When
the funky Hyundai Veloster
hatchback first debuted, it had practically everything going for it except
speed. But these are power-hungry times, so scribes like us were quick to jump
on Hyundai for not offering more horses under the hood. That's no longer an
issue, however, because the 2015 Hyundai Veloster boasts not one but two
turbocharged variants: the regular Turbo and the sporty R-Spec. Not
surprisingly, we're struggling to find anything amiss these days with Hyundai's
hot hatch.
The Veloster Turbo is a big deal
because it's both fun to drive and remarkably affordable. It undercuts the
price of comparably equipped rivals such as the MINI Cooper S and Volkswagen
GTI by thousands. Like every Hyundai, it's backed by a stout
10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, so if you're skeptical about turbo
reliability, Hyundai has your back.
Don't
sleep on the even more affordable base Veloster, though, because it's
fundamentally the same car minus the turbocharger, so you get the same sporty
handling and surprisingly refined high-speed demeanor, plus extra fuel economy.
Either way, it's getting harder and harder to nitpick with this happy-go-lucky
Hyundai.
What's New for 2015?
The
Veloster is unchanged this year.
What We Like
Energetic
optional turbocharged motor; solid fuel economy; fun to drive; lots of
technology; innovative rear door; great warranty
What We Don't
Base
engine lacks punch; automated manual transmission could use refinement; firm
ride
How Much?
$18,825-$23,425
Fuel Economy
The
base Veloster is powered
by a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine rated at 138 horsepower and 123 lb-ft of
torque with the 6-speed manual transmission. If you specify the optional
6-speed dual-clutch automated manual, output drops to 132 hp and 120 lb-ft.
Fuel economy is pretty good, checking in at 26 miles per gallon in the city and
35 mpg on the highway with the stick shift and 27 mpg city/36 mpg hwy with the
automated manual.
Opt for
the Turbo or R-Spec, and you'll get a spunky turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder
rated at 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. A 6-speed manual is standard, while a
6-speed conventional automatic is optional (the automated manual is only
offered on the base model). The manual returns 24 mpg city/33 mpg hwy, while
the automatic gets 24 mpg city/31 mpg hwy.
Standard Features & Options
The
2015 Hyundai Veloster is
offered in base, RE:FLEX, Turbo or R-Spec trim.
The base Veloster
($18,825) comes with a robust roster of standard perks, including 17-inch alloy
wheels, LED exterior accent lights, a center-mounted trapezoidal exhaust
outlet, air conditioning, cruise control, a tilt-telescopic steering wheel, a
trip computer, a height-adjustable driver seat, and a 6-speaker audio system
with a 7-in touchscreen (including a rearview camera), Pandora radio capability
and iPod/USB and Bluetooth connectivity.
The
base model is eligible for two packages. The Style package adds 18-in alloys, a
chrome grille surround, fog lights, a panoramic sunroof, an 8-speaker Dimension
audio system, piano-black interior accents, leatherette seat and door trim, a
leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and alloy pedals. The Tech package
(which requires the Style package) tacks on rear parking sensors, different
18-in alloys with painted inserts, automatic headlights, keyless entry/start
and a navigation system.
The
limited-production RE:FLEX ($22,775)
is essentially a base Veloster with
the Style package's features as standard, also adding chrome exterior accents
and black or red leather upholstery.
The Turbo ($23,425) steps up to the plate
with a turbocharged engine, an electronic limited-slip differential, unique
18-in alloys, exclusive exterior styling elements, center-mounted twin circular
exhaust outlets, heated leather sport seats with Turbo embroidery, a quicker
steering ratio and two thin-film-transistor (TFT) driver-information screens.
A Tech
package for the Turbo combines elements of the regular Veloster's Style and
Tech packages, highlighted by the rear parking sensors, panoramic sunroof and
navigation system. It also throws in automatic climate control.
The R-Spec ($22,425) is an edgier, slightly
less luxurious Veloster Turbo with some aggressive touches, including exclusive
design cues, a sport-tuned suspension, red-trimmed leatherette upholstery and a
sport shifter.
Cargo
space in the hatchback Veloster measures 15.5 cu ft. by default and 34.7 cu ft.
with the rear seatbacks folded down.
Safety
The
2015 Hyundai Veloster
comes with standard stability control, a driver-side blind spot mirror, 4-wheel
anti-lock disc brakes and six airbags (front, front-side, full-length
side-curtain).
In
government crash-testing, the Veloster received the top 5-star rating overall,
including four stars for front impacts and five stars for side impacts. The
independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Veloster its top
rating of Good in three of the five tested categories, downgrading it to
Acceptable (second-best out of four ratings) for side impacts and Marginal
(second-worst) in the small-overlap front test.
Behind the Wheel
Our
interior evaluation of the Veloster left us impressed with the base model's
front seats, as they feature more lateral support than we're used to feeling at
this price. The turbocharged model's sport front seats are even grippier.
Common to all trims is the spaceshiplike dashboard, which looks so cool that
we're inclined to forgive the mediocre materials employed. The tilt-telescopic
steering wheel offers ample adjustability, while the clean, crisp gauges are
complemented in the Turbo by a pair of graphically dazzling TFT information
screens. Ergonomics are surprisingly good for such an adventurous design,
particularly the foolproof climate controls.
Access
to the Veloster's back
seat is via a conventional forward-hinged third door on the passenger side.
It's like a 4-door hatchback without the driver-side rear door. That means the
rear door opens independently, unlike the so-called suicide door that some
other 3-door cars have utilized, so rear passengers are free to enter and exit
as they wish. Passenger space in back is mostly fine, but taller riders won't
have enough headroom.
The
Veloster's standard 7-in touchscreen really sets it apart when compared to
other affordable hatchbacks. Hyundai
knows its target buyers want to be on the grid at all times, so virtually every
imaginable connectivity feature comes standard. You can also crank tunes from
Pandora if you've got an iPhone. The one notable disappointment is that the
optional navigation system isn't hard-drive based, so you can't store your
music on it.
Under
the hood, the Veloster's base engine needs all the horses it can get, so our
preference is for the satisfying stick shift with its added output. Also, the
automated gearbox could use some more development to sharpen its sometimes
clumsy shifts. Cost being no object, the pick of this litter is undoubtedly the
turbo, which provides most of its ample torque under 2,000 rpm thanks to
twin-scroll technology. The enhanced engine pulls like a train on the highway,
even in sixth gear. It can motor.
On the
road, the Veloster's
steering feels a bit artificial, even in quicker-ratio Turbo form, but it's
responsive enough to be entertaining. The Veloster's wide front track is
palpable, keeping the car mostly planted to its handling limits. On the
highway, meanwhile, the Veloster is unexpectedly an absolute champ, tracking
straight and true at speeds we're not allowed to mention. It's downright
Germanic, really. We're less enamored by the way the chassis flexes over rough
pavement, but hey, let's be honest: Hyundai did a darn good job
tuning the Veloster's ride and handling.
Other Cars to Consider
2015 FIAT 500 -- The 500 has a
power shortage of its own unless you pony up for the turbocharged Abarth.
Nonetheless, it has plenty of Italian style if you're looking for a little more
sophistication.
2015 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ -- No motivation
issues here, as the turbocharged Sonic LTZ has plenty of zest for squeezing
through traffic. It's a surprisingly comfortable car on the highway, too.
2015 Honda CR-Z -- Honda's odd hybrid-powered
coupe only has two seats, but it gets better overall fuel economy than the Veloster, and we like its
slick 6-speed shifter and futuristic interior.
Used Volkswagen GTI -- VW has a thriving
certified pre-owned program with an attractive factory warranty, and the more
luxurious and capable GTI can definitely be found in lightly used condition for
Veloster money.
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