| 2019 HYUNDAI VELOSTER TURBO | |
| MODEL | VELOSTER |
| BODY STYLE | HATCHBACK |
| CAR SEGMENT | SPORT |
| ENGINE | 1.4LTURBO |
| HORSEPOWER / TORQUE | 201 / 195 |
| 0 TO 100KM/H | 6.1S |
| TOP SPEED | 209KM/H |
| GEARBOX | 7 SPEED DC + PADDLE SHIFTERS |
| WEIGHT | 1,225KG |
Overview:
Hyundai is a couple generations into general competence and long ago became immune to cheap shots like “Hyundais are good, for Korean cars.” More recently, the automaker has grown ambitious about making its mainstream models more appealing to drive.
Recently, sizzle has trickled into models as unpretentious as the price-leader Hyundai Accent sedan.
With the Veloster ‘N’ born in Hyundai’s R&D facility in Namyang and Tested on the Nurburgring, that car is as much as a hit as the Veloster Turbo which we have right here. Let’s take a tour.
Exterior design:
When it comes to its exterior, the Veloster pushes the envelope even further with a sportier, more aggressive design as you can see. It retains its same unique shape, with a sporty roofline and a spare door on the passenger side. But it’s reached deep into its bag of styling riffs to clean up a shape that’s more harmonious than before, more neatly formatted. With the 2019 Veloster, Hyundai has better blended a deep front fascia, a prominent grille, and slimmer headlights with the rest of the Hyundai lineup. Designers pushed the A-pillars rearward to stretch the hood out, tapered the roofline, and flagrantly flared the wheel arches with character lines that produces stunning shadows. In back, a new diffuser flanks the center-exit pair of exhausts pipes.
Looking at the 2019 Veloster, you cannot say for sure which exterior side is your favorite because every side is its bold side. It’s really fun to look at.
Interior and equipment:
Materially, the interior is a huge improvement over the old Veloster’s. The cut and finish of the cabin is impeccably assembled. Simple and clear white-on-black gauges and Hyundai’s ubiquitous touchscreen infotainment system blend into the straightforward, restrained cabin design. And lest we forget, the Veloster still has an asymmetrical layout that places a single, longer door on the driver’s side and a pair of stubbier apertures on the passenger side. The two rear seats can be accessed from either side, but entering from the left requires funneling oneself through the narrow gap between the driver seat and the doorjamb as in a regular two-door coupe. You’ll either like this layout or you won’t, but you won’t find it on any competitor.
The seats were more improved over the last Veloster, with much thicker upper back bolsters and a good range of manual adjustment. The cabin’s somewhat narrow, still, but the Veloster doles out just enough head room on sunroof-equipped models to keep tall drivers and front passengers from touching head to headliner.
The dash borrows many styling elements from the Hyundai Kona SUV, including central display screens and climate controls. Our tester has an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system which sit atop an attractive center stack that features a handsome, logical arrangement for the HVAC. Fold the rear seat down and the Veloster becomes the two-seat cubby hole it longs to be. There’s 19.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat, about that much extra when the rear seat’s folded down. Lift over is high, but Hyundai tucks the hatch release cleverly into the rear wiper housing.
Interior space hasn’t changed much, but the Veloster’s interior sounds much more impressive than before.
Engine & Transmission:
Sometime last year, Hyundai’s vice president of product planning, Mike O’Brien declared the Veloster chassis was the best the automaker has ever presented to customers, so its time we put this to the test.
But before the, let’s talk numbers. 1.6l Turbo, 201hp, 195ib-ft Torque. 2701 pounds. 0-100km/h in 6.1seconds
With its stiffer body and new rear suspension, the 2019 Hyundai Veloster has more predictable and capable handling. The suspension now pairs front struts with a multi-link rear suspension, which replaces the rear torsion axle. The Veloster’s steering is accurate, with a linear buildup of effort as cornering forces increase but its handling wouldn’t get you overwhelmed.
Technology:
The 2019 Veloster also adopts a set of drive modes that toggle from Normal, to Sport, Eco and Smart on automatic versions. The modes alter steering heft, throttle progression, and shift timing.
Bluetooth Connection, Fog Lamps, Steering Wheel Audio Controls, Automatic Headlights, Back-Up Camera, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Cruise Control, Trip Computer, Cargo Shade, Engine Immobilizer, Security System, Rear Parking Aid. Brake Assist, Daytime Running Lights, Stability Control, Traction Control, Child Safety Locks. Keyless Entry, Power Door Locks and remote start are a few technologies on our tester.
The Veloster’s nimble moves and unique styling give it a performance flair that makes many competitors seem dull by comparison.
“The second-generation Hyundai Veloster retains the kind of quirky design cues that helped set its predecessor apart, things like three conventional doors — one on the driver’s side and two on the passenger side — and a raked roofline. With this redesign, however, Hyundai has brought that offbeat sense of style into the cabin.”
**This article is in collaboration between This Is Qatar and JBC Motive.**
Make sure to follow Jay on his journey with the finest automobiles on his social media!
YouTube – @JBCMotive
Instagram – @jbcmotive
Facebook – @JBCMotiveReviews
Twitter – @jbcmotive
