2020 Hyundai Veloster Review

　　

2020 Hyundai Veloster Review

byDan FrioReviews Editor

　　Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to zzdcar, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.

　　The 2020 Hyundai Veloster is an affordable fun car with unique style, performance and, relative to its size, a large and efficient interior. Fully redesigned last year and now in its second generation of production, the Veloster captures the spirit of fun, small and sporty compact cars and stands out with its signature three-door hatchback style. That extra passenger-side door is no gimmick either. It spares rear passengers the contortions often necessary to get in and out of a regular two-door sport coupe.

　　Neither of the Veloster's engines will win any horsepower awards, but the turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the Turbo series of models is plenty sporty for this lightweight car, and its available manual transmission and tight but compliant suspension make it a driver's delight. Those seeking a higher tier of performance can opt for the Veloster N, which offers racetrack durability in a car you drive every day.

　　The Veloster gets only a handful of changes for 2020, including wider availability of standard driver safety aids and wireless device charging. Notably, the manual transmission is dropped from the Turbo Ultimate trim level, but you can still get it with three other trims, including the base car. Hyundai has also said that there's a new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission for the Veloster N for buyers who don't want to row their own gears, but we don't expect it to be available until the 2021 model year.

　　Overall, the Veloster fills a unique niche as a sporty hatchback with good technology and utility. (For the car's size, the trunk is huge, for example.) Other compact hatchbacks such as the Honda Civic and the Mazda 3 provide more interior space and similarly lively performance, but nothing else on the road offers the Veloster's unique three-door style.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.3

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

9.0/10

　　How does the Veloster drive? With its predictable handling, precise steering and progressively firm braking, the Veloster — and specifically the R-Spec model — captures the spirit of sporty, lightweight compact cars. Power from the R-Spec's four-cylinder turbo engine comes on quick with no lag. And there's plenty of reassuring low-end power for low-speed city driving.

　　In turns and corners, there's only a hint of body roll, and the R-Spec's high-performance tires help it instantly change directions. The R-Spec comes only with a manual transmission, but the dual-clutch automatic in other turbocharged Velosters responds quickly to paddle-shifted gear changes.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Veloster? The Veloster is sportier than most compact cars, and that means a fundamentally stiff suspension. Even so, the Veloster remains comfortable for driving around town or highway cruising. The ride is composed and stable, and the suspension takes the edge off larger bumps, but the car's short wheelbase makes it more sensitive to choppy roads.

　　The R-Spec's seats are nicely shaped, offering ample support and side bolstering and plenty of adjustability. Some drivers will lament that the seats lack adjustable lumbar, but you can get this feature in Turbo and Turbo Ultimate models. The cabin can get noisy at highway speeds, especially when the car is equipped with high-performance tires.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The Veloster's interior is intelligently designed and packaged. It makes good use of available space afforded by the car's funky, asymmetrical styling. The long driver's door makes it tricky to get in or out in tight spaces, but shorter doors make it easier on the passenger side. There's surprisingly ample front and rear space inside the car, and most adults can sit in the rear seat without complaint, but limited headroom might annoy taller riders.

　　Fundamentally, the Veloster is a driver's car, and the driving position is appropriately low and sporty. The controls are logically grouped and placed close at hand. And overall visibility is good, but the massive rear pillars translate to large blind spots.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? Our R-Spec test car came pretty bare-bones in terms of features, but it included Hyundai's very functional infotainment system, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Blue Link connected services, and a high-quality Infinity stereo system. Navigation is available with the Turbo Ultimate trim. It's a basic system but it's clear and easy to use.

　　The Veloster comes with an array of USB and 12-volt charging and data connections, and some trims offer a wireless charging pad. Voice commands are limited to a handful of functions, but the system responds well, even to some more natural phrases. Driver aids are sprinkled throughout the lineup, but we learned they don't always respond accurately after experiencing some false emergency-braking episodes.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The Veloster's trunk is surprisingly spacious at 19.9 cubic feet, although it relies on a low load floor to create much of that space. As a result, you'll have to lift items somewhat high to clear the trunk opening. The cabin offers plenty of spaces to store drink bottles and personal items, including wide door pockets and a large center console. Rear passengers need to make do with cupholders and a small tray.

　　The car seat anchors near the surface of the seats are clearly marked, but they're tucked between the cushions and offer no special access. The top tethers are inconveniently located on the trunk floor. This car is not the best one to choose if you're frequently installing and removing a car seat.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The manual-equipped Turbo's estimated 29 mpg combined (26 city/33 highway) falls short of the Civic Si's ratings, but it's not bad for how sporty the car is. On our test loop, we averaged 32.3 mpg — a great result. Driving style will have a massive impact on your mileage. Driving hard, we saw returns well under the city estimate.

　　

Value

8.5/10

　　Is the Veloster a good value? Solid build quality, competitive price, and one of the best warranties in the business make the Veloster an unbeatable value proposition. Sure, there's a lot of hard plastic around the cabin, but most of the touch points use nicer materials, and there are a variety of colors and textures that liven up the cabin. The panels fit together tightly, and overall the Veloster feels solid and substantial.

　　You also get Hyundai's excellent 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and five-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance and three years/36,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance. No one does it better in the class.

　　

Wildcard

9.5/10

　　The Veloster's clutch restrictor is a notable sour spot in an otherwise standout car. We get that restrictors help with a manual transmission's long-term durability, but we'd still prefer direct control over our gear changes. Beyond that significant complaint, the Veloster is small and light and a genuine pleasure to drive. It's quirky, different and comfortable, and it has all you need for wringing out performance or simply driving at a relaxed pace to your destination.

　　

Which Veloster does zzdcar recommend?

Unless you need to keep your budget to around $20,000, there's no reason not to start with the Veloster Turbo R-Spec. It's not much more expensive than the 2.0 Premium trim before it, but offers higher performance with its turbocharged engine, manual transmission and grippy performance tires. All are standout features in the class.

　　

2020 Hyundai Veloster models

The 2020 Hyundai Veloster is a three-door hatchback that seats four people. It's available in six trims: base 2.0, 2.0 Premium, Turbo R-Spec, Turbo, Turbo Ultimate and Veloster N.

　　The base 2.0 embodies Hyundai's bang-for-your-buck philosophy, offering loads of standard tech and safety features that include adjustable driving modes, a 7-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist and a rearview camera.

　　The next-up 2.0 Premium adds some nicer features, such as a sunroof, proximity keyless entry, wireless device charging pad, an 8-inch touchscreen display, an upgraded audio system and blind-spot monitoring.

　　Both trims are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (147 horsepower, 132 lb-ft of torque), but only the base trim offers a choice of a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. The Premium trim comes only with the automatic. The next three trims, all part of the Turbo series, are powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine (201 hp, 195 lb-ft).

　　The Turbo R-Spec adds performance features to base 2.0 specification, such as sport-tuned steering and suspension and 18-inch aluminum wheels with high-performance tires. A six-speed manual transmission is also standard. (The automatic isn't offered here.) Upgrade to the Turbo, and it emulates the Premium trim and mixes in a standard seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and unique interior details.

　　The Turbo Ultimate combines the best from both and adds even more luxury amenities, such as leather upholstery, a navigation system, a head-up display and adaptive cruise control. But for 2020, you can't get a manual transmission with this trim.

　　The Veloster N tops the lineup with an upgraded turbocharged 2.0-liter engine (250 hp, 260 lb-ft),, N-specific suspension tuning with adaptive dampers, performance brakes and front sport seats. A six-speed manual transmission is standard. An optional package adds a limited-slip front differential, 19-inch alloy wheels, even bigger brakes, and an extra 25 hp.

　　

2020 Veloster Highlights

Type: NHatchbackHatchback

　　Trim: 2.02.0 PremiumTurbo R-SpecTurboNTurbo Ultimate2.0

　　

Base MSRP	$18,800
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	28 MPG
Cost to Drive	$133/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	19.9 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles