Veloster’s strong value is now better; sharper on-road; ‘Blue Sprinter’ matt-blue paint is a ripper
7-speed DCT and better dynamics still won’t win-over ‘hardcore’ sports enthusiasts
Call it a sporty coupe, call it a three-door, and call it a hot-hatch – regardless of the nomenclature, Hyundai’s nifty Veloster has been a hot-seller. Now the mid-life update has arrived and the refreshed Hyundai Veloster delivers better specifications, better driving dynamics and better value – headlined by a sub-$30,000 entry-level SR turbo variant.
With sales of 3,405 vehicles last year, the Hyundai Veloster joined the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ in reinvigorating the ‘affordable’ sports car market segment. In fact the Veloster racked-up 23 per-cent of the segment’s sales and the trio combined accounted for 59.2 per-cent.
We’d call that a dominant performance. And we’d call it smart product planning from all three companies – with new car affordability better than ever before in Australia it’s only natural that the thoughts of many young professionals would turn to sports cars within their price bracket.
Hyundai Veloster Overview
The updated Hyundai Veloster ushers-in a revised model lineup. The naturally-aspirated version is again available in both standard Veloster and higher-specification Veloster+ and with a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed DCT transmission.
This time around the turbocharged model is available in both regular and ‘+’ variants with either six-speed manual or the seven-speed DCT automatic transmission. And there’s the value with the entry-level turbocharged model now stickered at $29,990 (previously $32,990).
Over the standard Hyundai Veloster, ‘+’ models add extras such as a leather-trimmed interior, seven-inch LCD touchscreen with satellite navigation, electronic adjustment for the driver’s seat, climate-control air-conditioning and a glass sunroof.
It’s a similar story with the SR Turbo variants – the ‘+’ version gets all of the above plus heated/ventilated front seats and the driver-select three-mode flex steer system.
This is how the new lineup looks:
| Veloster 1.6GDi 6-speed manual | $24,490 |
| Veloster 1.6GDi six-speed DCT | $26,990 |
| Veloster+ 1.6GDi six-speed manual | $29,490 |
| Veloster+ 1.6GDi six-speed DCT | $31,990 |
| Veloster SR 1.6 Turbo GDi six-speed manual | $29,990 |
| Veloster SR 1.6 Turbo GDi seven-speed DCT | $32,490 |
| Veloster SR+ 1.6 Turbo GDi six-speed manual | $33,990 |
| Veloster SR+ 1.6 Turbo GDi seven-speed DCT | $36,490 |
Hyundai Veloster Engine
No changes in stats for Hyundai Veloster’s pair of 1.6-litre ‘Gamma’ engines. Of course the major news under the bonnet is the seven-speed DCT transmission – developed in-house by Hyundai in Korea – available for turbocharged versions.
So we have 103kW at 6300rpm and 167Nm at 4850rpm for the naturally-aspirated engine and 150kW at 6000rpm and 265Nm from1750-4500rpm for the turbocharged alternative. Looking at combined-cycle fuel consumption you can chalk-up 6.9l/100kms for the atmo and for the turbo 6.9l/100kms (six-speed manual) or 7.1l/100kms (seven-speed DCT).
Hyundai Veloster The Interior
The sporting touches inside the Hyundai Veloster – such as the centre console grab handles and padded knee-braces – have always scored well with us. Pleasingly interior changes in the update are only minor and focus on the turbocharged models.
For example there are new-design sports seats for Hyundai Velosters with the turbocharged powerplant and those with the ‘Blue Sprinter’ matte blue exterior paint score blue accents for the seats and trim highlights. Turbo+ models get heated and ventilated front seats.
As well, there’s a new electroluminescent instrument cluster and available coloured seatbelts and, on Turbo+ models, colour-stitched steering wheels with perforated leather grips.
Without fail it’s the Hyundai Veloster’s ‘party trick’ of the single rear door which turns heads. We’re sure the production engineers in Korea moan about the extra complexity this must introduce in the body shop and on the assembly line but it’s without doubt a practical inclusion…the best of coupe and hot hatch you might say.
Hyundai Veloster Exterior & Styling
It would have been a risky proposition to tamper too much with Veloster’s head-turning and unique three-door coupe looks. Hyundai’s stylists were way too smart for that.
What has changed is the front-end which scores a new bonnet. And to provide better differentiation turbocharged SR models score a grey grille surround.
There’s also two new designs for the 18-inch alloy wheels (non-turbocharged models get a two-tone look). And they’re wider, fitted with 225/40 R18 tyres.
Best of all, emerging from the paint shop is new ‘Blue Sprinter’ matte-blue hue which looks…well, tough. It’s awesome and nods to the current after-market trend of matte wraps.
According to Roman Naimey, Hyundai Australia’s product planning guru, the new ‘Blue Sprinter’ paint can be treated just like a normal paint in terms of washing. When it’s time for a polish we’d recommend consulting your Hyundai service team to determine the most suitable products.
Hyundai Veloster On the Road
As usual with Hyundai, lots of ‘seat-time’ for the Veloster media launch which included some on-road components and test track hot laps. For www.carshowroom.com.au that provided the opportunity to drive both naturally-aspirated and turbocharged models and both the six-speed manual and new seven-speed DCT.
Underneath, Hyundai’s local chassis experts have been busy adapting the updated Veloster to suit the wider 225/40 R18 rubber and also taking on-board feedback from current Veloster owners. In fact some 49 different suspension combinations were trialed and we see both atmo and turbocharged models adopting smaller front anti-roll bars (21mm and 22mm), softer front springs for the atmo and firmer ones for the turbo plus some damper tune…all intended to give a sharper turn-in, more mid-turn adjustability and better drive of corners.
Also included in the updated specifications, Veloster’s Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) switched to a 32-bit system and the turbocharged models scored Hyundai’s ‘Flex Steer’ system with three driver selectable modes. Switching to the MDPS’ ‘Sport’ mode in the twisty stuff and on the test track did pay dividends with a noticeably firmer feel.
Of course the other big news is Hyundai’s in-house seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. While on road and when reverse parking it is smoother than some rival twin-clutch transmissions, however shift times when hot-lapping the test track were a little slow – you needed to acclimatize to the shift pattern and use the steering wheel paddle shifters astutely to get the best results.
Pressing-on hard through the high-speed turns of the road loop and test track, the Hyundai Veloster blurs the boundaries between sporty coupe and hot hatch. Steering is undoubtedly sharper than previously but there is still more suspension compliance and body roll than say the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ…and for many buyers in this segment that is a good thing.
That said, around the test track the Hyundai Veloster was enormous fun with a high ranking on the ‘chuckability scale’ – mid-turn throttle adjustments delivering a nice response from the rear.
As for engine performance, it’s down to budgets and personal preferences. Call us ‘rev-heads’ but – especially on the test track – we still prefer the meatier response of the 150kW/265Nm turbocharged powerplant.
Hyundai Veloster Issues
Lapping the test track at speed highlighted some slow responses from the seven-speed DCT. And the 3-door set-up might put a few buyers off.
Hyundai Veloster Verdict
From day one we’ve enjoyed every drive in a Hyundai Veloster. In saying that, there’s no doubt the revisit of the local suspension tuning gurus for this mid-life update has pain benefits – the wider tyres and revised tune has delivered a gripper, sharper steering edge over the previous generation.
And subtle though they are, the changes to interior and exterior style are worthwhile.
We’d definitely find the extra coin to go for the turbocharged SR models – the additional 47kW/98Nm is not insignificant and will be appreciated by sporty drivers. However we have a couple of mates who bought the naturally aspirated model and they love them.
But there’s no getting around the value issue. Again Hyundai has delivered with the new turbocharged SR variant at $29,990/$32,490.
Go ahead and buy a Veloster and get set to notice people looking at you. Especially if you get one in the new ‘Blue Sprinter’ matte-blue paint.
Hyundai Veloster The Competition
For many the appeal of the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ twins centres on their excellent rear-drive chassis. Yep these things are enormous fun to drive and are handily priced from $29,990 (86) and $37,150 (BRZ) – but there’s no denying they lag behind the Veloster is the visual appeal department. And yes, the Veloster’s head-turning three-door configuration does bring an extra element of practicality over the coupe 86 and BRZ.
Kia’s British-sourced Pro-cee’d GT should be in the mix. It’s a three-door hot-hatch more than sporty coupe but priced from $29,990 certainly stacks-up well. Brilliant to drive and possessed with dynamic looks, the sporty Kia is unquestionably a Car Showroom Favourite.
