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Sporty/performance car; Built in South Korea
  • 2-door coupe
  • transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $1,000 – $1,400*


1992 Hyundai Scoupe


1993 Hyundai Scoupe Turbo


1993 Hyundai Scoupe Turbo engine


1994 Hyundai Scoupe


1995 Hyundai Scoupe

Pros:
  • Acceleration (turbo)
  • Control layout
  • Fuel economy
  • Maneuverability
Cons:
  • Acceleration (base and LS)
  • Entry/exit
  • Noise
  • Rear-seat room

Secondhand prices might appeal due to low resale value, but don’t expect the precision or finesse of, say, a Mazda MX-3, Nissan NX, or Toyota Paseo when you drive home a Scoupe.

Overview

Beneath the Scoupe’s 2-door notchback sport coupe body sat the same front-drive platform used for the Excel sedan. Exterior sheetmetal was unique, however, and the Scoupe’s suspension was calibrated by Lotus of England. Power until 1993 came from the same 81-horsepower, 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine used in Excels, with a 5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic transmission. Scoupes had a shorter final-drive ratio than the Excel for quicker off-the-line acceleration.

Yearly Updates

1992 Scoupe
Nothing was new for Hyundai’s sport coupe in its second season.
1993 Scoupe
Scoupes got a modest facelift this year, including new flush headlamps plus body-colored side moldings and redesigned front sheetmetal, taillights, and rear bumper. A Turbo model and an improved 1.5-liter engine became available. Dubbed Alpha, the new engine made 92 horsepower. Developing 115 horsepower, the Turbo engine had three valves per cylinder as well as multipoint fuel injection. Turbos came only with 5-speed manual shift, while base and LS models could have an optional 4-speed automatic.
1994 Scoupe
Nothing but detail changes were evident on Hyundai’s sport coupe this season.
1995 Scoupe
Scoupes dropped out of the Hyundai lineup after the 1995 model year.

Engines

transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

Initial Scoupes were powered only by an 81-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, borrowed from the subcompact Excel sedan. Either a 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic might be installed. A 92-horsepower engine went into Scoupes in 1993, when a 115-horsepower Turbo also became available.

Turbocharged ohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 1.5/91
Engine HP 115
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 123
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual

 27/33

 23.5
ohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 1.5/90
Engine HP 81
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 91
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual
4-speed automatic 		26/34
25/32
ohc I4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 1.5/91
Engine HP 92
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 97
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual
4-speed automatic 		28/36
25/34

Road Test

A shorter final-drive ratio gave the Scoupe quicker standing-start acceleration than Excel’s, but performance is otherwise similar–which means sluggish, especially with automatic. Reserve power for passing is lacking, too. The Turbo and stronger base engine for ’93 both improve performance and reliability, though base-engine acceleration still ranks only as adequate. Unfortunately, the newer engine drones just as much as the earlier 4-cylinder. Gas mileage is good with the base engine; less so with the Turbo. A Turbo Scoupe returned 23.5 mpg.

For a sports coupe, Scoupe’s handling is below average, even on Turbo models. However, it does hold the road better than most subcompacts. Ride quality is good but not great. On anything other than ultrasmooth straightaways, expect some noticeable jiggling. Braking is second-rate, suffering sudden, early wheel lock-ups that compromise both stopping distance and directional control.

Scoupes were honestly billed as “2+2” models, but the back seat is is only for occasional adult use. Drivers sit comfortably in a user-friendly position, facing an attractive, conveniently laid out dashboard. Visibility is good, but entry into the front is complicated by automatic front seatbelts. The standard split folding rear seat improves cargo-carrying versatility.

Ratings

Model Tested: 1992 Hyundai Scoupe auto

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 2
20%
Fuel Economy - 6
60%
Ride Quality - 2
20%
Steering/Handling - 2
20%
Quietness - 2
20%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 3
30%
Room/Comfort Front - 3
30%
Room/Comfort Rear - 3
30%
Cargo Room - 2
20%

Other

Value - 3
30%

Total: 28

Specifications

2-door coupe
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
93.8 165.9 63.9 50.0
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
9.3 11.9 4
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
38.1 34.3 42.8 29.4
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 1995 Scoupe 2-door coupe

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 4
80%
Front Passenger Injury - 4
80%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Rear Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision 157
Injury 216
Theft 86

Trouble Spots

Automatic transmission
Description: The transmission may shift poorly between first and second or develop harsh shifting. It can be corrected by adjusting the kickdown servo. (1991-92)
Automatic transmission
Description: If the transmission slips or will not go into fourth gear, the end clutch needs to be replaced. (1991-95)
Hard starting
Description: Hard starting may be due to a cracked in-tank fuel line. (1991-95)
Hard starting
Description: Cars with an automatic transmission and 1.5-liter engine may suffer from hard starting or stalling when started when the outside temperature is cool. (1991-92)
Hard starting
Description: The engine may not start due to a faulty tach filter causing a weak ignition spark. (1992)
Manual transmission
Description: Manual transaxles may grind when attempting to shift into reverse. A new reverse idle-gear bushing and reverse shift lever may fix the problem. (1991-92)
Water leak
Description: Water leaks into the truck due to incomplete sealing in the wheel wells. (1991-95)

Recall History

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on July 16, 2014.
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