The dramatic looking Veloster is on a mission to show the automotive world Hyundai can design a sensational looking coupe with performance to match.
While it’s a commendable effort it somehow doesn’t really hit the meat of the bat and whack the competition out of the ground. This largely because many of them are simply to classy for that and heading that list, is the Volkswagen Scirocco, Toyota 86 and its twin the Subaru BRZ. You almost get a sense that Hyundai have tried too hard with the Veloster when perhaps didn’t need to. The other obstacle it faces in the ultra fashion and brand conscious sport coupe market, is that Hyundai, or any other for Korean name plate for matter, lack the all important cred to succeed in this image conscious market.
Prices are sharp for a well appointed and interesting twist on your traditional coupe. Just a shade less than $45,000 gets you into the 103 kw Gasoline Direct injection 1.6 litre six-speed auto. Although I have sneaky suspicion many buyers will be tempted to find the extra $5000 and upgrade to the turbo the real star of the Velsoter show. Both the six-speed auto and six-speed manual turbo I drove double bunk the same $49,990 price tag. This is a strong return by Hyundai to the mainstream coupe market which they last dabbled in nearly a decade ago with the capable Lantra based FX Coupe.
At a cursory glance it is easy to dismiss the Veloster as being a bit expensive compared to it’s of rivals. When you factor in its high specification levels and safety features, it begins to look pretty good value for money. Some still see Hyundai as a price driven brand which it was five or ten years ago. These days the company is producing high quality, well designed and refined cars that are the equal of those sporting Japanese name plates. This is paradigm shift by Hyundai that is still to register with many who are still expecting the company to do “Cheap and cheerful.”
The 1.6 litre twin scroll turbo gasoline direct inject engine is the quickest four cylinder power plant ever from Hyundai and further evidence of their growing stature as a both a designer and producer of quality engines. It also makes the Veloster a high velocity performer with 150kw on tap to punt around this comparatively light car. The engine is a strong rather withering performer. I liken it to the three bear’s porridge, its not to hot, it is not to cold, it’s just right, apart from those with an unbridled lust for speed. Chances are these buyers if they have well enough lined bank accounts will be looking elsewhere to satisfy their “Go faster” desires.
As a first attempt at a serious smallish high performance motor Hyundai have done a decent job. To say they have nailed it is a bit of a stretch, but they are headed in the right direction and have created a good platform from which to launch more engines of this ilk.
The sweet shifting six-speed manual is perfect for surfing the motors considerable wave of torque and makes a solid fist of the “The man and a machine as one” thing which you need in a car like this. The optional six-speed automatic even with its manual tip shift gear shifting mode, would struggle to achieve the sorts of synergies between driver and car that the manual does so well.
Veloster turbo owners are not short changed on luxury features. Scan through the equipment list, which I did and it is a lengthy read given its extensive nature, I struggled to find a single item that should have been included but wasn’t. Hyundai have done their homework to create a standard equipment manifest that is the envy of a number of its competitors.
Apart from roofline that falls away fairly steeply toward the rear of the car and deletes a value of few centimetres rear head room along the way, it is still as close as I have seen to a genuine four-seater coupe. There is the added bonus of a deep well proportioned boot a rare find in a car of this type. It consumes a surprising amount of luggage although there is a bit of a boot lip to wrestle then body slam cargo over.
Independent suspension front and rear provides good handling and a supple ride, apart from sporadic moments of jitteriness at low speeds on the uneven roads typically found in town driving. Handling is well sorted and nicely balanced over winding terrain. Its displays plenty of grip and grit thanks to a set decent set of footwear, in the form of big chunky tyres. There are others in this class offering that are swifter and more agile through the bends, but the Veloster still showed enough road holding smarts to deservedly earn it stripes as an appealing yet affordable performance coupe.
What’s the verdict? An interesting and sophisticated, the Veloster over cooks the coupe recipe with this mode, so it’s not as tasty as it could have been.
While it’s a commendable effort it somehow doesn’t really hit the meat of the bat and whack the competition out of the ground. This largely because many of them are simply to classy for that and heading that list, is the Volkswagen Scirocco, Toyota 86 and its twin the Subaru BRZ. You almost get a sense that Hyundai have tried too hard with the Veloster when perhaps didn’t need to. The other obstacle it faces in the ultra fashion and brand conscious sport coupe market, is that Hyundai, or any other for Korean name plate for matter, lack the all important cred to succeed in this image conscious market.
Here is car that has tried incredibly hard to be different starting with its “Out on a limb” looks, with a quirky hatchback twist. There is solitary door on the driver's side of the Veloster so its takes on the appearance of a coupe to the unsuspecting. Step around to the other side of the vehicle and you are greeted by two doors, one for the front seat passenger and another for the back seat occupants. In some way it’s a hatch and coupe all rolled into one. It is an innovative but potentially divisive styling approach although I’m not totally convinced it’s a winning one. I suspect once the curiosity value wears thin the sales battle will be much tougher for the Veloster.
Prices are sharp for a well appointed and interesting twist on your traditional coupe. Just a shade less than $45,000 gets you into the 103 kw Gasoline Direct injection 1.6 litre six-speed auto. Although I have sneaky suspicion many buyers will be tempted to find the extra $5000 and upgrade to the turbo the real star of the Velsoter show. Both the six-speed auto and six-speed manual turbo I drove double bunk the same $49,990 price tag. This is a strong return by Hyundai to the mainstream coupe market which they last dabbled in nearly a decade ago with the capable Lantra based FX Coupe.
At a cursory glance it is easy to dismiss the Veloster as being a bit expensive compared to it’s of rivals. When you factor in its high specification levels and safety features, it begins to look pretty good value for money. Some still see Hyundai as a price driven brand which it was five or ten years ago. These days the company is producing high quality, well designed and refined cars that are the equal of those sporting Japanese name plates. This is paradigm shift by Hyundai that is still to register with many who are still expecting the company to do “Cheap and cheerful.”
The 1.6 litre twin scroll turbo gasoline direct inject engine is the quickest four cylinder power plant ever from Hyundai and further evidence of their growing stature as a both a designer and producer of quality engines. It also makes the Veloster a high velocity performer with 150kw on tap to punt around this comparatively light car. The engine is a strong rather withering performer. I liken it to the three bear’s porridge, its not to hot, it is not to cold, it’s just right, apart from those with an unbridled lust for speed. Chances are these buyers if they have well enough lined bank accounts will be looking elsewhere to satisfy their “Go faster” desires.
As a first attempt at a serious smallish high performance motor Hyundai have done a decent job. To say they have nailed it is a bit of a stretch, but they are headed in the right direction and have created a good platform from which to launch more engines of this ilk.
The sweet shifting six-speed manual is perfect for surfing the motors considerable wave of torque and makes a solid fist of the “The man and a machine as one” thing which you need in a car like this. The optional six-speed automatic even with its manual tip shift gear shifting mode, would struggle to achieve the sorts of synergies between driver and car that the manual does so well.
Veloster turbo owners are not short changed on luxury features. Scan through the equipment list, which I did and it is a lengthy read given its extensive nature, I struggled to find a single item that should have been included but wasn’t. Hyundai have done their homework to create a standard equipment manifest that is the envy of a number of its competitors.
Apart from roofline that falls away fairly steeply toward the rear of the car and deletes a value of few centimetres rear head room along the way, it is still as close as I have seen to a genuine four-seater coupe. There is the added bonus of a deep well proportioned boot a rare find in a car of this type. It consumes a surprising amount of luggage although there is a bit of a boot lip to wrestle then body slam cargo over.
Independent suspension front and rear provides good handling and a supple ride, apart from sporadic moments of jitteriness at low speeds on the uneven roads typically found in town driving. Handling is well sorted and nicely balanced over winding terrain. Its displays plenty of grip and grit thanks to a set decent set of footwear, in the form of big chunky tyres. There are others in this class offering that are swifter and more agile through the bends, but the Veloster still showed enough road holding smarts to deservedly earn it stripes as an appealing yet affordable performance coupe.
What’s the verdict? An interesting and sophisticated, the Veloster over cooks the coupe recipe with this mode, so it’s not as tasty as it could have been.
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