Overview Three-door “coupe”
Pros Distinctive looks, likable character
Cons Suspension could be sportier
Value for money Has more standard
features than many premium sedans
It’s
been just over three years since Hyundai
unveiled its Veloster,
and yet it still looks as fresh as the day it debuted.
While
obviously related to the Accent and Elantra, the Veloster is the most extreme
example of Hyundai’s
Fluidic Sculpture design ethos and one of the most original looking vehicles on
the road today.
For
2014, the Veloster is
largely unchanged – all models now come with LED driving lights, a backup camera
system and driver’s blind spot mirror. Turbo models, such as this week’s
tester, and those equipped with the Tech package, boast heated steering wheels
and power adjustable lumbar support.
There
was a lot of buzz surrounding the Veloster’s arrival, and given its radical
styling, many were anticipating the birth of a brand-new hot hatch to go up
against the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Mini Cooper S or Ford Focus ST.
Count me among those who were disappointed by their initial test drive – while
I liked the Veloster well
enough, what I really wanted … was to love it.
Not
that there’s anything wrong with it. On the contrary, the Veloster is a most
agreeable little car, offering a lot of value, and decent fuel economy wrapped
in a refreshingly creative design. But it was really hard for it to overcome
the buildup preceding its arrival.
“The Veloster was never
meant to be a hot hatch,” said Patrick Danielson of Hyundai Canada. Conceived
as a playful, affordable coupe-slash-hatch to appeal to a younger demographic,
the Veloster obviously resonated with the performance crowd, which, of course,
immediately began clamouring for a high-performance version.
At the
time, Hyundai was loath
to confirm whether a hot hatch Veloster was in the works. But during a visit to
the company’s Namyang Research and Development Centre in South Korea, a curious
colleague and I wandered too close to a tarp-covered shape that we suspected
was the rumoured-to-exist Turbo Veloster, unleashing an irate volley of Korean
from the security guards.
The Veloster Turbo did indeed
receive an injection of power, bringing its output to 201 horsepower from 138,
but it was essentially the same vehicle as the non-aspirated model. While the
base suspension was perfectly adequate for trundling around town, it was
overwhelmed by any “spirited” driving.
There
are no suspension upgrades on the Turbo for 2014 – for that you’ll have to opt
for the Turbo R-Spec, a stripped down version with specifically tuned
suspension and steering, a B&M short shifter, and all the outlandish design
cues a boy-racer’s heart could desire.
Turbos
and base models have the same front strut, and rather archaic torsion beam rear
axle setup – which limits its athleticism considerably.
However,
both the Turbo and R-Spec models now come with a torque vectoring control
system called “Active Cornering Control”(ACC). Using the wheel-speed sensors
and electronic stability control, ACC applies braking to the inside front wheel
during hard cornering – driving the power to the outside front wheel for
improved grip and quicker acceleration upon exit.
With
its bright copper sheet metal, my coupe-meets-hatchback tester is funky enough
to appeal to a younger demographic, but not so outrageous that a more “mature”
driver would feel ridiculous in it. Courtesy of a blacked-out, hexagonal
grille, side skirts and unique rear diffuser, the Turbo projects a more
aggressive attitude than the base Veloster.
The
playful design theme continues inside, with enough geometric shapes, splashes
of colour, and technology to make a gamer feel right at home. Hyundai’s a perfect example of
what creative minds can do with budget materials. Although there’s an abundance
of cheap, hard plastics – there’s no shortage of shapes and textures and,
overall, the atmosphere is lively and fun.
Of
course, given its targeted demographic, the Veloster
Turbo’s cabin is packed with technology. Standard is a backup camera,
touchscreen navigation, Bluetooth, USB input and iPod connectivity. There’s an
eight-speaker and a 450-watt sound system with a thumping subwoofer.
Turbo-embroidered
sports seats are quite supportive and comfortable, and the driver’s seat is
height adjustable.
The
signature, asymmetrical third door makes clambering in and out much easier for
rear passengers, but the raked roofline does cut into their headroom space.
For
such a compact car, you can certainly stuff a lot of baggage into its rear
boot. Cargo space is 440 litres, but that increases to 983 when the 60/40 split
rear seats are dropped.
While
it’s usually more engaging to operate a stick shift, rather than leaving it to
an automatic transmission, swapping cogs on the Veloster Turbo really isn’t
all that fulfilling. The clutch take up is vague and the shifter itself lacks
the satisfying snickery of a true driver’s car. Without a modulated use of the
gas pedal, the short first gear had me leaving stoplights with an embarrassing
screech. But it certainly is forgiving. The neophyte driver will find this
gearbox nearly impossible to stall.
Steering
offers very little feedback, but is perfectly adequate for a little runabout.
While the sporty body cladding and bright red Turbo badge scream “hot hatch”,
its rather pedestrian suspension, and transmission geared for frugality say
otherwise.
Drivers
looking for genuine engagement would be better served by a Fiesta ST. However,
the Veloster Turbo offers
more features, and a lower price tag than competitors like the Mini Cooper S or
Volkswagen GTI.
Personally,
I’d forgo the Turbo in favour of a six-speed base model with Tech Package, an
equally pleasant little vehicle that’s nearly $5,000 cheaper and easier on
fuel.
The Specs:
Type of Vehicle Three-door
coupe/hatchback
Engine 1.6-litre turbo-charged four-cylinder
Power 201 hp, 195 lb.-ft. of torque
Transmission Six-speed manual
Brakes Four-wheel disc with ABS
Natural Resources Canada fuel economy
(L/100 km) 8.4 city; 5.9 highway; 7.3 combined
Tires 215/40R 18
Price (base/as tested) $26,749/$28,589
Destination Charge $1,695
Standard features Push-button
ignition, alloy pedals,18-in alloys, fog lights, Turbo-exclusive exterior
features, twin circular exhaust outlets, height-adjustable driver seat heated
leather, sport seats with Turbo embroidery, quicker steering ratio, two
driver-information screens, Sirius/XM Radio,and an 8-speaker, 450-watt audio
system. 18-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior accent lights, air conditioning,
cruise control, a tilt-telescopic steering wheel, a trip computer, a 7-in
touchscreen (including a rearview camera), and iPod/USB and Bluetooth
connectivity, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force
Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA) , Vehicle Stability Management (VSM),
Electronic Stability Control System (ESC) with Traction Control System (TCS)
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