A QUIRKY RIDE
Plenty to like about Veloster Turbo
My first encounter with this odd little car was rather memorable, to say the least. If you’ve never been to an automaker’s “proving ground,” it’s a private facility where new cars go through a battery of testing before they’re approved for production. Every automaker has one. Cloaked in secrecy, these sites feature Mission Impossible levels of security to protect their new research and development work from the competition’s eyes.
It was 2011, and the long-awaited Hyundai Veloster had just been released to mixed acclaim. While widely acknowledged as a good little car, enthusiasts were disappointed by its mediocre handling and modest power. Rumours were therefore rampant about a spicier, turbocharged model in the works, although Hyundai was unwilling to confirm this.
While touring Hyundai’s research and development grounds in Namyang, South Korea, I broke away from the group to have a closer look at a small, cloth-draped vehicle across the parking lot. You didn’t need to know Korean to understand the sudden volley of shouting that burst from the guard stations — some things transcend language.
Beating a hasty retreat, I’d nonetheless noted the dual exhaust tips peeping out from beneath the cover. Although Hyundai later denied it, there was little doubt it was the Veloster Turbo.
The turbocharged version of Hyundai’s quirky three-door did indeed arrive in 2013. And while it delivered the promised bump in power, it fell far short of being any kind of hot hatch. It was basically the same Veloster as the original, naturally aspirated version but with a tiny turbo tacked onto its engine, so the new car was, again, a letdown for hot-hatch fans. With its firmed-up suspension and B& Ms hort-shifter, the Veloster Turbo R-Spec seemed promising, but its stiff damping just amplified the harsh ride and did little to improve its handling. It wasn’t until last year that Hyundai finally came through with the Veloster Rally Edition, whose low ride, tweaked suspension and upgraded sway bars helped create a Veloster with genuinely athletic handling.
Although it’s been around a few years now, the Veloster’s styling has aged well. With its aggressive, shark’s bite grille, flat top and saucy rear spoiler, it’s a polarizing look that some find dynamic and others consider goofy. It’s still the only new car on the market with a single rear-passenger door, a configuration that makes it hard to pigeonhole. Is it a coupe? A hatchback? Either way, that extra door provides easier access for rear passengers, and the rear liftgate makes the Veloster a more practical cargo hauler than the coupes and sedans it competes with.
The Veloster Turbo boasts exclusive badging, a diffuserlike rear fascia with integrated round exhaust tips, and 18-inch wheels. The interior features heated, highly bolstered sports seats, upholstered in leather and emblazoned with Turbo stitching. At $27,199, the Turbo is the most expensive Veloster in the lineup and features a heated steering wheel, GPS navigation and a panoramic sunroof. Our tester is equipped with the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, a $1,568 option.
Although there’s plenty of room up front, the slanting roofline cuts into the headroom in what is already a cramped rear space, not to mention the resulting abysmal rear visibility. That extra rear door makes the Veloster easier to climb into and out of, but it’s rather small. However, the 440-L trunk expands to 983 L with the 60/40-split rear seats dropped, and the wide hatch provides easy access.
With 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, the Veloster Turbo has a decent power-toweight ratio. Compared to the six-speed manual, dual-clutch automatic transmissions are known for performing very quick shifts with no lag between the gears. However, the Veloster’s seven-speed unit was more lethargic than most, necessitating the use of its paddle shifters for quick acceleration. Steering is well weighted, but it’s on the numb side, with little feedback.
If what you’re looking for is a hot hatch, keep looking. You’d be happier with the cheaper Ford Fiesta ST, or ponying up the extra bucks for a Volkswagen Golf GTI or a Mini Cooper S. But there’s still a lot to like about this quirky little car. With its distinctive styling, good cargo capacity, terrific warranty and many features you’d pay thousands for in a costlier sedan, the Veloster Turbo is one of the more interesting vehicles in the compact segment. Driving.ca