major Packages
Retail Price
Invoice Price
Option Pkg. 2
GS
$900
$830
Power sunroof.
Option Pkg. 3
GS
$1,550
$1,415
Power sunroof, cruise control, 215/45R17 tires.
Option Pkg. 4
GT
$1,800
$1,631
Power sunroof, Infinity AM/FM/cassette w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer.
Option Pkg. 5
GT
$1,500
$1,364
Power sunroof, Infinity AM/FM/casssette/CD player.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Floormats
GS
$80
$59
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Mud guards
GS, GT, GT Limited, SE
$60
$53
2006 Hyundai Tiburon Specs & Safety
Vehicle Dimensions
Specification Hyundai Tiburon 2-door hatchback
Wheelbase, in. 99.6
Overall Length, in. 173.0
Overall Width, in. 69.3
Overall Height, in. 52.4
Curb Weight, lbs. 2898
Cargo Volume, cu. ft. 14.8
Standard Payload, lbs. --
Fuel Capacity, gals. 14.5
Seating Capacity 4
Front Head Room, in. 38.0
Max. Front Leg Room, in. 43.1
Rear Head Room, in. 34.1
Max. Rear Leg Room, in. 29.9
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.
Engines
  dohc I4 dohc V6
Size, liters/cu. in. 2.0 /121 2.7 /162
Horsepower @ rpm. 138 @ 6000 172 @ 6000
Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm. 136 @ 4500 181 @ 3800
Availability Standard Standard
EPA City / highway mpg
   
5-speed manual 24/30 19/26
6-speed manual --/-- 18/26
4-speed automatic 22/30 19/26
Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.
Safety Features
Antilock Brakes
Traction Control
Antiskid System
Front Side Airbags
Curtain Side Airbags
Rear Side Airbags
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
Test Hyundai Tiburon 2-door hatchback
Front Impact, Driver 5
Front Impact, Passenger 4
Rollover Resistance 4
Side Impact, Driver 4
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Manufacturer's Warranty
Class Years/Miles Comments
Powertrain 10/100,000 --
Bumper-to-bumper 5/60,000 --
Corrosion 7/unlimited --
Free roadside assistance 5/unlimited --
Free scheduled maintenance None/-- --
Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive. There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.
Built in: South Korea
Drivewheels: front-wheel drive
Car Buying Resources

Trade-In Calculator

Research how much your car is truly worth

Trade-In Calculator



Used Cars

Search online classifieds and find a local dealer
Search Local Listings

Vehicle History Report

Get a CARFAX Vehicle History... the first step to protecting yourself from costly hidden problems.



What's Under the Hood?

Learn about how cars work.

Learn things



Insurance

We're dedicated to making insurance easier.

Get Insurance



Sell Your Car

Reach over 8 million buyers
Sell Your Car


    Sell Your Car
Powered by: