Recent updates to the Tiburon sports coupe make it an affordable, stylish, and sporty rival to more expensive foreign sports cars. This year, the 2006 Hyundai Tiburon adds a new GT Limited trim, offering a sunroof, a 6-CD changer, upgraded audio system, and leather seats. Also new this year is standard ABS brakes, previously only offered with the SE, foglights and a remote alarm on the key fob.

The front-wheel drive coupe comes in GS, GT, GT Limited, and SE trims, with the latter three all available with a 2.7-liter, 172-hp V6. The GS features a 2.0-liter, 138-hp I4, which struggles a bit to move the 3000-pound Tiburon. A 5-speed manual or 4-speed shiftable automatic are available on all but the SE, which comes only with a 6-speed manual. All levels offer dual front-side airbags, foglights, and ABS brakes, earning five stars in crash ratings. A rear spoiler grows in size with each trim, as do the wheels (from 16 to 17 inches). Front sport seats keep you secure around curves, and the cramped rear seats fold down to expand the 14.7 cubic foot trunk.

Drivers agree that the 2006 Tiburon is fun to drive, though it's not quite as responsive as the Civic Si or Acura RSX, mostly due to its weight. The V6 power is impressive, as is the handling, seat comfort, trunk space, and outstanding Hyundai warranty. Owners like that it looks more expensive than it is. Downsides include disappointing fuel economy, limited leg and headroom in the back seat, and lack of standard cruise control on the base model.