Three side doors add up to something new at Hyundai.
The all-new, 2012 subcompact Veloster began arriving to dealers in September of 2011. The smartly-styled hatchback offers three side doors (one on the driver's side, two on the passenger's) presenting a coupe-like exterior in a vehicle with four hinged openings counting the useful rear hatch. Veloster joins the Accent sedan as Hyundai's second entry into the suddenly burgeoning subcompact category.
The last compact/subcompact coupe Hyundai offered was the Tiburon, which took its final curtain call in the 2008 model year. Veloster casts a wider net than the low-slug Tiburon which attracted first-time buyers, but with a back seat difficult to reach and down right uncomfortable once scrunched inside. Veloster is more pragmatic, acting as a kinder, gentler entry into Hyundai-ville.
The front-wheel-drive Veloster joins Accent and the compact Elantra as 2012 Hyundai vehicles attaining 40 mpg highway. In fact, Hyundai has sold more 40 mpg vehicles so far in 2011 than any other manufacturer doing business in America. That includes gas-electric hybrid vehicles offered by Toyota, Ford and a growing number of rivals. The South Korean auto giant now owns a 5.7 percent market share in the United States and that number is posed to inch northward.
Hyundai Motors America has resisted going after the pickup truck segment and large sport utility audience, instead relying on volume-driven passenger vehicles like the Accent, Elantra and mid-sized Sonata. Even family-friendly minivans have been a tough go at Hyundai with the V-6 powered Entourage minivan lasting only one generation from 2007 to 2009.
Veloster's price range is a relatively narrow $17,300 to $22,550. It is one of the few subcompacts to offer an in-dash, optional touch screen navigation system. Models without one conveniently sport a seven-inch multimedia touch screen in its dashboard location.
According to Mike O'Brien, vice president of product and corporate planning, "Veloster is a gateway product for the next generation of Hyundai buyers." Key rivals include the Honda CR-Z and Scion tC. At 2,584 pounds, Veloster is 400 pounds lighter than tC.
Hyundai helps ease 'transaction bingo' at the dealership with Veloster's single base trim (offered with manual or automatic transmission) and two option packages. This simplicity keeps pricing down by limiting the number of build combinations and eliminating stripped down models with eye-popping pricing, but few actual takers.
The $17,300 Base includes a six-speed manual while $18,550 gets buyers into the six-speed automatic. Add $760 for destination. The two option packages include: 'Style' ($2,000) with sunroof, premium eight-speaker subwoofer sound system, leatherette seat bolsters, door inserts and 18-inch tires replacing 17 inch varieties; and 'Tech' ($2,000) with in-dash navigation/rear backup camera, electronic push-button start and backup warning system. The Tech package is only available when purchasing the $2,000 Style option. Keep in mind pricing includes Hyundai's 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, one of the industry's longest.
The sole engine, a 1.6-liter, 16-valve four cylinder with a high pressure, dual-injection gas system, pumps out 138 horses. The 138 number, decent for this subcompact class, provides more pop than the recently tested, 2012 Fiat 500 with 101 under-hood horses. It's adequate for a Generation Y audience tuned into fuel economy rather than break-neck speeds; just don't expect performance specs. Although on the highway with two robust riders, enough passing power was in reserve. The two transmissions include a six-speed manual and Hyundai's first ever Ecoshift, dual-clutch automatic six-speed transmission. This Hyundai-designed technology features a dry clutch system with less hydraulics (i.e. water weight and pumps) than a traditional wet clutch design.
Fuel economy with the six-speed manual checks in at 28 mpg city and 40 mpg highway. With the automatic, it's 29 mpg and 38 mpg respectively. Fuel mileage gets a boost from Veloster's motor driven power steering. Hyundai estimates a whopping 30 percent of buyers will opt for the high-mileage manual transmission. The fuel tank holds 13.2 gallons of regular, unleaded petro. By contrast the 2012 Scion tC ($18,575 starting price) registers 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway with either transmission. Honda's CR-Z ($19,345 starting price) gets much closer with 35 mpg city and 39 mpg highway with manual transmission.
Veloster offers three interior color schemes. Cloth seating comes standard with leatherette side bolsters optional. Rear seatbacks fold with a 60/40 split. Neither of the two testers during a day-long test drive had temporary spare tires below the hatch floor; a developing trend as automakers shed any form of extra weight to optimize fuel numbers.
Cruise control and redundant audio buttons on the tilt-and-telescope three-spoke wheel come standard as does air conditioning and power windows/locks. The standard AM/FM/XM Satellite radio/compact disc player along with seven-inch multi-message screen (or navigation touch window) rest atop a V-shaped bushed aluminum center stack. Fan speed and temperature are controlled by a large, two-in-one center dial with fan direction push buttons inside the lower portion of the V pattern surrounding the dial. Models with electronic start place the push button at the bottom and outside the 'V' frame. The instrument cluster features dual, deep-set circular analog gauges with red, white and blue backlighting and a Y-shaped digital message window in between.
The small, rectangular USB port for iPod and MP3 devices gets flanked by two 12-volt outlets. Directly below is a rest area for electronic devices. Pandora internet radio is accessible through Apple iPhones when connected up to Veloster. Hyundai did an adequate job of designing an interior with style sans overtly bargain-basement hard plastics.
The passenger-side rear door creates easy ingress and egress into the subcompact's back row. Once inside, the sloping hood design creates head-banging experience for those taller than six feet. Still, it's more comfort and easier row-two entry than the foregone Tiburon and most two-door subcompact competitors, including the recently tested Fiat 500. In front, headroom is adequate.
The passenger-side, second-row door handle is smartly hidden in the arrowhead-shaped window frame for a clean, coupe-like flow that mirrors the driver' side. The hatch, with a U-shaped window, includes a small, round, happy-face-type latch unlocking and lifting the door. A rear wiper comes standard. Muscular wheel arches adorn all four wheels with door handles and side-view mirrors body colored. The driver's door is larger than the passenger-side front door since the third side door is found only on the right side. Both front and rear light housing wraps around to respective fenders. Personalized body graphics are available.
As with many recently introduced or redesigned compacts and subcompacts, a large number of standard safety nuances are now on board. Veloster includes: anti-lock brakes, traction control, dual front air bags, side-impact bags for front riders and side curtain air bags covering both rows. In addition, six-months of complimentary 'Blue Link' connectivity is included. Blue Link is embedded telematics (useable in all 50 states) not dissimilar to General Motor's OnStar service. It's available in three tiers: Assurance (a basic, six-month free package), Essentials and Guidance. After six months, Assurance is $79 per year when opting in. Assurance includes monthly vehicle reports, enhanced roadside assistance, automatic collision notification and assistance along with SOS emergency assistance. More nuances are available with Essentials and Guidance levels.
2012 Hyundai VelosterWheelbase: 104.3 inches
Overall length: 166.1 inches
Price as tested: $22,550
Engine: 1.6-liter four cylinder
Horsepower: 168
Powertrain warranty: 10 year/100,000 miles
Weight: 2,584 pounds
Assembly: Ulsan, South Korea