For anyone who has taken a look at the Veloster most are unsure what this car really is. The fact that the market now is littered with compact crossover SUVs that are not much larger than the sedans and coupes on the road certainly makes it easy to see why the Veloster is a continued enigma as it’s been hard to identify. It’s not really a coupe as it has three doors but it does have a coupe feel when driving. It’s not a hatchback at least not completely, which makes it even more difficult to identify. Whatever it is, the Veloster has become very popular for many who have learned about the sportiness of this attract mystery machine.
When we look at power in the mainstream smaller car level the numbers will certainly not blow you away, but with the Veloster there is more than enough power to make driving this car fun but still offer you good fuel mileage. The base engine is a 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder that offers you 138 horsepower and 123 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is able to be mated to two transmissions and loses six horsepower and three lb.-ft. of torque when attached to the automatic transmission. For the fuel mileage you will receive 27 city/35 hwy mpg for the manual and 28 city/36 hwy mpg for the automatic.
Take the same engine and turbocharge it and you have the upgraded engine version for the Veloster. This is one way this little sports coupe keeps prices down and adds power. The power addition is phenomenal as the horsepower raises to 201 and the torque improves to 195 lb.-ft. These numbers are able to be reached at lower rpm than most making this a car that will easily be fun on the road even if it’s not made to win any races. With this upgrade you do lose a bit in the fuel efficiency as it comes in at 25 city/33 hwy mpg for the manual and 27 city/33 hwy mpg for the automatic.
I mentioned the pricing is easy to love and the Veloster at its base model shows up at $18,825 to give you a car that is attractive and functional for you to drive on a daily basis. Adding the six-speed automatic transmission will add $1,100 to the price of the car. The R-Spec model puts in the turbo engine and shows up at $22,425 while the Turbo model will bring the price up to $23,425 and put in a $1,200 seven-speed automatic transmission. At these prices it’s easy to see why you would want to buy the Veloster for daily driving and for cruising on the open roads.
Speaking of cruising, how does this little beauty drive? As a small coupe like car with great looks and a zippy engine the addition of the stiff build and performance chassis makes it a comfortable but planted ride for you to be able to confidently take on the best roads in your area. Steering is simple and gives you a feel of cohesiveness with the car as you make the ride to whatever destination you choose. You will certainly find yourself looking for the long way home more often than not in this great car.
As a car that certainly will appeal to many buyers who want a sporty coupe with a bit more flexibility at a price that is affordable this will be the car of choice. With great fuel mileage you can certainly take a cross country drive without the worry of a massive gas need. So what’s new for this model year on the Veloster, a new Rally Edition comes into the lineup with a stiffer suspension, RAYS lightweight alloy wheels and a B&M Racing sport shifter. The seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission is new on the turbo trims and the front has been redone with an upgraded front and hood design. On the inside Siri Eyes Free has been added to give you the ability to keep your eyes on the road.
What do you find on the base model? The Veloster offers a seven-inch multimedia touch screen with a rearview monitor, a six-way driver’s seat with height adjustment, an audio system that includes internet radio and six speakers, Hyundai’s Blue Link system with parental controls and much more. As with most Hyundai models the Veloster comes equipped with lots of great equipment for you to fully enjoy the ride.
The options show up in two packages; Style and Technology. In order to get the Technology package you have to get the Style package, a bit of a loophole there. The Style package adds a panoramic sunroof, a 450-watt eight-speaker sound system and leatherette upholstery. The Technology package brings in the navigation system, Siri Eyes Free, a proximity key, push button starting, backup warning sensors, automatic headlights, automatic climate control and a 115-volt outlet for your electronics to give you a car that is full of some of the best features and still shows up at a reasonable price.
On the inside this car is high tech and styled just right. Every surface and feature looks upgraded and ready to roll with sharp angles, smooth lines and the metal trim pieces that pop at you visually to let you know this is a sports coupe and not another plain hatchback. The front seating is comfortable and the driver has control of an amazing looking control center. The rear seats are not meant for adults and are better left for added cargo, but can be used in a pinch.
The exterior of the Veloster has always caught our eyes but with the front grill and hood upgrades the car certainly shows off with even better looks. When you upgrade to some of the higher trim levels you can enjoy riding on the RAYS 18-inch alloy wheels which help the car look and feel like a real sports coup. The Veloster is the car to choose when you are looking for some fun on the road but need more space and flexibility than the Mazda Miata can offer. Head on over to your Hyundai dealership and see what this care is all about.
This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning a commission is given should you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no cost to you. All products shown are researched and tested to give an accurate review for you.