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.

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.