2012 Hyundai Veloster

After driving this hatch and our long-term Fiat 500 Pop back-to-back, I'm convinced the 2012 Hyundai Veloster is the small car most Americans will want and which meets their needs in the best, most fun manner. Here's why: Americans--at least most of them--still don't like small just for the sake of being small. In many ways, that's what the 500 is; it's all about image. That's fine. But most people don't live and/or park in New York, and they prefer to blast along open roads in cars larger than the 500. That's not to say it can't do that--but the Veloster does it better. It's better in nearly every measurable way--and cheaper. Optioned out, this Veloster came in a nose over $20,000, which is almost the same as the base price of our long-term Fiat. It's about a $2,000 difference. Granted, it's a rough comparison, but the difference in drive character in these two cars was striking for me. But here's where it gets more profound. The Veloster has 138 hp, which when channeled via the smooth-shifting six-speed manual and spread out over a relatively lithe 2,600-pound curb weight, feels rather fast. A colleague following me in a bulky 2012 Volkswagen Passat with the base inline five-cylinder engine had trouble keeping pace as we dashed through the darkened streets of downtown Detroit to a work function. Conversely, the Fiat feels slow. The Hyundai actually gets better fuel economy on the highway (40 mpg to 38 mpg), though the 500 edges out in city driving, 30 mpg to 28 mpg. The Veloster is fun to drive, looks interesting and has some function. It's like a mini shooting brake, with some cargo area in rear that is far more functional than the 500. Bottom line: This car is cheaper, faster, more fun and gets slightly better fuel economy in real driving conditions than the 500. There aren't that many small, fun-to-drive cars on the market at this price point that get this kind of fuel economy. Even a stripper Ford Mustang or Hyundai Genesis coupe isn't close to being this cheap or fuel efficient. Maybe the Veloster surprised and delighted me more than I anticipated, but that's not a bad thing for a carmaker to aspire to in 2012.  Like Greg, I was surprised by this Veloster. It's a stylish hatchback, and you really have a difficult time telling that there is a second door on the passenger side, which is kind of cool. The interior is comfortable with supportive seats, and all the plastic panels look good even though they were all hard surfaces. What's my favorite part of the car? That has to be the six-speed manual transmission. It's incredibly fluid and felt like a Volkswagen gearbox, which is a far cry from the crunchy sticks Hyundai/Kia had in the past. Bolted to this small 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 138 hp, the manual was nice to have to extract the most out of the engine. In the Hyundai Accent and the Kia Rio, with which the Veloster shares its platform, 138 hp is fine, but for a sporty-looking car like the Veloster, I think more pep is required. That's where the turbocharged version comes in, boasting more than 201 hp. That kind of power will really make the Veloster cook. In base form, it's a little bit of a disappointment. When I had an opportunity to throw it around, the Veloster responded admirably. It's composed in corners with some roll, but it can be pushed rather far before the front tires give up and understeer. Steering feel is light and would benefit from more weight, but response is good. The brakes are strong with a firm pedal. One unsettling thing about the car is the rear torsion beam suspension: it doesn't like bigger bumps. It caught me off guard a couple of times when I encountered a bigger road imperfection causing the rear to feel a bit jumpy. I hope there are some suspension upgrades in the works. For someone who's looking for a stylish hatchback with respectable cargo space and fuel economy, the Veloster fits the bill nicely. Enthusiasts will want to wait for the force-induced model but should be keeping their fingers crossed for chassis improvements to handle the extra power.  After my favorable impressions of the current Hyundai Sonata and Elantra, I had a pretty strong hunch that I'd like the Veloster. My eye had been affixed to our short-termer since it came in; I instantly fell in love with the personality that this hatch radiated. I hoped that I wouldn't be disappointed once I hopped in and got it rolling. As you can tell, from the outside, I was sold. The funky looks teetered on the aggressive side and the interesting contours that were thoughtfully sculpted into the body kept me looking from headlight to taillight. Hyundai did an admirable job taking risks with this one, and did so tastefully, with the result looking modern and enticing. In my opinion, the best interiors for the buck come from Hyundai, and the Veloster's follows suit. Looking around from the driver's seat, I felt as if I was in the future. The borderline space-age shapes, exaggerated swooping lines and silver accents keep your eyes interested, making you wonder why more of this isn't seen from competitors, if Hyundai can come through on such a tight budget. The Veloster doesn't have an impressive amount of power, which was a slight disappointment considering this thing looks like it can take some names on the road, but the superb handling makes up for it. Shifting was a pure pleasure; the smooth transitions made road time difficult to end. It took turns really well and reacted with ease in most scenarios. However, I do agree with Jonny that some bumps felt pretty gnarly. Also, there was a bit more noticeable road noise than I would like, and the rear blind spots were something to get used to. Overall, I can see this car appealing to a wide audience, especially the younger crowd. Hyundai gets a thumbs-up regarding styling and engineering products that look sleek, modern and fun, making many do a double take.