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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  Good car for the money - 2012 Hyundai Veloster
  By tri4 - December 26 - 4:40 pm

  I have 11500 miles on my veloster and I believe its everything as advertised. I get about 36 MPG 20% city 80% highway. The interior is cheesy, easy to scratch but what should you expect for the money. Bluetooth works well except when you have 2 phones stored it when you start off it looks for the last one that was stored, fails so you have to mannually connect it. When the moon roof is open it is very loud. The stereo system is good and the ride is smooth. The handling is as good as a mazda miata but the pickup from start is slow but to be expected from a 1.6L. Overall I am very pleased with the vehicle.

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  My very first Hyundai - 2013 Hyundai Veloster
  By sfcrod - September 25 - 8:57 pm

  I was looking for on a car: gas efficient (35mpg +), gasoline engine, no turbo, comfortable for 70 miles commute, daytime driving lights, auto on/off headlights, Bluetooth/music streaming with good sound, manual transmission, good warranty, affordable insurance, a different look and most important, a total package for the price. Tested several 2013 models in 4-door and 5-door configurations from all different auto companies; some great, and others not so. I wanted something different. Just when I was about to give up on my search, my wife suggested to test a Hyundai. I have several friends who own them, heard all the good and bad things about it, and yet never consider driving one myself.

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  Battery - 2012 Hyundai Veloster
  By pengwyn - September 2 - 3:33 pm

  I have had my car for one week!!! The battery died yesterday and the car was totally dead. I have only had the car for one week. When I called the dealership they said get the car jumped and bring it in. That would be fine but I live 1 1/2 hours from the dealership ro the closes one. I think a battery should be totally charged before you buy a car or least make sure it functions properly in a brand new car. I do love the looks of the car and the power is something else. I find it odd that a car drags when you turn the corner and dont try to turn in front of somebody cause they will be unhappy with you cause it takes a few minutes to get anywhere.

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  Good little hatch with surprising room - 2012 Hyundai Veloster
  By bretpk - July 21 - 8:39 pm

  I bought the 12 Veloster in NYC and drove it cross-country to LA on my move, packed with two dogs, a girlfriend and more bags than I ever thought it could handle. I stopped mid-way on the trip at my parents place and as I was unloading, my mother commented that it was like a clown car with the amount of luggage coming out of there. If you pack right, its truly remarkable what you can fit. From a looks perspective, the Veloster was a little ahead of its time. People thought it was fantastic or ugly as sin. Now 3 years later I see a ton of them on the road in LA. Clearly, its catching on.

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  First Hyundai,and my last Hyundai - 2012 Hyundai Veloster
  By gls1 - April 22 - 9:46 am

  The good is the styling,both interior and exterior. The bad is its woefully underpowered. The good is the radio is really good. The bad is you get stuck with a Bluelink system that you cant turn off even if you decline authorization. (Commercials on screen for the life of the car because Hyundai says so) The good is the little 6 speed shifts great The bad is its still hooked to the underpowered engine. The good is you get roadside assistance. The bad is youll need it because theres no spare tire The good is this is a nice economy car. The bad is no matter how it looks, its still just an Accent that went to the beauty parlor

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  More than I expected - 2012 Hyundai Veloster
  By velosterraptor - April 1 - 11:01 pm

  I just bought my veloster 3 weeks ago. Unlike most people who have reviewed the car, I was looking for the baaase model. Which ended up being more difficult than expected. The reason for me wanting the base model was because of a tight budget, and knowing that the base model has more features than some mid level to higher end models of other "cheap" new vehicles. It drives great. It is sporty. Its not fast. But it also doesnt leave anything to be desired if youre commuting in it. It goes up hills and passes on the freeway just fine.

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  Get Compliments Every Time I Go Out in My Veloster - 2012 Hyundai Veloster
  By dutchgirl22 - November 12 - 10:08 am

  I bought my Veloster about a month ago. I traded in my 2003 Hyundai Tiburon which I LOVED for this car. I drive for a living so I put on about 25,000 miles a year and I need a small car for parking spaces with a large trunk for my medical devices, along w great gas mileage/good warranty/good price. I had a 4 cylinder Tiburon so I am used to the weaker power of the Veloster as well as feeling everything on the road (I feel less than w my Tiburon). My complaint is the MPG whether highway/city is NOT correct. I seem to have to get gas as much now as I did w my Tiburon that allegedly has 10-15 mpg less than the Veloster. I get compliments all the time and I do love the look.

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  Almost a 10 - 2012 Hyundai Veloster
  By j_denny - June 30 - 3:44 am

  I bought the Turbo, it is quick, handles well, has all the features I was looking for and is fun to drive. The seats are comfortable, even after driving for hours. I tend to drive fast and this car still gives me good gas mileage even when exceeding the speed limit for long stretches. Ive had it to 120 a couple of times, still plenty of throttle to go. Ive had it for a few months now and have put 6,000 miles on it, The car is cold natured - it doesnt perform well until the motor is warm. And getting it into 1st gear sometimes is a battle. Shifting up or down is easy - except for 1st gear.

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  The sporty looking car - 2013 Hyundai Veloster
  By Eric Stitt - April 27 - 8:04 am

  This car can catch the eye of young drivers. Looks like a small sports cars and drives well when hugging the turns. Not great in accelerating but this was expected. Great on Gas!!!!! A big plus and travels well on the highway. A good vehicle if you are concerned about your budget.

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  My first Hyundai - 2013 Hyundai Veloster
  By penguin103 - April 14 - 3:32 am

  This is my first Hyundai and so far, its a mixed bag. I am in my late 30s and I wouldnt consider myself the intended demographic for a Veloster. Pros - The car is fun to drive, handles great, gets about 32 mpg average. Plus, the base model includes bluetooth, A/C, cruise control, XM and keyless entry. Just what I needed and nothing I didnt- well done Hyundai. Cons - There is a constant loud rattle/creaking in the dash/glove box area that is driving me absolutely nuts. I hate for this to be a reason I dont like driving it, but its getting to that point. Im going to see if the dealership can do something at my first oil change.