The
2015 Hyundai Veloster
offers up the looks of a 2-door with the practicality of a 4-door. It pulls
this off by literally offering both. The driver's side features a single long
door, while the passenger's side has two smaller ones to let rear-seat
passengers get in and out more easily. The good news is that this asymmetrical
design doesn't make the Veloster
look odd, in fact, its sporty hatchback shape is eye-grabbing for all the right
reasons. It can back up its sporty looks, too, thanks to an available
201-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. Best of all, the Veloster offers
up plenty of features, style, fuel economy and performance at a price that
seriously undercuts competitors like the Volkswagen Golf or Subaru WRX.
You'll Like This Car If...
The
2015 Hyundai Veloster
targets sporty-minded buyers on a limited budget. If you have about $25,000 to
spend, but don't want the same humdrum compacts you see coming and going, the
slick looking Veloster could be the ticket.
You May Not Like This Car If...
Even
with the clever third door, the Hyundai Veloster isn't
exactly a paragon of passenger hauling. If you regularly carry rear-seat
passengers, or just have a big dog you like to take with you, you might be
better served by something like a VW Golf or Ford Focus.
What's New for 2015
After
the introduction of a turbocharged model and the sharp-looking RE:FLEX model,
the Veloster carries over
with only a handful of changes. Automatic climate control is now part of the
Technology package, and the Style package adds 18-inch wheels.
Driving the Veloster
Driving
Impressions The 2015 Hyundai
Veloster comes in two versions. First is the base model Veloster, which offers
up a comfortable ride, very good fuel economy, and a low price, all wrapped in
a sporty body. While fun-looking, the meager acceleration from the engine
doesn't quite meet the expectations of the styling, nor does the handling.
However, if you're looking for more of both, there's the Veloster Turbo. With a
201-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine connected to an available 6-speed
manual transmission, the Turbo definitely ups the sporting ante. While not
quite as much fun to drive as a Volkswagen GTI or Ford Focus ST, the Veloster
Turbo holds its own, and does so at a price that undercuts those two by
thousands. If shifting your own isn't your thing, there's a solid dual-clutch
6-speed automatic available. While we like the Veloster, we can't ignore
shortcomings like the cramped interior and poor rearward visibility.
Favorite Features
TURBOCHARGED
ENGINE
The
Veloster could've been all show and no go, which makes us appreciate the
available turbocharged engine that much more. While definitely turning the
Veloster R-Spec and Turbo into a GTI chaser, the added power doesn't come at
the expense of fuel economy.
EASY-TO-USE
CONTROLS
The
Veloster boasts an interior that manages to pack in a lot of features while
still being easy to use. The controls are simple to use and easy to reach, with
minimal touch-screen operations limited mostly to the navigation and audio
functions.
2015 Hyundai Veloster Details
Interior
The
Veloster's interior is as tasteful as it is high-tech. The 7-inch touch screen
is the audio and, if so equipped, navigation command center. Up front are
comfortable seats for average sized adults, although a tall driver will be
short on headroom. That goes double for the cramped back seats, which are
clearly meant for occasional use. Cargo space behind the rear seats is fine,
and they fold down for even more. The Veloster RE:FLEX adds touches like
piano-black accents and leather seats, making it the only non-Turbo Veloster
available with leather. Turbos get red accents and R-Spec badges inside.
Exterior
The
2015 Hyundai Veloster stands
out from the crowd thanks to its long and low profile, large wheel arches and a
sloping roof. Turbo versions pump up the visual volume with a huge grille,
standard fog lights, available red exterior accents, and larger twin tailpipes.
The RE:FLEX model splits the difference, offering many of the Turbo's style
touches, like LED accents in the headlights. However, all Veloster models share
the most defining feature of this sporty hatchback, namely that passenger-side
extra door. An available matte-gray paint requires buyers to sign a waiver
explaining its special care, including hand washing.
Notable Equipment
Standard
Equipment
Like
most Hyundais, the 2015
Veloster comes nicely equipped. There's the 7-inch multimedia touch screen that
includes a rearview monitor, a 6-way driver seat with height adjustment and
Internet radio-ready AM/FM/satellite/CD system with 196 watts and six speakers.
Hyundai's Blue Link
telematics system offers access service and infotainment features, parents
looking to spoil their kids with a new car will be happy to know the Veloster
can alert them if the car goes beyond a certain speed or designated perimeter.
A 6-month trial is included, with a subscription offered thereafter.
Optional
Equipment
Options
for the 2015 Veloster get bundled into Style and Technology packages. However,
to get Technology you also have to get Style. The Style package adds a
panoramic sunroof, 450-watt 8-speaker audio system and leatherette surfaces. To
that, the Technology package adds a navigation system, proximity key and
push-button start, backup warning sensors, automatic headlights, automatic
climate control, and a convenient 115-volt outlet to power electronics. The
RE:FLEX model adds many of the Style package elements, such as piano-black
interior accents, plus leather seats. Veloster Turbo models offer just an
Ultimate Package, bundling the sunroof, climate control and navigation.
Under the Hood
The
standard 2015 Hyundai
Veloster and the RE:FLEX model come with a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine with 138
horsepower. You won't win many races with this engine, although there is a bit
of a surge in power at higher revs. However, if you're trying to stretch the
time between visits to the pump, this little engine is just the ticket. If you
want something to back up the Veloster's sporty looks, you'll definitely want the
Turbo. With its twin-scroll turbocharged version of the same 1.6-liter
4-cylinder, the 201 horsepower is plenty powerful enough to move the
lightweight Veloster with enthusiastic quickness.
1.6-liter
inline 4
138
horsepower @ 6,300 rpm (132 horsepower with automatic transmission)
123
lb-ft of torque @ 4,850 rpm (120 lb-ft of torque with automatic transmission)
EPA
city/highway fuel economy: 26/35 mpg (manual), 28/36 mpg (automatic)
Hyundai Veloster
Turbo
1.6-liter
turbocharged inline-4
201
horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
195
lb-ft of torque @ 1,750-4,500 rpm
EPA
city/highway fuel economy: 24/33 mpg (manual), 24/31 mpg (automatic)
Pricing Notes
2015
Hyundai
Veloster prices are very reasonable. The base Veloster starts at $18,700,
including destination, when you get the manual transmission. The 6-speed
automatic adds $1,250. The RE:FLEX comes only with the automatic and starts at
$22,600, while the Veloster R-Spec is the cheapest way to get a turbo at
$22,300, or you can go with the Veloster Turbo for $23,300 – add $1,000 for the
automatic transmission here. The Veloster's prices compare favorably with
competitors like the Volkswagen Golf, GTI and Beetle, Honda CR-Z, Mini Cooper
and Scion tC, undercutting them by hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Be
sure and check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to see what others in
your area are paying for the 2015 Hyundai Veloster. Resale
values for the Veloster are expected to be good over a 5-year period, but not
as high those for a Mini Cooper.
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