The hatchback class is long standing for those looking for an affordable, dependable vehicle. The brand new 2012 Hyundai Veloster fits that need perfectly. While it has a dramatic exterior body design, the inside of the hatchback is fully loaded with not only comfort features, but also plenty of useful technology designed to do everything from keeping teen drivers where they belong, to issuing accident notifications, to providing entertainment. To see the economy side of the Veloster, you have to look hard.
Under the hood, the fun keeps coming with a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine. There is no doubt there are faster cars on the road, even in this class, but it is still fun to drive and gets the job done relatively well with either top notch transmission choice. Overall, the Veloster is worth taking a look at if you are in the market for a dependable, attractive hatchback.
New For 2012
For the 2012 model year, the Hyundai Veloster is a new model. It is a four passenger, three-door hatchback available in one trim level.
Exterior
Introduced brand new for the 2012 model year, the Hyundai Veloster is offered in a single well appointed trim level. The three-door design with the hatchback is a unique body style for the car maker. This car is equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels. If the consumers choses the Veloster with the Style package, the wheel size is increased to 18 inches. For a hatchback, the Veloster is an extremely stylish car. It features a truly distinctive front end and grille. The grille is uniquely shaped with lots of metal accents. The Hyundai emblem is placed in the center of the grille towards the top. The headlights are placed to slant back towards the front fenders and hood of the model. Attractive modern lines accent the sides and doors of the car, as well as the rear fenders. The roof is tall and slopes dramatically back to the rear window and classic hatchback design. Hyundai managed to create a rather sports car looking vehicle unique to its class in design.
Interior & Cargo
As attractive as the 2012 Hyundai Veloster is from the outside, there is plenty to look forward to on the inside. This car is equipped with supportive, comfortable seats in the front and rear of the cabin. For the most part passengers of any size should be able to get comfortable for short trips or the long haul. On the other hand, while there is no shortage of leg room in the back seat, head room is at a premium due to the hatchback’s sloping roof. In terms of space, the available cargo area is rather impressive for a car of this size. With the rear seats in their upright position, the Veloster offers 15.5 cubic feet of space. With the seats folded, naturally that number increases.
The overall design for the cabin of the Veloster is fresh and modern without looking contrived. There is a great deal of hard plastic, but it is textured to help take the hard edge off somewhat. Adding to the modern appeal is the huge number of techno gadgets in the cabin. The Veloster is equipped with a seven inch touchscreen complete with the BlueLink system, outbound text messaging, and the navigation system. This car also features a geo fence system which can be used to keep teen drivers within certain perimeters if necessary.
Safety
The 2012 Hyundai Veloster is equipped with plenty of standard safety features to meet requirements and provide plenty of peace of mind. This model is equipped with anti-lock brakes as well as stability and traction control. It also has the BlueLink system similar to OnStar in function. Additionally, the Veloster is also equipped with front seat side airbags and full length side curtain airbags as well.
Driving Experience
While the Hyundai Veloster isn’t a large car, it does have a worthwhile powertrain. This car comes with a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission. Interested buyers can also choose the automated dual clutch manual transmission or the DCT as its known. This powertrain produced 138 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque. The fuel economy for this model is estimated at 28/40 mpg city/highway with the standard manual transmission and 29/38 mpg city/highway with the DCT.
During test drives, the Veloster didn’t achieve the same rate of acceleration as some of its hatchback competitors. This is unusual for such a sporty car. However, the Veloster does have its strong points. This model is fun to drive with solid, predictable handling and is relatively quiet from engine and outside noise. It does allow a surprising amount of sound from the road into the cabin though. The ride quality is firm and large bumps in the road are felt clearly in the cabin.
Key Competitors For The 2012 Hyundai Veloster
- Volvo C30
- Mini Cooper
- Scion tC
- Honda CR-V