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2017 Hyundai Veloster Turbo DCT
Weird looking thing is oddly appealing
Updated -- Apr 03 2017 12:13 PM
- 캐나다 한국일보 편집팀 (public@koreatimes.net)
- Apr 03 2017 10:12 AM
By James Park
Hyundai could’ve named it platypus, but perhaps Veloster has better ring to it. Still, the vehicle is odd-looking. No, it’s not ugly! Like the platypus, it just looks weird in an endearing sort of way.
The Veloster is a strangely appealing amalgam of sedan, coupe and hatchback. The driver’s side gets one door, as in a coupe. Like a sedan, the passenger side incorporates two doors for easier access into the cabin. High roofline necessitates the hatchback design, which adds practicality. The rearward visibility suffers, though.
Taken as a whole, the design seems to work. Hyundai deserves praise for having the nerve to bring something like this into the market. Consumers who refuse to blindly follow the herd would do themselves favors by at least taking a gander at the Veloster.
The Veloster starts from relatively inexpensive $18,599. It wants to be a cool sports car but the Veloster does nothing to project anything resembling mechanical intimidation to back up its looks. Measly 132 horses and 120 lb-ft of torque from 1.6 litres of naturally aspirated four cylinders leave the Veloster drivers avoiding glances from other drivers. The car’s fine for commuting and grocery-getting, but as soon as the light turns green, something like a Subaru STI would eat it for breakfast.
The cavalry arrives in the form of Veloster Turbo which adds much needed spice where it counts. The force-fed motor – same 1.6 four – now pumps out much healthier 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of tire-chirping twist. At only 1,215 kg (2,678 lb) which is 70 kg lighter than the Volkswagen GTI, the Veloster Turbo gets up to speed quite satisfactorily. It’s still not a bullet; but it does not embarrass itself, either.
The Turbo also gets bigger hexagonal front grill that looks surprisingly menacing. Also, the dual pipes sticking out from the middle of rear bumper are round, instead of rectangular.
For the 2017 model-year, the Veloster Turbo gets optional seven-speed DCT. Non-turbo models still have to work with six-speed DCT. Standard transmission for both the turbo and non-turbo is the six-speed manual. The Turbo also gets eighteen-inch alloys, 10mm wider tires, and Torque Vectoring Control (TVC), among others.
The Veloster Turbo with stick starts from $27,199 and with DCT from $28,699. Matte paint is 1,000 dollar option, but beauty is subjective and yours truly never cared for that finicky finish.
Interior ambience of the Veloster is also appealing. Steering wheel and dashboard incorporate the ‘V’ design element. Controls are interestingly laid out and function well.
As people doomed to endure six months of winter, the Canadians have come to expect heated seats and heated steering wheel as mandatory equipments. The Veloster Turbo delivers both. Its front seats are also very comfortable. Rear sitting area is bit of a squeeze, but perhaps roomier than one might’ve expected.
The front-wheel drive car also handles better than expected. The Turbo’s new TVC applies right amount of braking to the inside front wheel during fast corners to limit under-steer.
Even with ‘active sound design,’ the Turbo’s cadence is relatively meek. It can take some lessons from the Fiat 500 Abarth (but this writer’s better half, who disapproves loud farting engines, may not approve).
Hyundai also needs to fine-tune the DCT to make it smoother. Compared to Porsche’s PDK or VW’s DSG, the Veloster’s DCT is jerky at times when left in Auto.
For a car with a small engine, the Veloster Turbo only manages to get 8.9 litres of premium juice per 100km in city and 7.1 litres on highway. Turbo engines tend to require softer touches on the go-pedal for maximum fuel efficiency. Yours truly did not care to do that and saw about 9.5 litres of combined mileage in mostly city-driving.
The Veloster was probably never intended to be a volume-seller. But because of the faster than expected decline in sales, especially during the last couple of years, Hyundai seriously thought about killing it.
However, according to media reports, suits at the top reconsidered and the second-generation Veloster is slated to be released around November of this year. Let’s hope this is true. (James Park is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada.)
2017 Hyundai Veloster Turbo DCT
Price: $28,699
Engine: 1.6 litre turbo four
Power: 201 hp/195 lb-ft
Transmission: 7 spd DCT
Drive: FWD
Fuel: 8.9 litres per 100km (city), 7.1 litres (highway)
Best: weird styling
Worst: jerky DCT
Competition: Hyundai Elantra Sport, Kia Forte SX, Nissan Sentra Turbo, Ford Fiesta ST
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