Hyundai Veloster Turbo Review: One Car, Two Sides
Pros
Cons
Is it fast?
"Fast is a point of view", said no famous philosopher ever. I hate to sit on the fence, but the Veloster Turbo's pace can only be judged if you compare it to your previous set of wheels. Are you upgrading from a 1.2-litre hatchback? Then Hyundai's T-GDi, twin-scrolled turbo, 1.6-litre, 184 horsepower unit will feel fast. Are you jumping across from your previous Japanese, tuned, sporty coupe? Then you'll realise that 8.4 seconds to 62mph is, like the original Veloster, far from beefy performance.
Is it sexy?
Like a fashionable Nike trainer, the answer is a resounding yes. The Veloster Turbo sits low to the ground on 18" alloy wheels and has more lines than a Lindsay Lohan supper. The bodykit is rowdy and features twin chrome exhausts, flared wheelarches and oversize fog lamps. And then there's the hotly debated door layout; two doors kerb side, one door driver side. It might be perfect for the school run, but the Turbo will also make you feel young again without having to splurge on 'Crème de la Mer'.
What’s it like to drive?
Hyundai have stiffened up the suspension on the Veloster Turbo and the result is a car that feels tighter and more responsive. The steering's nice and light when manoeuvring around your local Waitrose car park, but fails to provide much feedback when you give the Turbo a bootful.
While us Brits get 184bhp, our American distant cousins get a touch over 200hp, but less torque. And for that, I'm rather thankful; the mid-range boost will help any overtaking procedure and you get a tame but satisfying noise from the exhausts too.
Like any hot hatch with decent levels of power and front-wheel-drive, there's the potential to see understeer. While the Veloster Turbo's understeer is anything but chronic, its presence means you can't power through corners like a youth-addled Ken Block.
How about the inside?
For the money, Hyundai actually offer you a decent amount of kit. Check 'em off: alloy pedals, chrome interior door handles, Turbo leather seats, parking sensors with rear reverse camera and an easy-to-use 7" touchscreen media centre. Five years ago you would've fearfully run past your Hyundai dealership, but today, their build quality is on par with the Japanese royalty.
Will my mates rate it?
If you're the type of guy who wears coloured chinos, thick-rimmed glasses and spends their Saturdays evenings in Shoreditch, then you're probably part of the alternative crowd. And your mates will for sure respect your alternative taste in hot hatch. But the sheer impracticality of those doors (cue constant attempts at opening the wrong rear wing) means your days as designated driver are limited.
Can I afford it?
Good news first: Hyundai have priced the Veloster Turbo at £21,995 which means you get a decent amount of car and kit for your money. The bad news? £21,995 lands this vehicle squarely in Ford Focus ST territory. Which has five doors. Not three and a half.
Show me three used alternatives
No, I haven't been sipping on Ollie Kew's Kool-Aid. Yes, he's going to love me for saying this. But for a used car that can catapult you to 60mph in 8.6 seconds, the Ford Puma is somewhat of a bargain and depending on how old you want to go, can be picked up for a meagre £500.
If keeping it European is more your thing, then you could spend just over two grand on a Megane 225. Powered by a four-cylinder, 2-litre unit, this hot hatch has gas and a sporty interior to impress your bessies.
There aren't many in great condition, but £5k bags you an EP3 Civic Type R, widely considered to have one of the best hot-hatch powertrains ever. Not only will you be able to say "VTEC kicked in, yo!" without looking like a douche (well you still might) but you'll be cruising around in a best-seller.
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