When we drove the Hyundai Coupe for the first time last year we were left wanting more. The 1.6S version was an excellent package but ultimately we like cars to have a little more pace, especially when they are sports coupes. Lo and behold a year later and a new facelifted Coupe arrives on my drive, and this time it has the 2.7-litre V6 concealed under the shapely bonnet.

The tweaks to the looks are fairly minor but do actually improve the Coupe's appearance. A new front bumper with a bolder air intake, front bumper and headlight design freshen up the nose nicely and redesigned rear light clusters update the rear. This V6 model also features new 17-inch forged alloys. It was always a good-looking car; these changes make it look smoother and more aggressive at the same time.

Interior changes are limited to minor tweaks, but that isn't a bad thing. You would never call the trim lavish but it isn't offensive by any means and certainly not low rent. The leather seats are excellent, not just in terms of looks but comfort and support as well and the leather-trimmed wheel with coloured stitching is as good to hold as it looks.

The V6 is tuned for torque rather than outright power and, somewhat perversely, Hyundai makes a point that it is the same engine as that found in the Santa Fe and Trajet. For me I would be marketing the less exciting models as being blessed with the engine from the sporty coupe rather than the other way around but that's an aside.

The 181lb.ft of torque at 4000rpm suggests the engine is a bit peaky but it pulls well from 2000rpm and actually lacks a little top end sparkle. It sounds well though and is a pleasing enough companion; a few more horses wouldn't go amiss but name me another Coupe that has a V6 engine for under £19,000. In all fairness it isn't fair to ask to be able to eat this particular chunk of cake we have.

On the move the engine provides more than enough grunt for enjoyment and you can use it to push the excellent chassis hard and delve further into its depth of abilities. Compared to the 1.6S, the flat cornering remains and the level of grip from the bigger tyres on those forged rims is significantly higher. Turn in is also sharper. In fact cornering speeds were comparable with much more expensive metal although the tyres did squeal a lot in heavy cornering suggesting that they were beginning to relinquish grip. Of course they do in the end, but when they do let go the whole car can be encouraged to drift as a whole rather than collapse into an understeery mush. It's a good chassis that could no doubt cope with another hike in power but complements the V6 very well.

On first acquaintance the gearshift is a nightmare. Trying to palm the lever through the gate in a relaxed manner as you drive around town or cruise around country lanes will be greeted with a chorus of graunches and groans. I can't remember ever missing so many shifts when driving a car. It was a real disappointment that had me doubting the wisdom of Hyundai's first flirtation with a six-speed 'box, genuinely marking it down as one of the poorest shifts I'd sampled for some time.

But then the roads opened out and I began to lean on the car slightly and the quality of the gear change was transformed. Being more assertive, positive and forceful with the lever reaps huge benefits and it suddenly feels so much better. In a way this makes sense as test drivers must drive the cars hard, but it seems odd that they didn't smooth the obstructive nature when you just try to palm the lever slowly around the double H pattern.

Lucky then that the car is so good to drive hard with a responsive helm and reassuringly strong and fade free brakes. I covered a lot of miles in the car, mainly hard driven, and enjoyed every second. The V6 Coupe lived up to our hopes. The chassis handled the extra power and weight of the V6 with gusto, implying it could cope with significantly more.

The whole package makes a compelling case for itself when you consider the constituent parts involved and the total price. It is a great car to drive hard but can also calmly cruise down the motorway in a suitably hushed and subdued manner. All in all the V6 was so good it left me wishing for a more hard core 200+bhp £20k version, maybe I'm just being greedy.

If you're in the market for a Coupe then look beyond the badge and take one of these for a drive; 5,000 people a year already take the plunge. You'll be very pleasantly surprised, or then again you won't, because I've already told you how good it is!