2012 Hyundai Veloster First Impressions

[veloster]

from auto 123 is this "first impressions" review along with details about the veloster. probably nothing new for most of you but for the newbs, this is one of many Veloster reveiws/articles that will get you up to speed.

I hope this helps!




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I must confess that I was very excited at the prospect of test driving this car. From the very moment I laid eyes on it in Detroit last January, I've been intrigued and fascinated by the car's concept (first introduced at the 2007 Seoul Auto show) and its name.

Veloster. The name conjures up two things in my mind when I read it out: Velo, which is French for bicycle and speedster, which relates to (in my mind, and in this application) fun, pleasure and perhaps even satisfaction. Then, there's the velociraptor – but I'll save that analogy for the turbocharged version expected in the near future. Hyundai peeps won't say if or when, but we know better...



Of the off-the-wall or unique cars available (Nissan Juke, VW Beetle, MINI Cooper, Fiat 500, Scion tC, etc.), I like the Juke for its optional AWD and impressive turbocharged engine; and the Veloster I like for its useable rear bench and affordability. From the list, these two are best suited for real life.

I'm sorry, I can't get over the Veloster. It's as though Hyundai has taken its “fluidic sculpture design” philosophy and put it in a package that is at once retro, modern and youthful. It's brilliant! The lines between each of these aspects are so fine that it takes real genius to pull this off – and Hyundai has.

I see some Volvo P1800, Volkswagen Golf and even dabs of Audi S5 in there. And it's all been mixed together with a Korean version of the KitchenAid blender. There is so much to say about the Veloster shape, but you need not read it here; flip through the gallery and look at the taillights, the wheel arches, the headlights, and the cool wheels.

There is no bad angle to this car. Truth be told, there are so many design elements to this car's shell that the eye has no time to get bored. As this car is squarely aimed at Gen Y-ers, it's a good thing! These kids have the attention span of a gnat, so this car's styling will suit them just fine. What these 12-to-29-year-olds want is technology, and they get loads of it in the Veloster.

The compact Hyundai's got so much kit and caboodle that the standard feature list looks as though it's a joke. Seriously, for $18,999, your grubby, misshapen PS3 fingers will meander across the cabin and come in contact with a 7” high-res LCD touchscreen, an AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 6-speaker stereo with iPod/AUX/USB inputs and Gracenote (iPod album cover art and advanced voice recognition), Bluetooth (very easy connection), push-button start and rear-view camera.

For an extra $3,500, you'll add to that list a navigation system, bigger wheels, a panoramic sunroof, a Dimension 8-speaker premium audio system and other niceties. I'm out of breath... But wait, there's more.

[imghttp://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/135578/Hyundai-Veloster-2012_i3.jpg[/img]

Hyundai wants you to want this car, and they've got even more techie features they want to throw at you. For the first time ever, Hyundai will be offering an automated dual-clutch transmission known as EcoShift DCT. This 6-speed 'box is no different in the way it functions from Ford's Powershift or Volkswagen's DSG. The shifter can be left in “D” and the car will behave like a regular automatic thanks to a hill-hold feature.



You can move the lever to the right and continuously use the steering-wheel-mounted paddles for cog swapping. The main difference with the DSG is that the DCT is far slower to react and change gears. I suspect, much like with Ford, that the transmission is programmed principally for fuel economy and in good part, self-preservation.

Still on the subject of technology, Hyundai's little 1.6L mill is chock-full of wizardry to make it more efficient and powerful, which includes direct injection. At 138 hp, this engine has one of the higher outputs-per-cylinder, which tells you that Hyundai has done its homework.

Whether mated to the DCT or the basic 6-speed manual tranny, the Veloster will not reach high velocities in record time. What it will do is consume as little as 4.9L of fuel per 100 km on the highway. In the real world, expect averages to hover in the 6.5 to 7.5L range. It must be said that the 6M allows for more command over the car than the DCT which, as mentioned, is somewhat slow on the uptake even in full manual mode.

Don't be fooled by the car's cutesie demeanour. The Veloster is far more car than meets the eye. Built like a tank and very rigid thanks, in part, to the trick 3+1 door configuration (1 door on driver's side, two on the passenger's side, with dual-centre roof rails as opposed to one) with offset B-pillars, the Veloster has that all-important safe and solid feel. Some of this build quality was to translate into a quieter ride, however, I found the car to be noisy, or noisier, than other recent compact cars. You can't score in every period, right?

What the stiff shell does allow for is a taut and sporty suspension – and that it is. On the numerous switchback-laden mountainous roads we travelled, the Veloster was stable, firmly adhering to the pavement and very likely able to carry even more speed through the corners had I wanted it to. My concern lies with rough roads which are common-place in big cities – the Veloster may not feel as at home there



Steering, provided by Hyundai's Motor Driven Power Steering (MPDS) is surprisingly precise with good feel and feedback. Putting a stop to all the fun are 4-wheel disc brakes that are easy to modulate, but suffered slightly from grabby-ness in the top end of pedal travel in one particular car.

There are so many things to share about this car – really. When was the last time that a $19,000 car got an auto critic so excited? OK, it doesn't take much for me to blow my top, but details like Audi R8-inspired interior door handles and a padded, lower centre console for the driver's knee are little things that make me go coo-coo for Coco Puffs. To boot, the front seats are comfy and plenty supportive.

I like this car. I really, really like this car.




I've said in the past that some ideas are so grand that other manufacturers are sure to follow. I've been only occasionally right. In this instance, although the Veloster could be said to be inspired by the Saturn ION Quad Coupe, no other manufacturer will emulate this 3+1 hatchback idea, however splendid, as it would be far too obvious that it was copied from the Koreans. Regardless, this lilliputian showpiece is sure to attract lots of attention.

From the manufacturer that won't sit still comes another product that will steer more consumers away from the ex-usual suspects such as Toyota, Honda and GM. In fact, Hyundai is doing so well that it's logged a 32nd consecutive month of sales growth, and they're tied in 1st position in Canada for brand loyalty with Ford.

The Veloster will be hitting showroom floors in the next few weeks. You'll want to keep your eye out for it, trust me.

[Newbie]

Thanks for sharing. Nice to see my reviews coming out

[smallfun]

Glowing reviews like this make waiting that much harder!

[NotTheGeeks]

Nice review. What press embargo?

[coriolis]

Note this is a Canadian review, so the prices and car specification will be different from the American model.

[only1db]

its not supposed to be a FULL press, but driving inmpressions were supposed to be held back till the 12:01 on the 19th.

i will have mine up sometime today...I do have to go through hyundai and clear my review for release.

[Newbie]

WHAT?! so they wont like it if you give an honest review? :P

[Velosterity]

When I test drove a red M/T Veloster w/ style & tech package in city and highway driving, one of the very first 'impression' I felt was the sluggish take-off from a standstill... I wished it had a bit more ooomph, err low-end torque. It's certainly not a fast car however it will feel lively enough IF you really work through its sweet spot (aka higher rpm's) which is what I did to consistently feel its spriteliness (at the expense of decreased mpg). It'll certainly come alive or much more spirited once the turbo model arrives. BUT I really like the exterior styling, sporty demeanor, aggresive stance and all the interior amenities/comforts so that's a nice trade-off IMO. A few things holding me back are generous dealer discounts off the MSRP since it's still very new and color choices (I like black or the dark gray). If you can get generous MSRP discounts (at least > 1K) and get low rates then it's surely fair enough.

As for the drive, I liked its sporty handling and steering and I also liked the feel of the shifter through the gears. Like I said the interior features and packages are very nice to have in such a compact car. It felt average on city streets and livelier on the highway when rpm's and speed builds up... kinda reminded me of my ex-Protege5, and that's a good thing. The seats were comfortable and the driving view is also commendable (I'm 5'10"). The fit and feel of the interior is very appealing and good quality. Hyundai made a bold move with this one and I like their approach. There's absolutely nothing wrong with buying a sporty compact car that doesn't look like 99% of the other econo or compact cars out there.