2007 Hyundai Tiburon SE review

Hyundai Tiburon SE review:

Enthusiasts on a budget no longer have to sacrifice their desire for track-inspired styling and handling in a sports coupe now that Hyundai has factory tweaked the components and design of the 2007 Tiburon.

Hyundai Tiburon has been reconfigured as a totally balanced cornering machine, available with a modified suspension from Europe, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and 12-inch, cross-drilled rotors.

This coupe comes in three trim options for 2007: the stylish and affordable GS, the sporty performance SE and the refined performance GT and GT limited. As an added bonus, the SE model comes standard-equipped with a responsive suspension technology featuring sport-tuned European suspension calibration, Electronic Stability Control and brake assist. The sport-tuned suspension provides the Hyundai Tiburon SE with tighter spring calibration and firmer damper control giving the car a grounded, sporty driving sensation similar to that of a European sports car.

Safety Features

At Hyundai, hard driving begins with safety. That’s why the 2007 Tiburon includes a wide range of both active and passive safety features. For 2007, the Tiburon SE gets Electronic Stability Control (ESC), one of the industry’s most effective life-saving technologies. IIHS studies show vehicles equipped with ESC experience 56 percent fewer fatalities in single-vehicle crashes. Tiburon SE’s ESC system also includes Brake Assist, which provides maximum ABS-level braking force when a panic stop is detected.

Larger front (12-in.) cross-drilled rotors are also standard on the SE. All Tiburon models feature standard four-channel ABS with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) to optimize brake performance under various dynamic loading conditions.

In terms of passive safety, the Tiburon has strong unibody construction, along with front and rear crumple zones, body-side reinforcements, and five-mph energy-absorbing bumpers. The hood also includes buckling creases and safety stops.

Inside, you’ll find driver and front passenger advanced frontal airbags, along with front seat-mounted side airbags. The front seatbelts have pretensioners and force limiters, and the outboard rear positions feature LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children), which make affixing child safety seats easier.

Enhanced Chassis Tuning for Tiburon SE

For 2007, the high-performance Tiburon SE becomes an even more willing partner for enthusiastic driving. With significantly firmer suspension settings than last year, Tiburon SE goes from being a great handling coupe to a truly exceptional one. The new European-tuned suspension features 13 percent stiffer front spring rate, 10 percent stiffer rear spring rate and unique strut valving. Tiburon SE delivers a 32 percent increase in roll control over the GS.

All Tiburon models are superbly fun to drive and feature MacPherson strut front and multi-link independent rear suspension. The front suspension uses fade-resistant gas-filled hydraulic struts and a stabilizer bar to control body roll. The multi-link rear system precisely tunes the chassis via gas-filled hydraulic shocks and a stabilizer bar. Advantages of the multi-link rear suspension include optimized rear suspension geometry for added handling and braking stability.

Precise power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering is combined with the suspension for responsive handling. Also standard is 215/45 R17 rubber on the GT, SE and GT Limited.