Used 2021 Hyundai Veloster

The 2021 Hyundai Veloster is a fun, funky, and functional hatchback. Unlike the more traditional hatchback versions of the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, the Veloster has three doors, not four. It has one door on the driver’s side and two on the passenger side, including a small one that grants easier access to the rear seats. Once within, you’ll see another way in which the Veloster differs: It seats four instead of five. While the rear seats are snug and limited to two people, the Veloster’s rear hatch boasts a deep and sizable rear cargo area that enables it to carry bulky items.

With a starting price under $19,000, the Veloster is a heck of a value. It comes packed with standard safety features like automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist, plus Hyundai’s stellar warranty that covers 10 years/100,000 miles for the powertrain.

Speaking of, the Veloster offers a choice of three engines that range from adequate to track-worthy in the high-performance Veloster N. Manual transmissions are available with all three – and the only choice on the N. The Veloster has agile but not harsh manners. Its performance only increases with the Turbo or N models.

Between its half-dozen variations and choice of powertrains, the Hyundai Veloster can satisfy a variety of buyers, from first-time drivers desiring economical yet practical and stylish transportation to thrill-seeking enthusiasts craving a hot hatch.

One of the most significant changes made to this new Veloster that debuted two years ago was the switch from a torsion beam to a more sophisticated multi-link independent rear suspension. As a result, the 2021 Hyundai Veloster has a more planted feel when you’re pushing it. Other improvements include better steering response, though it still could be sharpened to European levels like that of a VW Golf.

With just 147 horsepower, base Velosters are more bark than bite. That power is adequate for basic duties, but don’t expect to be tearing up tracks. The other two powertrains are the ones to pick if you seek more thrills.

The Turbo models pump out an invigorating 201 horsepower from a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. They aren’t that much more expensive and offer levels of performance more in line with the vehicle’s looks.

Overall, the Veloster feels light on its feet and is easy to drive quickly, but also has a rigid feel to the body and chassis. Hyundai has done an excellent job of controlling noise, vibration, and harshness. There’s very little wind or tire noise transmitted to the cabin. Given its price point, if you had your eyes closed, you’d swear you were in a class-above car.

The Turbo R-Spec model comes with a satisfying 6-speed manual transmission. Higher-spec Turbo models come equipped with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that has both paddles for shifting and a sequential mode on the gear selector. The Veloster features Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes – in Sport, the exhaust note is a bit louder and amplified through the sound system. The drive modes make a noticeable difference in throttle response and the shift points of the dual-clutch automatic.

Driving the Hyundai Veloster N

The performance-oriented Veloster N, particularly when equipped with the optional Performance package and its electronic limited-slip differential, feels totally at home on a racetrack. It does not beat you up with overly stiff suspension in everyday driving, however. With 250 horsepower under the hood (or 275 with the Performance package), the N is the most powerful and arguably most enjoyable trim in the Veloster lineup.

Hyundai tuned this car on the famous Nürburgring in Germany, and it shows. Put it in “N” mode, and each downshift of the 6-speed manual transmission is accompanied by an automatic throttle blip, and the chassis responds beautifully to steering inputs. Perhaps most important, the electronically controlled differential allows the driver to power out of tight corners without inducing any of the wild inside wheelspin so familiar with other powerful front-wheel-drive cars.

The Veloster N’s overall handling isn’t quite as crisp as a Honda Civic Type R, but it’s about 8/10 or 9/10s of that rival. Moreover, it costs significantly less and has a class-leading warranty that gives you confidence for the long haul.

The Veloster’s interior is as intriguing and fun to look at as its exterior. A twin-cockpit design separates the driver and passenger, and a panel near the passenger side creates an airier feel that prioritizes the driver’s space. Controls are easy to see and use. We love how Hyundai has retained so many knobs, buttons, and switches for the audio and climate systems yet still manages to integrate a modern touchscreen infotainment display (seven inches on the base and eight inches on all others). There’s even an available head-up display showing safety, navigation, and radio readouts. Switch to Sport mode, and the display changes to an analog tach and digital speedometer.

Comfort is good in the front seats, though even the leather-covered ones in the Turbo Ultimate are manually adjustable – no power operation here except for the lumbar support. Quite a bit of hard plastic areas gives insight into how Hyundai can make the Veloster such a good value.

In back, the Veloster boasts surprisingly generous cargo space. Behind the rear seats is nearly 20 cubic feet of cargo space – we even fit an ottoman in its deep well – and folding the rear opens 44.5 cubic feet, almost as much as the Honda Civic Hatchback.

Compared to its first generation, the 2021 Hyundai Veloster has a bolder, more aggressive look. It starts up front with a large cascading grille design that features a mesh insert. There are also larger lower inlets and supplemental slots to improve front wheel-arch aerodynamics, adding to the more muscular appearance.

The Veloster is a tidy, well-proportioned wedge of a hot hatch. It sports a sharply raked roofline, a rear deck-top spoiler, and a pronounced rear diffuser and center-mounted exhaust. The car sports LED daylight running lights and taillights, while LED main lighting is an option.

Wheels range in size from 17-inch alloys on the base model to optional 19s on the Veloster N. The Turbo Ultimate model is further distinguished by a two-tone scheme with a black roof.

The 2021 Veloster N performance model is emboldened with a unique front fascia and grille with brake-cooling ducts, along with LED headlights, unique rocker sills, and ultra-high-performance tires – 225/40R-18 Michelin Pilot SuperSport on the standard N and 235/35R-19 Pirelli P-Zeros on the N with the Performance package. In back, the N sports LED taillights, a large rear spoiler, an integrated diffuser, and high-flow dual exhaust.

The N is available in black, white, red, or blue, the last a light hue that reminds of the famous Gulf Oil livery of the legendary Porsche 917 race car.

DOOR CONFIGURATION
The 2021 Hyundai Veloster’s unique, long driver’s door is complemented on the passenger side by a 2-door setup. The design makes it much easier to load people, pets, or things into the Veloster’s back seat, while giving the driver a longer window where the B-pillar doesn’t block his or her view.

THE N PERFORMANCE PACKAGE
If you’re going to step up to the Veloster N, you may as well get the most out of it with the Performance package. This package adds 25 horsepower to the standard N model, as well as an electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD), 19-inch alloy wheels surrounded by Pirelli P Zero performance summer tires, and large, vented front and rear brakes.

The 2021 Hyundai Veloster is available in six trim levels: 2.0 Base, 2.0 Premium, Turbo R-Spec, Turbo, Turbo Ultimate, and N. Even a base Veloster is surprisingly well-equipped. Standard features include a 7-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, 17-inch wheels, torque-vectoring system, cruise control, automatic headlights, and active safety features such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention monitor.

Premium models add blind-spot monitoring, an 8-inch touchscreen display, 18-inch alloy wheels, sunroof, wireless charging pad, automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, heated front seats, and Infinity premium sound. Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics system lets you access certain vehicle functions remotely from your smartphone.

Stepping up to the Veloster Turbo R-Spec model gets you – of course – a turbocharged engine with a short-throw manual transmission, sport-tuned suspension, sport-tuned steering, and sport-tuned exhaust, blind-spot monitoring, 8-inch touchscreen with Infinity audio and LED headlights.

The Veloster Turbo comes with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, automatic climate control, power lumbar support for the driver’s seat, sunroof, and wireless charging pad.

Added-feature fans will find that Veloster Turbo Ultimate ladles on even more such as leather seating, adaptive cruise control, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a head-up display, pedestrian detection, navigation, and a two-tone roof.

The Veloster N is the most powerful version, with a 2.0-liter turbo engine, high-performance brakes, electronically controlled suspension, and unique aesthetics like a roof-mounted rear spoiler. The Performance package for the Veloster N adds more power, an active exhaust system, limited-slip differential, and 19-inch wheels with Pirelli P Zero tires.

Power for the 2021 Hyundai Veloster coupe comes from a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine good for 147 horsepower. This engine is standard in both the base and Premium trims and can be had with a 6-speed manual transmission or 6-speed automatic.

The Turbo, Turbo R-Spec, and Turbo Ultimate all employ a more robust 201-horsepower 1.6-liter turbocharged four, with the R-Spec hooked to a 6-speed manual and the others a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

At the top of the Veloster food chain is the high-performance N that gets a turbo-4 2.0-liter engine good for 250 horsepower (275 with the Performance package). This engine is only available with a 6-speed manual transmission.

2.0-liter inline-4 (Veloster Base & Premium models)
147 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
132 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/34 mpg (automatic), 25/33 mpg (manual)

1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4 (Veloster Turbo R-Spec & Turbo models)
201 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
195 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/34 mpg (automatic), 26/33 mpg (manual)

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (Veloster N)
250 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm (275 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm w/ Performance package)
260 lb-ft of torque @ 1,450-4,000 rpm (260 lb-ft @ 1,450-4,700 rpm w/ Performance package)
EPA city/highway fuel economy, est.: 22/29 mpg