1998 Hyundai Tiburon Review
Price Estimate: $1,648 - $2,578
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Aggressive styling, comfortable interior, zippy engine, and good handling.
Cons
- Lots of squeaks and rattles from rear hatch.
What’s new
Base Tiburons get the 2.0-liter 140-horsepower engine as standard equipment.
For sale near Lees Summit, MO
Vehicle overview
Five years ago, Hyundai displayed a mouth-watering concept car at national auto shows. Called the HCD-II, showgoers could hardly swallow the fact that the same company that produced the Excel could, or would, dream up something like the HCD-II. Hyundai execs promised that a production version of the showcar was on the drawing board.
The following year, HCD-III arrived and contained an innovative side-saddle rear seat that a passenger could sit in sideways and stretch out. Excellent concept, Hyundai. Young consumers drooled in anticipation of the forthcoming HCD production car with the cool back seat.
Alas, it was not meant to be. The Tiburon arrives at a compromise between federal regulations and designer fantasy in base and FX trim levels. This year, both base and F/X trims get a 140-horsepower 2.0-liter engine. The F/X enjoys further enhancements such as rear disc brakes and alloy wheels. With just over 2,600 pounds to motivate, the FX's engine moves the Tiburon along reasonably quick, but we think this shark's bark is worse than it's bite.
Just look at that sheetmetal, would you? Looks like some Hyundai stylists pilfered sketches for the next zany Toyota Celica. This car will definitely get you noticed, but not for blazing performance. This is a car for stylin', dude. Inside is a snug but attractive interior that borrows design cues from several popular sport coupes, past and present. Dual airbags are standard, while ABS is optional only on the upper-level FX.
Tiburon is a belated replacement for the Scoupe, which disappeared last year. Improved all-around, Hyundai's sport coupe is much better, but will it sell? Obviously, the target market is the same young, style-conscious, and financially impaired bunch that buy the Toyota Paseo, Volkswagen GTI, Dodge Neon Sport and Pontiac Sunfire GT. We think that the stylish Tiburon will compete very well from a design standpoint, but without improved acceleration from the FX to compete with the Pontiac and Dodge and consumer confidence in its ability to hold up as well as a Toyota, this species may be doomed to the same fate as the late Mazda MX-3: extinction.
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Missouri
$151/mo for Tiburon Base
Tiburon Base
vs
$150/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Hyundai Tiburon Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
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4.25 out of 5 starsMarks' Tiburon, 04/04/2003
1998 Hyundai Tiburon FX 2dr Hatchback
Ihave to admit, I have been happy in
the past with other Hyundai models but
this one really surprises me. It has
been a fun, reliable, comfortable,
economical and flexible car to live
with. It's driving characteristics
remind me of much more expensive
vehicules. It has been very reliable
with minimal maintenance required, and
given it's lift back configuration, I
am … able to cary large cargo when the
need arises. It is enjoybale ot drive
on short trips given it's road grip yet
comfortable to drive on longer trips
give it's fully independent suspension.
AMAZING
4.75 out of 5 starsAMAZING, 10/30/2007
1998 Hyundai Tiburon FX 2dr Hatchback
I bought a 1998 Hyundai tiburon and i am complete satisified! It is an amazing reliable car that is REALLY fun to drive! It is fast and stylish at the same time. A definate best buy!!
Surprisingly reliable little sporty car
4.38 out of 5 starsHappy AZ Customer!, 07/17/2008
1998 Hyundai Tiburon FX 2dr Hatchback
I'm a hardcore VW car lover, but with my insurance doubling when I moved from MI to AZ on my VW I decided I needed a new car. I wanted to buy something cheap just to hold me over until I found my real car. I was pretty shocked how much I like this car. The gas mileage is great (like 28 more or less depending on friskiness at wheel) but it has enough pep to beat any automatic with … gusto and has withstood the hot AZ temps with no problems. Interior sucks, but that is probably from my climate. We're at 127000 and going strong!
Great Car, Fun to Drive
4.88 out of 5 starsTenacious D, 01/28/2003
1998 Hyundai Tiburon FX 2dr Hatchback
Have had no problems at all, Love the
cars style, quality, handling,
acceleration, and speed. No complaints!
We have a limited number of reviews for the 1998 Hyundai Tiburon, so we've included reviews for other years of the Tiburon since its last redesign.
1998 Tiburon Highlights
Base
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 23 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $151/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 12.8 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Safety
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original0
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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