Hyundai Coupe

Hyundai Coupe: which version to buy and why

If you want the Hyundai Coupe that actually pulls hardest for its mass, the answer in the catalogue is the 2 generation, restyling 2.7 MT at 170 hp: 7.2 s to 100 km/h, 220 km/h, 1335 kg kerb (7.85 kg/hp), 6-speed Manual, FWD. If you want the lowest mixed consumption among measured versions, buy the 1.6 MT in 2 generation or 2 generation, restyling at 7.6 l/100 km.

If you want the Hyundai Coupe that actually pulls hardest for its mass, the answer in the catalogue is the 2 generation, restyling 2.7 MT at 170 hp: 7.2 s to 100 km/h, 220 km/h, 1335 kg kerb (7.85 kg/hp), 6-speed Manual, FWD. If you want the lowest mixed consumption among measured versions, buy the 1.6 MT in 2 generation or 2 generation, restyling at 7.6 l/100 km. If you want a four-cylinder with the least automatic penalty versus the same engine, the 2.0 MT at 143 hp (9.1 s, 208 km/h) beats the same-generation 2.0 AT at 143 hp by 1.3 s and 8 km/h. Those three numbers — 7.2 s, 7.6 l/100 km, 1.3 s lost to Automatic — are the decision grid. The rest of this page is arithmetic on the 33 named versions across four catalogue generations.

Which version to buy

Buy 2.7 MT 170 hp (2 generation, restyling, 2005–2009) if 0–100 and top speed are the test. It is the only version at 7.2 s. The 2.7 MT at 167 hp in the same generation is 8.2 s — 1.0 s slower at the same 245 Nm, same 1335 kg, same 6 gears. The extra 3 hp is not a rounding error: peak torque moves from 4000 rpm to 3800 rpm, rear brakes become Disc ventilated instead of Disc, and eco class is Euro 4 instead of not measured. Combined consumption stays 10.4 l/100 km either way, so the 170 hp 2.7 MT does not cost extra fuel versus the 167 hp 2.7 MT in the measured figures.

Buy 2.7 MT 167 hp or 170 hp (2 generation, 2002–2005) if you want the same V-shaped 6-cylinder package before restyling. Both manuals are 8.2 s and 220 km/h here — the restyle is the generation that actually shortens the 170 hp manual by 1.0 s. Automatic 2.7 AT at 167 hp and at 170 hp is 8.5 s / 218 km/h in both 2 generation and 2 generation, restyling. Automatic therefore costs 0.3 s versus 2.7 MT 167 hp and 1.3 s versus restyle 2.7 MT 170 hp, for the same 14.2 / 8 / 10.3 city/highway/mixed litres.

Buy 2.0 MT 143 hp if you want the densest four-cylinder. 143 hp from 1975 cm³ is 72.4 hp/l, matching the 1.6 restyle’s specific output and beating 2.7 167 hp at 62.9 hp/l and 2.7 170 hp at 64.0 hp/l. 0–100 is 9.1 s, vmax 208 km/h, mixed 8.0 l/100 km — 2.4 l/100 km less than 2.7 MT. Kerb 1280 kg is 55 kg under the V-shaped 6 (1335 kg) and 8.95 kg/hp. The 2.0 AT 143 hp is the same engine with 4-speed Automatic: 10.4 s, 200 km/h, mixed 8.5 — you pay 1.3 s, 8 km/h, and 0.5 l/100 km mixed for not shifting.

Buy 2.0 MT 138 hp only if you specifically want the milder 1975 cm³ tune: 9.2 s, 206 km/h, mixed 8.4, kerb 1265 kg (9.17 kg/hp, 69.9 hp/l). Versus 2.0 MT 143 hp that is 0.1 s slower, 2 km/h down, 0.4 l/100 km more mixed, 15 kg lighter. 2.0 AT 138 hp exists only in 2 generation: 10.5 s, 198 km/h, mixed 9.1 — the thirstiest 2.0 Automatic.

Buy 1.6 MT for fuel and mass. 2 generation, restyling 1.6 MT: 105 hp, 143 Nm, 1220 kg (lightest kerb in the catalogue), 11.9 s, 185 km/h, city 9.8, mixed 7.6, fuel 95. 2 generation 1.6 MT: same 105 hp / 11.62 kg/hp / mixed 7.6, but 0–100 is 11.6 s (0.3 s quicker), city 11.8 (2.0 l/100 km worse), fuel 92, displacement listed 1600 cm³ not 1599. Front brakes on pre-restyle 2 generation 1.6 are Disc; restyle fronts are Ventilated disc. Gross weight on both 1.6 MT rows is 1800 kg versus 1740 kg on the 2.0/2.7 FWD cars of the same generations.

Buy 1.8 MT (1 generation or 1 generation, restyling) if you want the middle four-cylinder that disappeared after 2001: 130 hp, 171 Nm, 9.0 s, 200 km/h, 1240 kg (restyle) or 1235 kg (1 generation). That is 0.4 s slower than 1 generation 2.0 MT 139 hp (8.6 s) and 2.6 s quicker than 1 generation 1.6 MT 114 hp (11.2 s). 1.8 AT is 10.7 s / 198 km/h in both first-generation bodies — 1.7 s slower than 1.8 MT. City, highway and mixed for every 1.8 are not measured.

Do not buy 1.6 AT as a performance or economy choice: in 1 generation (114 hp) and 1 generation, restyling (116 hp) the 0–100, top speed, city, highway, mixed and kerb weight are all not measured. You only know 4-speed Automatic, FWD, 55 l tank, 95 fuel, 4 Inline, boost No.

Do not buy 2.0 AT / 2.0 MT 154 hp (1 generation) if you need a complete spec sheet: power is 154 hp / 113 kW from 1975 cm³ (78.0 hp/l, the highest specific output in the data), but torque, rpm, 0–100, vmax and all three consumptions are not measured. Kerb is 1250 kg on 2.0 MT 154 hp and not measured on 2.0 AT 154 hp.

Generations: what actually changed

The catalogue lists 4 generations of Hyundai Coupe, all body Coupe, all FWD, all Gasoline, boost No, tank 55 l, ground clearance 150 mm where measured.

1 generation (1996-01-01 – 1999-09-30) — eight versions: 1.6 MT 114 hp, 1.6 AT 114 hp, 1.8 AT 130 hp, 1.8 MT 130 hp, 2.0 MT 139 hp, 2.0 MT 154 hp, 2.0 AT 154 hp, 2.0 AT 139 hp. Peak first-gen measured sprint is 8.6 s (2.0 MT 139 hp). Gross weight 1600 kg. No 2.7. Wheel size not measured. CO2 not measured. Eco class not measured.

1 generation, restyling (1999-09-01 – 2001-09-30) — eight versions: 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT rise from 114 to 116 hp (+2 hp, still 143 Nm, torque peak stays 3000 rpm). 1.6 MT 0–100 improves from 11.2 s to 10.8 s (0.4 s); vmax stays 193 km/h. 1.8 is unchanged at 130 hp / 9.0 s MT / 10.7 s AT. 2.0 splits into 135 hp and 139 hp (the 154 hp pair is gone). 2.0 MT 135 hp and 2.0 MT 139 hp share 8.6 s / 201 km/h / mixed 8.8. Kerb on 1.6 MT stays 1235 kg; 1.8 MT restyle is 1240 kg versus 1235 kg pre-restyle.

2 generation (2002-01-01 – 2005-09-30) — nine versions. The 1.8 exits. A 6-cylinder V-shaped 2.7 arrives at 167 hp and 170 hp. 1.6 MT drops from 116 hp to 105 hp (−11 hp) and 0–100 from 10.8 s to 11.6 s (+0.8 s), but mixed is now measured at 7.6. 2.0 is 138 hp or 143 hp. Gross weight jumps to 1740 kg (2.0/2.7) or 1800 kg (1.6). Eco class Euro 4 on all nine. Front brakes Disc, rear Disc ventilated.

2 generation, restyling (2005-01-01 – 2009-09-30) — eight versions (no 2.0 AT 138 hp). Front brakes become Ventilated disc. The 2.7 MT 170 hp is the only row that gains a real sprint: 7.2 s versus 8.2 s in 2 generation. 1.6 MT city falls from 11.8 to 9.8 (−2.0 l/100 km) at the same mixed 7.6. Fuel on restyle 1.6 MT is 95, not 92. Eco class is Euro 4 only on 2.7 AT 170 hp and 2.7 MT 170 hp; the other six restyle versions have eco class not measured.

Engines and specs

Every engine is Gasoline, Front, transverse where the field is filled, Distributed injection (multi-point), 4 valves per cylinder, boost No, drive FWD. Use the English labels exactly.

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): 2.0 MT/AT 154 hp 78.0; 1 generation, restyling 1.6 MT 72.5; 2.0 143 hp and 1.8 130 hp 72.4; 1 generation 1.6 71.3; 2.0 139 hp 70.4; 2.0 138 hp 69.9; 2.0 135 hp 68.4; 1.6 105 hp 65.7 (1599) / 65.6 (1600); 2.7 170 hp 64.0; 2.7 167 hp 62.9. The V-shaped 6 is the least specific; it buys torque (245 Nm vs 186 Nm on 143 hp 2.0, +59 Nm).

Performance and economy

Fastest 0–100: 2.7 MT 170 hp, 2 generation, restyling, 7.2 s. Next cluster: 2.7 MT 167/170 hp (2 generation) and 2.7 MT 167 hp restyle at 8.2 s. Then 2.0 MT 139 hp and 2.0 MT 135 hp at 8.6 s. 2.0 MT 143 hp is 9.1 s; 2.0 MT 138 hp 9.2 s. Automatic 2.7 is always 8.5 s. Automatic 2.0 143 hp is 10.4 s; 138 hp 10.5 s; first-gen 2.0 Automatic 10.7 s. Slowest measured: restyle 1.6 MT 11.9 s.

Top speed peak is 220 km/h on every 2.7 MT. 2.7 AT is 218. 2.0 MT 143 hp 208; 2.0 MT 138 hp 206; 2.0 MT 139/135 hp 201; 2.0 AT 143 hp 200; 1.8 MT 200; 2.0 AT 138 hp 198; 1.6 105 hp 185.

Mixed consumption, measured only from 2 generation onward plus first-gen 2.0 MT 139/135 hp: best 7.6 (1.6 MT), then 8.0 (2.0 MT 143 hp), 8.4 (2.0 MT 138 hp), 8.5 (2.0 AT 143 hp), 8.8 (first-gen 2.0 MT 135/139 hp), 9.1 (2.0 AT 138 hp), 10.3 (all 2.7 AT), 10.4 (all 2.7 MT). Highway spread is tight on fours (6.3–7.3) and 7.9–8.0 on 2.7. City is where 2.7 hurts: 14.2 AT / 14.6 MT versus restyle 1.6 MT 9.8 (4.8 l/100 km more on the manual 2.7).

Not measured: 0–100 and vmax on 1.6 AT (both first-gen bodies) and on 2.0 MT/AT 154 hp; all three consumptions on every 1 generation and 1 generation, restyling version except 2.0 MT 135 hp and 2.0 MT 139 hp; CO2 on every version.

Dimensions and weight

Wheel size is not measured on every version. Ground clearance is 150 mm wherever listed; 1.6 AT restyle clearance is not measured. Tank is 55 l on all 33.

Kerb: lightest 1220 kg — 1.6 MT in both 2 generation bodies (11.62 kg/hp). First-gen 1.6 MT 1235 kg (10.83 then 10.65 kg/hp after +2 hp). 1.8 1235–1240 kg (9.50–9.54 kg/hp). 2.0 139/135/154 hp 1250 kg (8.99 kg/hp at 139 hp). 2.0 138 hp 1265 kg. 2.0 143 hp 1280 kg. Heaviest 1335 kg — every 2.7. Best mass-to-power: 2.7 170 hp at 7.85 kg/hp; 2.7 167 hp 7.99. Kerb not measured: 1.6 AT (both first-gen), 2.0 AT 135 hp, 2.0 AT 154 hp.

Gross: 1600 kg throughout 1 generation and 1 generation, restyling; 1740 kg on 2.0/2.7 of 2 generation; 1800 kg on 1.6 MT of 2 generation (the 1.6 is lightest kerb and heaviest gross — 580 kg payload on restyle 1.6 MT versus 405 kg on 2.7 at 1335/1740).

Suspension is Independent, spring front and rear on all listed rows. Rear brakes not measured on 1 generation 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT.

Reliability, problems, mpg — what the numbers allow

There are no failure-rate fields in the data. What you can score before you buy:

Gearbox tax. Same engine, Automatic versus Manual, where both 0–100 exist: 2.0 143 hp 10.4 vs 9.1 (+1.3 s); 2.0 138 hp 10.5 vs 9.2 (+1.3 s); 2.7 167 hp 8.5 vs 8.2 (+0.3 s); restyle 2.7 170 hp 8.5 vs 7.2 (+1.3 s); 1.8 10.7 vs 9.0 (+1.7 s); 2.0 139 hp 10.7 vs 8.6 (+2.1 s). Automatic is always 4 speeds; Manual is 5 on fours and 6 on 2.7. Mixed Automatic penalty on 143 hp 2.0 is +0.5 l/100 km (8.5 vs 8.0); on 2.7 Automatic is 0.1 l/100 km better mixed than Manual (10.3 vs 10.4) and 0.4 l/100 km better in town (14.2 vs 14.6).

Fuel grade. Only 2 generation 1.6 MT is 92; every other measured fuel field is 95. If you want 92, that is the unique row — at the cost of 11.8 city litres versus 9.8 after restyling.

Euro 4 is filled for all 2 generation versions and for restyle 2.7 170 hp only. Treating restyle 1.6/2.0 as “cleaner” than 2002–2005 is not supported: those eco fields are not measured.

What the extra displacement buys. 2.7 versus 2.0 MT 143 hp, restyle: +24 or +27 hp, +59 Nm, −0.9 to −1.9 s (8.2/7.2 vs 9.1), +12 km/h vmax, +2.4 l/100 km mixed, +55 kg. 2.0 MT 143 hp versus 1.6 MT restyle: +38 hp, +43 Nm, −2.8 s, +23 km/h, +0.4 l/100 km mixed, +60 kg. The 2.0 manual is the arithmetic middle: most of the 2.7’s speed without most of its fuel.

Which version to choose — short list

1. Driver, restyle 2.7: 2.7 MT 170 hp, 2 generation, restyling — 7.2 s, 220 km/h, Euro 4, rear Disc ventilated. 2. Driver, earlier 2.7: 2.7 MT 170 hp or 167 hp, 2 generation — both 8.2 s; pick 170 hp for 7.85 kg/hp and torque at 3800 rpm. 3. Daily four-cylinder: 2.0 MT 143 hp in 2 generation or restyling — 9.1 s, mixed 8.0, 72.4 hp/l. Prefer restyle for Ventilated disc fronts. 4. Least fuel: 1.6 MT, 2 generation, restyling — mixed 7.6, city 9.8, 1220 kg, fuel 95. 5. 92-octane 1.6: 1.6 MT, 2 generation — mixed still 7.6, city 11.8, Euro 4. 6. First-generation punch with a complete sprint figure: 2.0 MT 139 hp (8.6 s, 201 km/h, mixed 8.8, 1250 kg) or 1.8 MT (9.0 s, 200 km/h) if you want the 1796 cm³ engine that later generations dropped. 7. Automatic 2.7: 2.7 AT 170 hp — same 8.5 s in 2002–2009, restyle adds Euro 4 and ventilated rear discs. 8. Skip if you need numbers: 1.6 AT; 2.0 AT 135 hp (kerb not measured); 2.0 MT/AT 154 hp (torque, 0–100, vmax, mpg not measured).

Prices are not in the data. The “extra money” question is therefore extra litres and extra seconds, not currency: 2.7 MT restyle 170 hp versus 2.0 MT 143 hp is +2.4 l/100 km mixed and −1.9 s; versus 1.6 MT restyle it is +2.8 l/100 km mixed and −4.7 s. That is the buy.