Capitol Hyundai Montgomery

Editor:

New Car Test Drive

Price As Tested:

$26,320

“Three-door coupe adds sporty turbo option.”

The Hyundai Veloster is a sporty, three-door compact car with unique looks, fun driving dynamics and good fuel economy. It launched as a 2012 model with a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter engine that makes 138 horsepower and an admirable EPA rating of 40 mpg Highway with the standard 6-speed manual transmission. The engine uses all the right high-tech stuff to get these numbers, such as Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI), and Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (D-CVVT).

For 2013, the Veloster Turbo joins the lineup. The new 2013 Veloster Turbo uses a turbocharged version of the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine for a peppy 201 hp and 196 pound-feet of torque, along with bigger brakes and tires.

Like the base Veloster, the Turbo gets a standard 6-speed manual gearbox. A traditional 6-speed automatic with Shiftronic is optional. The naturally aspirated Veloster, meanwhile, uses a dual-clutch automatic.

The Turbo's increased performance predictably takes a toll on gas mileage, but still achieves a respectable 26 mpg City and 38 mpg Highway EPA rating with the manual and 25/34 mpg with the automatic.

The Veloster Turbo distinguishes itself from the naturally aspirated model with a huge front grille, a body kit, different front and rear bumpers, a rear spoiler and upgraded standard features such as leather upholstery, heated front seats and pushbutton start. All turbos ride on larger, 18-inch wheels.

Perhaps most interestingly, the Veloster Turbo is available in a matte gray paint color, which costs an extra $1,000 and, like other cars with flat paint colors, must be taken care of meticulously by hand. The paint is so fussy that customers must sign a release form that states they won't take it through an automated carwash. Those who pop for the high-maintenance paint will receive a car-care kit with cleaning products they can use at home.

The Veloster's styling gets a lot of looks on the highway, although we think it looks a tad overdone. As a three-door coupe, it totally pulls off the two-door roofline. The third door is on the passenger side, hinged at the front like a real door. With other three-door compacts, the third door can be awkwardly hinged; not so with the Veloster. It's easy to climb in and out of the back seat, and total interior volume is best in the sporty compact class, blowing the Mini Cooper Clubman out of the water.

Much of the Hyundai Veloster was designed and developed in the U.S., most notably the rear suspension that gives Veloster an excellent all-around ride that's dialed-in but still comfortable. Steering is solid, secure, and gives great feedback; cornering is stable.

Interior details include nice console support at the right thigh, good feel with the three-spoke leather steering wheel, pleasing uncluttered gauges, and digital information that's easily accessed. There's a blind spot at the C-pillar over the driver's shoulder, and the horizontal structural support in the fastback glass liftgate restricts visibility, but it still offers better visibility than most other coupes.

The Hyundai Veloster's competitors include the Fiat 500, Honda Civic hatchback, Mini Cooper Clubman, Volkswagen Beetle and Volkswagen Golf, while the Veloster Turbo goes up against sportier, more powerful versions of these compacts like the Fiat 500 Abarth, Honda Civic Si, Mini Cooper Clubman S, Volkswagen Beetle Turbo and Volkswagen GTI. The Veloster might not have the cachet enjoyed by some of the competition, but it offers excellent value for the money and superior fuel economy.

Editor:

New Car Test Drive

Price As Tested:

$26,320

“Three-door coupe adds sporty turbo option.”

Visually, the Veloster sets itself apart from other Hyundai models with a bolder, busier design. Unlike the cleaner lines of Hyundai's sedans, the Veloster's muscular shape is riddled with lumps, scoops and scallops.

But take a couple of steps back, and the Veloster doesn't look so bad. The nose is low, and from a three-quarter rear view, it looks tough on its haunches. The standard Veloster's mouth is as wide as an Audi's, but it's filled in with body-colored plastic, shaped to resemble wings, but maybe looks more like Superman's shoulders while flying, with a chrome cape and silver H for a face.

The Veloster Turbo gets an even bigger, all-black mouth that looks to be all air intake, different fog lights, LED accents around the headlights and side mirrors with integrated turn signals. In back, the Turbo sports a rear spoiler, LED tail lights and large dual exhaust tips. All Turbos ride on 18-inch wheels. Inside, pushbutton start, leather upholstery and heated seats come standard, as well as an upgraded audio system.

A new Matte Gray color for the Veloster Turbo is a gamble for Hyundai. The special clear coat that gives the matte appearance must be taken care of meticulously. Buyers who plunk down the extra $1,000 for this color will receive a car-care kit, since the matte paint can't go through a traditional brush car wash, and most detailing products are designed to make paint shine. Customers must also sign a release form that acknowledges that the paint must be taken care of in a particular way. Hyundai execs admit they can't vouch for long-term longevity and say second owners could prove to be a challenge. This isn't unique to Hyundai, however, as other cars, including expensive luxury cars, with flat paint colors face the same challenges. They look really neat when in good condition, though.

As a three-door coupe, the Veloster totally pulls off the two-door roofline. On the passenger side, the third door is hidden save the seam. Rakish upsweep meets a racy roofline, invisible door handle in the window corner. Thankfully, the window trim is black.

The single center exhaust on the standard Veloster is like Siamese twin trapezoids, outlined by chrome, while the Veloster Turbo gets dual, side-by-side exhaust tips in the same spot. Both versions are boxed in by a big black plastic fascia that makes the rear end look almost frog-like. But in a good way.

Editor:

New Car Test Drive

Price As Tested:

$26,320

“Three-door coupe adds sporty turbo option.”

Veloster seats four.

Hyundai says the interior design was inspired by shapes on a sport bike. They say the A-pillars are like a helmet visor, the center stack resembles a fuel tank, the console mirrors a motorcycle seat, and air vents are inspired by tailpipes. Mostly we noticed overkill on the trapezoidal trim pieces.

On the standard Veloster, we noticed terrific fit and materials of the Style Package seats, nice console support at the right thigh, good feel of the three-spoke leather steering wheel, pleasing uncluttered gauges, and digital information accessed easily. A 7-inch touch-screen is standard, with three interface layouts to choose from. Features include Bluetooth, Pandora internet radio via iPhone, and Gracenote music connectivity. A 196-watt six-speaker audio system is standard, while the 450-watt eight-speaker system comes with the Style package.

The Veloster Turbo adds extra touches including aluminum pedals, pushbutton start and heated front seats. Leather upholstery is standard, but it felt more plastic than plush, and we noticed that stitching around the driver's seat had already begun to buckle in some places.

Rear visibility has a couple of problems. There's a big blind spot at the C-pillar over the driver's shoulder, which is typical for cars with this type of roofline. And the structural support in the fastback glass liftgate blocks rearview visibility, but overall it's still better than some hatches on the market such as the Toyota Prius and Honda CR-Z.

The backseat is easy to get into, thanks to the Veloster's front-hinged third door. Rear legroom measures 31.7, which is scant for those who regularly carry backseat passengers, but good for the compact segment. Total interior volume is best in its class, beating the Scion tC and blowing the Mini Cooper out of the water. It even beats the Mini Clubman, by 105.3 to 89.2 cubic feet.

Editor:

New Car Test Drive

Price As Tested:

$26,320

“Three-door coupe adds sporty turbo option.”

The 2013 Hyundai Veloster is a three-door coupe available with a naturally aspirated or turbocharged 1.6-liter four cylinder engine.

Veloster ($17,450) uses a 6-speed manual gearbox, while cars equipped with the automatic ($18,700) get an automated dual-clutch transmission. Standard equipment includes cloth upholstery, six-way adjustable driver's seat, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, power accessories, manually operated air conditioning, a six-speaker audio system with 7-inch touch screen, CD player, satellite radio capability, iPod/BSB port and auxiliary audio/video jacks; Bluetooth handsfree phone system with voice recognition, 60/40 split folding rear seats and 17-inch alloy wheels.

The Style package ($2,000) upgrades to leatherette upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, eight-speaker audio, alloy pedals, power sunroof, chrome grille trim, foglights and bumps wheel size up to 18 inches. The Tech package ($2,000) adds pushbutton start, 115-volt outlet, navigation with rearview camera, rear backup sensors, automatic headlights, unique 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlamps, push-button start, and 115V outlet.

Veloster Turbo is available with either the 6-speed manual ($21,950) or 6-speed manual transmission with Shiftronic ($22,950). Standard features include the comfort and convenience features found in the standard Veloster plus leather upholstery, driver's power lumbar support, heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, alloy pedals, 8-speaker audio system with external amp and subwoofer, pushbutton start, unique interior trim, a unique front grille, front fog lights, LED accents on headlights, LED rear taillights, side mirrors with integrated turn signals, a sport tuned suspension ground effects bodykit and 18-inch alloy wheels. The Veloster Turbo Ultimate Package ($2,500) adds navigation, 115-volt power outlet, rearview camera, power sunroof, backup sensors and automatic headlights. Special color body color options include Elite White ($200) and a special Matte Gray ($1,000), which includes an in-home car-care kit.

Safety equipment on all models includes six airbags (frontal, front side impact, curtains), stability control with traction control, ABS, tire pressure monitor.

Editor:

New Car Test Drive

Price As Tested:

$26,320

“Three-door coupe adds sporty turbo option.”

The Hyundai Veloster is a fun car that's smooth and efficient with unique looks and great handling. Enthusiasts will especially welcome the Veloster Turbo's extra oomph.

Sam Moses filed this NewCarTestDrive.com report after his test drive of the Veloster in the Pacific Northwest, with Laura Burstein reporting on the Veloster Turbo from San Diego.