Review of the 2016 Hyundai Veloster

Want an affordable car that stands out from the crowd? This three-door hatchback might win you over with its distinctive styling, impressive list of available features and reasonable price tag. Ready to learn more about Hyundai's unusual compact hatch?

Pros

Lots of features for the money; both engines are reasonably fuel-efficient; three-door styling is unusual and distinctive.

Cons

Not as sporty as it looks; has a harsh and noisy ride quality; acceleration is pretty slow with the base engine; despite a third door, rear-seat access and headroom are limited.

What's New for 2016

For the 2016 Hyundai Veloster, a limited-edition turbocharged Rally Edition debuts with Rays wheels, matte blue paint and sportier suspension tuning than the Veloster R-Spec. The Veloster Turbo gets a new seven-speed automated manual transmission and new seats. An upgraded navigation system with HD radio, second-generation Blue Link and Apple Siri Eyes Free integration is available for base and Turbo models.

If your ideal car is one that is small, fuel-efficient and offers great value, a compact hatchback could be the way to go. There are many cars in this class that meet those requirements, and some are even fun to drive. At first glance, the 2016 Hyundai Veloster appears to fit into this subsection, with a wide, low stance and muscular fender flares. But the actual driving experience may leave you wanting.

Certainly, there are some cool aspects to the Veloster. Its unique three-door body style, with the third door on the passenger side, offers easier access to the rear seat than a two-door coupe can. Inside, the Veloster comes with a substantial number of standard features, including a rearview camera, a touchscreen infotainment system and satellite radio, all of which are typically optional extras in this class. Estimated fuel economy is good, too, with both engine and transmission packages hovering around the 30 mpg mark in combined city/highway driving.

But while the Veloster meets the basic requirements of a compact hatchback, it doesn't offer much in the way of excitement. The base engine is extremely slow and the turbocharged engine, while definitely an improvement, is slower than pretty much every hot hatch on the market. The suspension, particularly in the sportier states of tune, transmits a flurry of impacts into the cabin while traveling on rough surfaces. Usually this is a natural byproduct of capable handling, but even around corners the Veloster seems out of place.

While there are no three-door vehicles to compare against the 2016 Hyundai Veloster, there are plenty of two- and four-door rivals to consider. The 2016 Ford Fiesta is one of our favorites, with three engines to choose from, including an extremely satisfying performance-minded ST variant. The 2016 Volkswagen Golf is a bit more expensive, but the cabin has higher-quality materials and the sporty Golf GTI practically invented the "hot hatch" segment. The 2016 Mazda 3 is one of our favorite cars as well, with a 0-60-mph time that beats the Veloster Turbo by a hair; it gets better fuel economy to boot. While the Veloster has some high points, we think most of the competition is more desirable overall.

The One to Buy

The Hyundai Veloster is extremely slow when powered by the standard four-cylinder engine. According to a spokesperson for Group 1 Hyundai in Midrand, as its name suggests, the 2016 Hyundai Veloster Turbo adds a more powerful engine in addition to a variety of luxury features.

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