Overview & Reviews

It's a rare occurrence when bold design is married to a car that is accessible to shoppers on a budget. The Hyundai Veloster is that rarity among hatchbacks, with evocative styling, a unique asymmetrical three-door layout and respectable performance. Yet the Veloster still achieves fuel economy figures that rival more commonplace economy cars.

Built upon the same basic architecture as the Hyundai Accent, the Veloster shares many of the same advantages and drawbacks. But when it comes to the bottom line, the Hyundai Veloster ranks highly for its feature-rich content, friendly price and appealing overall character.

Current Hyundai Veloster
The Hyundai Veloster is a four-passenger, three-door hatchback. The driver-side door is coupelike in length, while the passenger side features two smaller doors. There are three main trim levels: base, Turbo R-Spec and Turbo.

The base Veloster comes with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 138 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque. The Turbo versions pack a turbocharged version of the 1.6 that cranks out 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. For either engine, a six-speed manual transmission is standard. The base engine offers a six-speed automated manual (called DCT), but selecting that option reduces engine output slightly (to 132 hp and 120 lb-ft of torque). A traditional six-speed automatic is optional only on the Turbo model, as the R-Spec is manual only.

Standard feature highlights for the base Veloster include 17-inch alloy wheels, a rearview camera, air-conditioning, full power accessories, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, the Blue Link emergency telematics system and a six-speaker sound system with a USB/iPod interface.. Options include the Style and RE:FLEX Edition packages, which add some unique styling flourishes inside and out, plus features like upgraded seating surfaces, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an upgraded audio system.

The Turbo R-Spec features a lower body kit, 18-inch wheels, sport-tuned suspension and steering, a torque-vectoring system that improves handling around tight turns, and a feature that pipes exhaust sounds through the stereo speakers. Compared to the more performance-focused R-Spec, the Veloster Turbo has slightly less aggressive suspension and steering tuning, some different styling elements, keyless ignition and entry, heated front seats and leather upholstery. Option highlights include a panoramic sunroof, rear parking sensors and a navigation system.

Although the Veloster's cabin has an abundance of hard plastic surfaces, unique texturing and sculpted design help to bolster its appeal. The front seats are comfortable and supportive, but that's not the case in back. There's ample legroom, but the rear seat cushions are mounted a bit too low and headroom is limited by the sloping roof line. Furthermore, the glass hatch extends over the passengers' heads, leaving them exposed to the sun.

On the plus side, all of the Veloster's cutting-edge features are sure to attract the tech-savvy youth market that it clearly has in its sights. Features like Bluetooth audio and Pandora Internet radio are standard, while the Blue Link system (besides its typical safety features) includes outbound text messaging, turn-by-turn navigation and location sharing (via Facebook). Parents of young drivers will also appreciate the programmable geo-fence feature that alerts them when the car travels outside of defined areas.

In reviews, we found power from the base 1.6-liter engine to be merely adequate, a bit of a letdown considering the Veloster's sporty styling. Regardless of trim level, the Veloster's ride tends to be harsh on pockmarked roads. Thankfully, the turbocharged versions make the latter demerit easier to take, as their added kick makes for a fair amount of entertainment from behind the wheel.

Used Hyundai Veloster Models
The Hyundai Veloster debuted for the 2012 model year in a single, well-equipped trim level. Unlike later versions, the base engine made 138 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque regardless of transmission. For 2013, the Veloster Turbo debuted. On the other end of the spectrum, the standard Veloster's engine output dropped slightly (to 132 hp and 120 lb-ft) when it was matched to the automated manual transmission. That year also saw the one-year-only RE:MIX Edition: a base Veloster spiffed up with a body kit and special wheels. Apart from trim level shuffling and lacking a few notable features (such as a standard rearview camera, and, for the Turbo, a torque-vectoring system), these Velosters are otherwise similar to the current models.

User Reviews:

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  Economical Unique Hot hatch! - 2014 Hyundai Veloster
  By hero253 - November 29 - 2:59 pm

  I bought my veloster turbo a couple of months ago and thought it was time for a review. I have never been disappointed in this car and I love the way it drives. I average about 34mpg combined! And I still have enough power to accelerate and pass when I need to. The sound system is pretty good especially on xm radio. There is plenty of trunk space, especially with the back seats down. Everyone looks at my car as I roll by and I have not seen another veloster turbo in nor cal since I have bought it. I love that this car is really uncommon. From a stop, the car will pull you back into the seat as you race the engine! If youre looking for an economical car with some power, this is it!

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  buy used and beat the depreciation - 2013 Hyundai Veloster
  By Tom K - April 2 - 2:30 am

  I bought this 2013 Orange Turbo with 14000 miles on it for less than $15,900. Sticker on it new was $28000+. This car has all the options, moon roof, paddle shifters, etc. It was unusual for the left side tires to be shot, but figured it was a turbo and the previous owner had some fun with it. I am old and should have bought a car that sits a little higher up. Averaging about 26-28 mpg on regular gas. So far so good.

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  Nice car with minor problems - 2012 Hyundai Veloster
  By rf888 - March 13 - 10:19 am

  Have had this car for over one month and driven for over 1000 miles. This car is fun to drive, great gas milage, and pretty roomy on the front seats. I have no complain about the lack of power, thats what you have to sacrifice for gas milage. My complain about this car is the minor problems. The right rearview mirror cracked on the first day I drove this car, probably the heated mirror was overheated. Contacted dealer and got it fixed for free after almost a month. The second problem was the light in the cargo area. It stopped working about 10 days after I got the car. Hyundai service had hard time to diagnose the problem but told be it was fixed. However, the light stopped working two day

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  Long-Time Miata Owner Goes Veloster - 2016 Hyundai Veloster
  By Dave - October 30 - 4:27 pm

  As mentioned in the title of my review, I have owned only Mazda Miatas for the last 15 years. There is no other car in the world like it for me, and I would still be driving one if not for the fact that Im getting older now and I need more room, not to mention that its gotten increasingly difficult for me to roll into that little car day after day. Long story short, I have always liked the unique look of the Veloster, so after test driving one I was sold. I now own a gorgeous 2016 Citrus Orange Veloster and by and large, I love it! It doesnt feel monstrously large like most cars do after having been in a Miata for so long, and the seats are the most comfortable buckets Ive ever sat in. It handles fairly nimbly for a car its size and corners nearly as well as my Miata did. Excellent gas mileage in the Eco mode, mine always runs around 31-34mpg which is WAAAY better than I ever got in the Miata (21-24 tops). The ride is firm but not objectionable to me (again, compared to a Miata which is a SPORTS CAR) and the car feels solid and well-built to me. The amount of tech that came on this car is amazing and fun as hell (backup cam, infotainment center, paddle shifter, etc.) as Im not used to anything more complicated than an aftermarket stereo in my Miatas. My ONLY nit pick about this car is the transmission. The engine is not the most powerful thing in the world to start with, but the automatic transmission is strange. It seems to not want to engage when I step on the accelerator hard... like someone in a stick-shift revving the car in neutral... it just doesnt move sometimes! I have two very close friends who also purchased new Hyundai automobiles at the same time as I did (a Tuscon and another Veloster) and they report the same sort of hesitation in their transmissions that I am experiencing. That leads me to believe that the problem is not unique to my car or model, but may be a bug in the overall design of Hyundai automatic transmissions. It makes me have to be more aware when turning into traffic from a dead stop, which is probably a good thing. Overall, Im loving the car still at 7k miles!

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  Very fun car, questionable quality - 2012 Hyundai Veloster
  By rex81 - April 1 - 4:07 pm

  First off, I really like this car. I bought it because I wanted something fun but practical. This is a perfect mix. The car handles great, the engine/transmission feels good, it has a TON of standard features, the full third door and roomy backseat are great for carrying kids, and the trunk is huge. I am constantly sitting at work itching to start my commute. Something I dreaded in my last car, a Toyota Yaris. So spending $18,000 out the door to get a car that does that is a really great value in my opinion. However, after driving it for 1,000 miles Im questioning its build quality. Its a brand new car so its bound to have quirks, but it just doesnt feel as solid as my Toyota.

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  The more I drive it, the more I love my Veloster - 2015 Hyundai Veloster
  By Edward Wronsky - April 29 - 11:19 am

  I would advise a potential buyer of a Veloster to lower your expectations and appreciate the car for what it is, not dwell on what it is not. My car has all the bells and whistles of my 2012 Optima in a smaller package. It is comfortable, easy to maneuver, convenient for schlepping, and great looking. Someone wiser than I once said its more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. My only reservation is the iPod shuffle performance. It must be reset about once a month, and likes to default to "reading" about once a week. Other than that, I am delighted with my purchase.

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  One fun little sporty econo-car - 2012 Hyundai Veloster
  By crzydmnd - March 22 - 4:23 pm

  To me, this car is the best combination of having good gas mileage (Im averaging around 33 MPG currently, mix of city and hwy) and good looks. Im partial to hatchbacks and this one is a looker. The interior quality is nice, nicer than the Mk4 VW Golf I owned in the past. The Dual Clutch transmission takes some getting used to (when you let off the brake, the clutch engages and car starts rolling, just like if you had a manual and put it into 1st gear). I like not having a "slush box" between the engine and wheels. Some people have complained about the lack of power. Sure, in 1st and 2nd gears it is fairly gutless, but once you get to 3rd it can really accelerate due to the low weight

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  Diamond in the world - 2016 Hyundai Veloster
  By Jimbo - November 27 - 3:30 pm

  Brought this jewel home with 6 miles on the odometer! And can tell you its a true elite white diamond turbo so far!! Have almost 3500 miles on it already in 3 months already 2 road trips ! I to Sedona Arizona and its fast, quick, sporty enough handling, comfortable and does get a few looks!! Yes some nits are the transmission seems slow to respond probably my biggest gripe but its good on gas.the interior plastics on doors scratch easily. And visibility can be a hidden problem!! But hay for the money 24000 with rebates and fully loaded with the panoramic moonroof!!! I can hang with this diamond!!! Till next review enjoy!!! Im sold so far on the veloster turbo!!!

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  Nice car - 2016 Hyundai Veloster
  By Siu Wong - November 1 - 6:37 pm

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  Warranty is useless if dealer fails to perform work - 2012 Hyundai Veloster
  By daviator - March 7 - 10:25 pm

  The car if fun and sporty but I have had some issues. The dual clutch for AT sometimes grinds when shifting. Transmission is very jerky in stop-and-go traffic. The real problem is with Hyundai, its dealers and its "warranty". Twice my car was in for an intermittent problem misaligned touch screen. Each time the dealerships (I tried two) claimed to have applied a software fix. After the problem began again I took it to a third dealer who stated that the fixed were never actually applied. Now the radio is out of warranty (its only 3/36) but Hyundai refuses to cover the fix even though promised work under warranty was never performed.