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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  Veloster speed - 2012 Hyundai Veloster
  By bkj50 - March 4 - 9:38 am

  I bougth this car to save gas(mainly) ... however, id like to address the issue of acceleration. This vehicle is not the fastest out of the blocks but not a creeper when driven correctly. Its pretty fast once that second gear is achieved. When driving the autoshift its even faster, dont be afraid to step on the gas while going up hill in auto transmission but one should downshift a bit when attempting to gain more power when using the very smooth auto shift clutch. I luv this car, it a lot if fun to drive. This is a fun and semi powerful car for its class when driven correctly.

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  Great value, but lackluster preformance - 2013 Hyundai Veloster
  By bjperez007 - October 29 - 3:37 pm

  Ive had this vehicle almost 2 years and have found it satisfactory. Cost less than comparable models and yet comes with all the the amenities that one could need: moon roof, bluetooth, Steering wheel controls, usb port, auxiliary port, and Faux leather w/ mesh seats. Sporty styling, but the third door makes it more convenient than your conventional 2 door coup/hatchback. At only 168 inches long it makes finding parking a breeze (Important in Brooklyn these days). Despite its small size, it has ample cargo room when you fold the seats down. However, the ride is VERY stiff and you cant open the windows in the rain due to leakage directly on to speakers (design flaw). Good value overall.

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  Great, fun car, for a low price - 2016 Hyundai Veloster
  By CJ - September 22 - 2:35 am

  One of the more fun vehicles that I have driven, but not the best. However, you do get the bang for your buck! The options you get for $20K are phenomenal and you will not find that with any other vehicle in this class. The best part about this car? Modifications, this car adjusts to mods very well; I have about $2K in aftermarket parts on this car and have had ZERO issues. The one complaint I would have regarding performance is the DCT transmission, it is not the best but, I have heard that it is an issue with other Hyundai models. The interior and exterior are very nice, minus the cheap plastic that Hyundai is known for, I have yet to have any issues after 6 months of owning the vehicle. I get a lot of compliments on both the exterior and interior. The basic tech package is really good too, its something that you would have to pay extra when purchasing other vehicles. I did forget one thing, the tires that come on this vehicle from the dealer SUCK! I am not a fan of the Kuhmo tires at all, they are absolutely terrible in rain and other road conditions. If you have the extra money, buy new tires before you hydroplane.

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  You will like this car, but might not love it - 2013 Hyundai Veloster
  By paul_c1 - November 22 - 5:08 am

  The Veloster is one of those cars that will turn heads like the Mini Cooper did when it is re-released in the early 2000s. Stylish and different with a next generation interior, this car is fun to own. You will like it, but will probably not love it. Compared to the Mini Cooper, its performance and handling is terrible. Even with the manual transmission, it is impossible to get enough torque out of the engine to make it fun. That being said, the panoramic sun roof, comfortable seats and great sound system help make this car enjoyable. An improvement in performance and handling is certainly doable. If Hyundai makes this happen, watch out.

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  Buyer Beware - 2013 Hyundai Veloster
  By wearl - August 30 - 6:28 am

  Bought a 2013 Veloster in December 2012. Never owned a Hyundai anything but was struck with the MPGs, and the tech and sport package as well as the cars design. Then...problems and more problems. The car would stall and cut off on me constantly. Took it to the dealer they "couldnt duplicate the customers concern" 6 times taken to the dealer! The car would cut off on me on the freeway, surface streets, gas stations you name it it stalled and cut off. I didnt realize that Hyundai was selling prototypes? I needed a reliable car...and this aint it! Buyback here I come. Oh, btw beware of the Arbitration clause that you must do if you dont "opt-out" with 90 days of purchase.

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  Loved at first - 2012 Hyundai Veloster
  By ecube - August 18 - 8:25 am

  We loved our Veloster at first and driving it was a blast it handles well.Bumps are another thing you feel all of them,, The interior is well designed ,but wish it had a handle above the passenger door, but the back is way to cramped.. Even my golden retriever dosnt like the head space and he wants to go everywhere. The 18 inch wheels look cool but i think the normal size would give a better ride ,that our biggest complaint the second is the engine ,it has no power ,Everytime we go up our drive which is very steep the engine has started to moan ,This is what scares us the most..

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  A keeper - 2013 Hyundai Veloster
  By Lisa Baillargeon - September 23 - 12:37 am

  We bought our Veloster in protest against the high cost of fuel. This little gem can go more than twice as far as our previous car on a smaller tank at 3 hours a day in both bumper to bumper and open road traffic. Love the design and low rider feel of the car as a driver especially, but our 2 preteen kids complain about the back seat being cramped and boring, and lack of plugins and lighting for their various electronics. A bit slow on the take off, and a bit of a sticky 1st gear that needs extra push on the clutch, but each car has their own personality. Could use a device holder and an under seat storage compartment in the front. Love the sporty look and feel without the high cost.