JAGUAR versus HYUNDAI
SPLURGE (above): Jaguar XK Coupe, £60,995
SAVE (below): Hyundai Coupe V6, £19,995
LOWDOWN: What’s this, some kind of late April Fool’s joke? A Hyundai masqerading as a Jaguar XK? Well not really. Nobody is going to be fooled that the Hyundai Coupe, which starts at little more than £15,000 on the road, can match a £60,000 Jag. But have a look at that rear three quarter profile again and do its haunches not possess a little of the XK’s muscularity?
The Hyundai Coupe is not as sports-focused to drive as it looks but a V6 version will get you to 60mph in under eight and a half seconds - that’s only two and a half seconds behind the Big Cat.
The Coupe has proved popular with buyers in the UK and Hyundai sells thousands of these every year. And maybe if Jaguar could knock out a coupe for under £30,000 (let alone £20,000) perhaps it would be in a better financial state than it is currently?
SAVING: £41,000 LOOKALIKE RATING: 2/10
VERDICT: Not a match for the Jag but Hyundai is putting the finishing touches to a more upmarket coupe called the Genesis which could pose more of a threat to the Big Cat.
5 Comments
Peter what are you on about, it looks nothing like the Volvo, its more like a Toyota Corolla T Sport.
I think the only thing the 300C has in common with the Bentley is rarity. In my view the 300C (or Dodge Magnum - same car) looks nothing like a Bentley. As for holding its resale value better than a 5-Series, that probably says more about the 5-Series and the step backward from the previous model - M5 excepted.
I think the 300c has all the qualities of the bentley continental, except giving you the ability to say,ooh i spent £100,000 on my car. Wait, thats a good thing.
Looking through all the photos and details, I can honestly say if I had the money I would buy the dearer car everytime. Chrysler is not a Bentley is it and never will be. I only drive a humble Vauxhall Astra, but aspire to a Lexus, or Mercedes. All 3 are value for money reliable cars, but you pays your money you takes your choice.
It goes without saying we would probably all go for the premium vehicles, as much for prestige than anything else.
However, with the 300C Chrysler is onto a winner. Its a bold design and definitely distinctive. Looks a LOT more expensive than it is. I saw one being run as a taxi at Munich airport and all the drivers were very interested in it and looking on in envy - this is the country where every taxi is a Merc.
Great to see a manufacturer trying something new and superb value for money with great resids - a good buy if you are in the market for one of these cars.
Cheers,
Mark