I always preach that having no expectations leaves little room for disappointment. Clearly, I should listen to myself more often.
I had high expectations for the nifty-looking 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo, and those expectations rose even higher when I saw the test vehicle role up in uber-hot, super-relevant matte grey wrapping with a bright red "turbo" badge on the back. How could I not enjoy my week behind the wheel?
I just wasn't as impressed as I'd wanted to be. I wanted to like this car so much... and I just didn't. Before you think it was all bad, read on.
A break from the usual
More than anything else, the Veloster looks different. There are very few cars on the road today that can be compared to the Hyundai Veloster in the looks department. For some, this is a good thing. Others will think it's a bit too much. I, for one, commend Hyundai designers on the Veloster's funky, modern lines and cool facial expression.
Full of interesting lines, angles, and nooks and crannies, the 2013 Hyundai Veloster is not your average hatchback when it comes to exterior design. From the gaping front grille (thankfully not as insane-asylum as the Mazda3), to the eye-socket-like taillights and dual-mounted exhausted (hot, by the way), the Veloster is a looker.
Now, wrap those design elements in matte paint, and you've got a real stunner. If you've not heard about the matte-paint trend in the auto industry then shame on you (and you call yourself a car enthusiast?). From Plasti Dip to matte wraps, cars across the globe are going flat and it's just phenomenal.
My 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo's matte grey coat was factory installed (and cost $1,000) and came with a list of restrictions, limitations and care instructions. Long story short: It can only be washed with pure water, faery dust and unicorn hair. Anything else will ruin it. Just an FYI.
Thinking outside the box on the inside
When it comes to the interior of the 2013 Hyundai Veloster, I was quite pleased and surprised. This is, after all, an "economy" car despite the turbo badge. At just under $26k (without the matte paint job), this is a highly affordable ride for someone looking for a vehicle with attitude on the road and a bit of bite behind the wheel (more on that in a bit).
Inside, the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo sports faux-leather, blue-trimmed sports seats. Blue accents adorn the rest of the interior, most notably on the oversized, in-your-face door handles. I wasn't taken with this, and think the interior could have looked better had the blue been replaced with a carbon-fibre weave of sorts.
The middle console is fantastic. Everyone who sat in the car was duly impressed with the onboard entertainment system as well as the gauges and steering wheel. This is a properly equipped ride with all the gadgets and fixings, and the layout is extremely user-friendly. Storage in the front is ample, with plenty of space for coffee, iPhones, iPods and anything else you want within arm's reach.
I'm going to go all mummy on you for a moment (sorry): When it comes to the Veloster being a family car I, again, was hesitant. I know what it's like to have very little room in a car thanks to the WRX. So, when I decided to use the Hyundai to take my 8-month-old son (plus everything that comes with him) to my parent's house for the weekend, I had my doubts.
However, I was pleasantly surprised. From putting the baby seat in the back (piece of cake) to fitting the running stroller in the trunk plus four overflowing bags of food, diapers, toys, etc., the Hyundai Veloster swallowed it all up with ample room left over. And putting my son in his car seat was easy as well thanks to the nifty third door.
The only fault I can find with the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo (from a mother's point of view) is in the window configuration in the back seat. If you're a crazy protect-your-kid-from-the-sun-at-all-times kind of mum, you're going to have a hard time finding sun visors that fit in the rear windows of the Veloster (there are four, all different sizes and all strange shapes). Good luck.
Left wanting more
So, storage and looks aside: How does the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo drive? That's the million dollar question and one I thought I already had the answer too. When I drove the non-turbo version about a year ago, I had hopes that the Turbo version would be that much better and solve any bits that bothered me on the base version.
That's what I get for having high expectations.
It's not that the Hyundai Veloster Turbo was horrible to drive -- far from it, actually. It had kick, but only in a very small band on the rpms. The lag associated with the 1.6L turbocharged engine was noticeable to a fault. Torque steer is apparent, and you may find yourself squealing the front tires leaving stops if you want to leave quickly.
The drive felt soft, too. I wanted sharper steering, and it felt a bit loose. Driving a hatchback means you get to be light and nimble, but when the steering doesn't match that tight, nimble feel of the car's size, something doesn't line up.
The suspension was also quite soft, again, to a fault. The body roll around corners was more than I liked, and the bounce over uneven surfaces was unpleasant.
As a sporty, turbo version I would have liked the suspension to be tuned as such, if only just a teeny bit stiffer to keep me grounded during spirited driving and not feeling like the car was going to bottom out over bumpy road surfaces.
Overall, the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo is a lot of fun to drive and a practical car, and for the price it will satisfy young families looking for a fun-to-drive car that's easy to drive in the city, peppy on open roads and still has room for a weekend away with the kid (singular).
This 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo review was originally published on Auto-Venus.com.
I had high expectations for the nifty-looking 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo, and those expectations rose even higher when I saw the test vehicle role up in uber-hot, super-relevant matte grey wrapping with a bright red "turbo" badge on the back. How could I not enjoy my week behind the wheel?
I just wasn't as impressed as I'd wanted to be. I wanted to like this car so much... and I just didn't. Before you think it was all bad, read on.
A break from the usual
More than anything else, the Veloster looks different. There are very few cars on the road today that can be compared to the Hyundai Veloster in the looks department. For some, this is a good thing. Others will think it's a bit too much. I, for one, commend Hyundai designers on the Veloster's funky, modern lines and cool facial expression.
Full of interesting lines, angles, and nooks and crannies, the 2013 Hyundai Veloster is not your average hatchback when it comes to exterior design. From the gaping front grille (thankfully not as insane-asylum as the Mazda3), to the eye-socket-like taillights and dual-mounted exhausted (hot, by the way), the Veloster is a looker.
Now, wrap those design elements in matte paint, and you've got a real stunner. If you've not heard about the matte-paint trend in the auto industry then shame on you (and you call yourself a car enthusiast?). From Plasti Dip to matte wraps, cars across the globe are going flat and it's just phenomenal.
My 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo's matte grey coat was factory installed (and cost $1,000) and came with a list of restrictions, limitations and care instructions. Long story short: It can only be washed with pure water, faery dust and unicorn hair. Anything else will ruin it. Just an FYI.
Thinking outside the box on the inside
When it comes to the interior of the 2013 Hyundai Veloster, I was quite pleased and surprised. This is, after all, an "economy" car despite the turbo badge. At just under $26k (without the matte paint job), this is a highly affordable ride for someone looking for a vehicle with attitude on the road and a bit of bite behind the wheel (more on that in a bit).
Inside, the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo sports faux-leather, blue-trimmed sports seats. Blue accents adorn the rest of the interior, most notably on the oversized, in-your-face door handles. I wasn't taken with this, and think the interior could have looked better had the blue been replaced with a carbon-fibre weave of sorts.
The middle console is fantastic. Everyone who sat in the car was duly impressed with the onboard entertainment system as well as the gauges and steering wheel. This is a properly equipped ride with all the gadgets and fixings, and the layout is extremely user-friendly. Storage in the front is ample, with plenty of space for coffee, iPhones, iPods and anything else you want within arm's reach.
I'm going to go all mummy on you for a moment (sorry): When it comes to the Veloster being a family car I, again, was hesitant. I know what it's like to have very little room in a car thanks to the WRX. So, when I decided to use the Hyundai to take my 8-month-old son (plus everything that comes with him) to my parent's house for the weekend, I had my doubts.
However, I was pleasantly surprised. From putting the baby seat in the back (piece of cake) to fitting the running stroller in the trunk plus four overflowing bags of food, diapers, toys, etc., the Hyundai Veloster swallowed it all up with ample room left over. And putting my son in his car seat was easy as well thanks to the nifty third door.
The only fault I can find with the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo (from a mother's point of view) is in the window configuration in the back seat. If you're a crazy protect-your-kid-from-the-sun-at-all-times kind of mum, you're going to have a hard time finding sun visors that fit in the rear windows of the Veloster (there are four, all different sizes and all strange shapes). Good luck.
Left wanting more
So, storage and looks aside: How does the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo drive? That's the million dollar question and one I thought I already had the answer too. When I drove the non-turbo version about a year ago, I had hopes that the Turbo version would be that much better and solve any bits that bothered me on the base version.
That's what I get for having high expectations.
It's not that the Hyundai Veloster Turbo was horrible to drive -- far from it, actually. It had kick, but only in a very small band on the rpms. The lag associated with the 1.6L turbocharged engine was noticeable to a fault. Torque steer is apparent, and you may find yourself squealing the front tires leaving stops if you want to leave quickly.
The drive felt soft, too. I wanted sharper steering, and it felt a bit loose. Driving a hatchback means you get to be light and nimble, but when the steering doesn't match that tight, nimble feel of the car's size, something doesn't line up.
The suspension was also quite soft, again, to a fault. The body roll around corners was more than I liked, and the bounce over uneven surfaces was unpleasant.
As a sporty, turbo version I would have liked the suspension to be tuned as such, if only just a teeny bit stiffer to keep me grounded during spirited driving and not feeling like the car was going to bottom out over bumpy road surfaces.
Overall, the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo is a lot of fun to drive and a practical car, and for the price it will satisfy young families looking for a fun-to-drive car that's easy to drive in the city, peppy on open roads and still has room for a weekend away with the kid (singular).
This 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo review was originally published on Auto-Venus.com.
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