Introduction

The Hyundai Veloster, redesigned in 2019, is a can-be pocket rocket that dares to be different with hatchback styling that's both swoopy and angular. With an overall length of 167 inches, it's one of the smallest (and lowest) cars on the market. It features two doors on the right side and only one on the left, a long door for the driver. So all passengers climb in from the sidewalk side. But since the rear seat is slim, what that third entry door mostly does is make it easy to place groceries or pitch packages into the back seat. There's also the hatch that accesses the cargo space in back. 

The base engine is a mild 2.0-liter inline-4 paired with either 6-speed manual gearbox or 6-speed automatic transmission. The next engine is a 1.6-liter turbo-4 that makes 201 horsepower, sent to the front wheels through either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. 

Finally there is the Veloster N, with its 2.0-liter turbo-4 making 250 horsepower or 275 hp with the optional Performance package. It comes only with the manual gearbox. 

The standard Veloster Turbo provides good acceleration and confident handling. All Velosters have a firm ride and are reasonably quiet in the cabin. Interior space is good for such a small car, with enough room for shorter adults in the rear seat. Its 45 cubic feet of cargo space is impressive, and makes the Veloster quite versatile. 

The Veloster Turbo doesn't pay a penalty in gas mileage for its horsepower. With the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, it's rated by the EPA at 28 mpg city, 34 highway, 30 combined. That mileage drops by 1 mpg with the 6-speed manual. 

The base 2.0-liter engine is rated at 27/34/30 mpg with the automatic and 25/33/28 mpg with the manual. 

With the Veloster N's more powerful engine and different gearing, the mileage drops to 22/29/25 mpg. 

Safety-wise, the IIHS makes the 2020 Veloster and a Top Safety Pick, with its top 'Good'? ratings in every crash test. However the base model's headlights were rated 'Poor,'? while the rest were 'Acceptable.'?

Every Veloster comes standard with automatic emergency braking, while active lane control, blind-spot monitors, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control are available on higher trim levels. 

Lineup

The Veloster comes as Base, Turbo, and N. 

The Base Veloster costs just under $20,000 with the manual transmission, and $1,000 more with the automatic. Standard equipment includes the active safety equipment, alloy wheels, power features, a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and one USB port. 

The $26,500 Veloster Turbo adds the turbocharged engine with more power, as well as heated seats, a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen, sunroof, and wireless smartphone charging.
The $28,500 Veloster N looks like a bargain with its 250-horsepower engine, along with Infinity speakers, adaptive cruise control, and more. For the track, $2,000 brings the Performance package, with 25 more horsepower, 19-inch wheels with grippier tires, and bigger brakes. 

Walkaround

The 2020 Veloster is cleaner and more harmonious than it used to be. It pulls off its styling quirks, straddling the line between spirited and polarizing. Even the Base looks upmarket. 

The Veloster has a broad front end with an upright mesh-like grille separated from the swept-back headlights by a fair amount of plastic that looks like metal. From the side, it looks more like a two-door wagon. From the rear, the high-mounted taillights dive into the relatively small hatchback opening. 

The different models have different wheels, differently painted roofs and pillars, and trim (glossy black or red). Turbos have a tailpipe pair sticking out from the rear diffuser. Veloster Ns have an aggressive body kit. The available contrasting black roof works well. 

Interior

There is a lot of hard plastic and shiny piano black trim on the Base, but the Turbo and N have enough brightwork, graining, and variation in upholstery to keep from looking as downscale.
A 7.0-inch touchscreen comes on the Base, while a bright 8.0-incher is optional and comes on the Turbo and N. Both screens operate quickly and have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. 

The front seats are comfortable and offer a good range of adjustment. Cloth comes on the Base, with a cloth and leather combination that dresses up most Turbos. Range-toppers use full leather. 

The cabin is narrow, so it's not spacious. But even with the low roof, and even with a sunroof, there's decent head room. 

There is nearly 20 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, and with the seat folded that nearly doubles. 

The cabin is fairly quiet, thanks to ample sound deadening material. And the Turbo has active noise control to dim the volume of its more aggressive engine. 

Driving Impression

The 2.0-liter inline-4 in the front-wheel-drive Base makes 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, and it's mated to either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. We haven't driven a Base, but we have enough seat time in other Hyundais with this powertrain to know that acceleration will be fine, but not thrilling. 

The Turbo uses a 1.6-liter turbo-4 that brings the power way up to 201 hp and 195 lb-ft, mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, and the R-Spec package can add a B&M Racing short-throw manual gearbox. 

The turbo's torque peaks at a fabulously low 1,500 rpm, which helps it sprint to 60 mph in about six seconds, while providing ample power for high-speed passing. Acceleration is accompanied by synthetic sound piped into the cabin, which can be turned off. 

There are drive modes that change the automatic transmission shift points and steering resistance. 

The Veloster handles with confidence and delivers a quality ride thanks to a multi-link rear suspension that came with last year's redesign. The ride is firm, but not uncomfortably so, at least not on the smooth Texas roads where we drove it. Grip is terrific with the optional summer tires, but you don't want to use them when the weather turns slippery. 

The Veloster N moves into Volkswagen GTI territory. It's powered by a high-output turbo-4, and has a stiffer suspension, bigger brakes and grippy tires-standard Michelin Pilot SuperSports or optional Pirelli P Zero rubber. It shows its BMW-influenced development. It likes to turn corners rather than understeer through them. 

The 250-hp 2.0-liter turbo-4 is boosted to a healthy 275 hp with the optional Performance package, which seems like two grand well spent (although you'll spend still more on tires on brake pads). The 6-speed manual gearbox delivers short, positive shifts, and the standard rev-matching prevents upsetting the car's weight balance with your own imperfect downshifting. 

With the sticky tires, responsive steering, and electronic limited-slip differential on the front axle, the Veloster N corners and grips like no Hyundai you've ever driven. It will be a blast on track days. 

Summary

The 2020 Hyundai Veloster comes in three forms, with three characters, and three missions. All three are winners: It can be either a cool commuter, a sporty hatchback, or a track-ready pocket rocket. 

 

-by Sam Moses with driving impressions by The Car Connection.