Hyundai Veloster

The Hyundai Veloster is a compact three-door car originally released in 2011 by the Hyundai Motor Company, and sold in the United States since the fall of 2011. It was the original model of Hyundai’s Premium Youth Lab campaign, which targeted younger drivers and customers. The Hyundai Veloster received a 7.4 rating from U.S. News, and ranked 28^th in the Affordable Small Car category and 15^th in the Affordable Compact Car category. While it offers a feature-packed interior, the Veloster’s performance does not match its aggressive styling.

Performance

Without a doubt, the performance is the weakest area of the Hyundai Veloster. It received a very weak 6.7 performance rating from U.S. News. The base model comes with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 138 horsepower, which is paired with front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission. Buyers have the option of adding a six-speed automated manual transmission. The Veloster Turbo model comes with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that is able to create 201 horsepower. The one strong part of the Hyundai Veloster’s performance is its handling, as it handles much better than any other Hyundai. It offers strong brakes and composed handling with an accurate and well-weighted steering system.

Interior

The interior is where the Hyundai Veloster shines. It received a 7.4 rating from U.S. News, and has been praised for its modern cabin design, which features a nice mix of soft-touch materials and attractive plastics. The front seats are comfortable and spacious, and the second row is useable, which cannot be said about all coupes or compact cars. It is able to seat four, and the base model comes with cloth upholstery with an option for leather trimmed cloth seats. The Veloster Turbo model comes with leather seats, heated front seats, and a driver’s seat that is power-adjustable. The Veloster comes standard with a six-speaker stereo that includes USB connectivity and Bluetooth, a 7-inch touch-screen display and satellite radio. Optional features include a premium stereo system, a backup camera, navigation, push-button start, and a sunroof.

Pros/Cons

The biggest drawback of the Hyundai Veloster is the weak engine performance. Unfortunately, the terrific exterior and interior styling write checks that the engine cannot cash. The base engine simply does not provide the velocity that the car’s name implies, and its acceleration is underwhelming at best. The car has earned praise for its smooth-shifting automatic transmission, however, and it delivers significantly better fuel economy than competitors like the Honda Civic Si and GTI. While the Veloster’s handling is widely praised, come reviewers are disappointed with its numb steering and harsh ride, stating simply “the car isn’t very fun to drive”. The sound system does offer exceptional sound quality, but some reviewers have complained about the touch-screen display, saying it can be complicated to adjust certain settings.

Other Features

The Hyundai website lists the price for the base Veloster at $17 600, while the price for the Veloster Turbo is $22 100. According to U.S. News, buyers can expect to pay between $18 000 and $23 000. Unfortunately, the Veloster has not been evaluated by the IIHS or NHTSA as of this date, and thus U.S. News could not provide a safety rating. The Car Connection gave it an 8/10 rating, however. Their biggest complaint was the poor visibility, but the rearview camera option helps compensate for this drawback. The Veloster also comes with BlueLink, which offers numerous safety services including SOS Emergency Assistance and Automatic Crash Notification. The Veloster is available in many different colours, including Boston Red, Marathon Blue, Ultra Black, Century White, and Vitamin C.