As mentioned before, the 2012 Hyundai Veloster gets the Accent's engine; a 1.6L 4-cylinder with direct injection that develops 138 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque. In the '80s, these numbers would look great in the company of a 108-hp Honda CRX Si and a 123-hp Volkswagen GTI; today, we're spoiled with turbocharged, 200-hp hatchbacks, so the Veloster might seem a little underwhelming.
The automatic transmission, which equipped our test car, didn't help either. It's a 6-speed, dual-clutch sequential gearbox, a first for a Hyundai. It's tuned for fuel economy rather than performance; is it, after all, called EcoShift DCT.
Zero to 100 km/h takes 9.4 seconds, and the quarter-mile is cleared in 16.7 seconds at 135 km/h. That's not exactly breathtaking. However, expect a turbocharged Veloster to appear next year packing over 200 horses.
A 6-speed manual is standard. With either transmission, the Veloster is rated at 4.9L/100km on the highway, which is pretty good; at 100 km/h, the engine is spins at a reasonable 2,300 rpm. We observed an average of 8.2L/100km over the course of our test, with a mix of city and open road driving.
Wonderfully balanced, but stiff
One of the Veloster's strong points is its direct and precise steering; it felt simply fantastic when we drove it on the closed circuit at AJAC's TestFest last October. In everyday driving, on the other hand, the suspension doesn't treat the car's occupants very well, with harsh motions over rough surfaces.
If the concept of a modestly powerful car with a competent chassis sounds familiar, it's because that's the starting point for a good small sporty car such as a MINI Cooper or a Mazda MX-5. The Veloster, however, isn't quite there yet; it does, after all, weigh a couple hundred pounds more than the MINI and the Mazda.
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| The Veloster is equipped with a 1.6L engine that develops 138 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |
The automatic transmission, which equipped our test car, didn't help either. It's a 6-speed, dual-clutch sequential gearbox, a first for a Hyundai. It's tuned for fuel economy rather than performance; is it, after all, called EcoShift DCT.
Zero to 100 km/h takes 9.4 seconds, and the quarter-mile is cleared in 16.7 seconds at 135 km/h. That's not exactly breathtaking. However, expect a turbocharged Veloster to appear next year packing over 200 horses.
A 6-speed manual is standard. With either transmission, the Veloster is rated at 4.9L/100km on the highway, which is pretty good; at 100 km/h, the engine is spins at a reasonable 2,300 rpm. We observed an average of 8.2L/100km over the course of our test, with a mix of city and open road driving.
Wonderfully balanced, but stiff
One of the Veloster's strong points is its direct and precise steering; it felt simply fantastic when we drove it on the closed circuit at AJAC's TestFest last October. In everyday driving, on the other hand, the suspension doesn't treat the car's occupants very well, with harsh motions over rough surfaces.
If the concept of a modestly powerful car with a competent chassis sounds familiar, it's because that's the starting point for a good small sporty car such as a MINI Cooper or a Mazda MX-5. The Veloster, however, isn't quite there yet; it does, after all, weigh a couple hundred pounds more than the MINI and the Mazda.
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| In everyday driving, the suspension doesn't treat the car's occupants very well, with harsh motions over rough surfaces. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |