The Hyundai Veloster was originally launched back in the early part 2012 and due to its combination of sporty looks and practicality it became an instant success compared to that of its rivals.
Its only real competition came a few months later when the Suburu BRZ coupe was launched. The BRZ which appealed to the more hardcore driving enthusiasts amongst us had rear wheel drive and better performance but it still could not compete with the sales of the Veloster.
This was mainly down to the looks and quirkiness of the Veloster which had a rather unique take on what a standard hatchback should look like. Rather than having just a single door on each side of the car, the passenger side had a small extra door.
To many this may have seemed a little odd but it did make quite a lot of sense in that the passenger side offers far easier access to the rear seats.
This on top of a real sporty look that included a wide grill and large wheel arches gave off an image that made the car look faster than it actually was. It was not slow by any means with it harbouring a 1.6 litre engine but it looked even faster than what it could actually provide.
Customers had the option of a manual six-speed transmission or a clutchless alternative with the latter being more popular, especially for those in the cities fighting larger amounts of traffic. The manual though, did seem to offer more punch to the performance of the Veloster.
For those that did want a bit more performance to go with the looks, the Veloster Turbo came on the scene in the middle part of 2012. This again proved to be a success but still could not live up to the performance of other hatches such as the BRZ which was the preferred choice for those that wanted a bit more fun when driving.
The good news is that the Veloster makes for a good second hand car as it will not have been thrashed around as much as other hatches out there. It will also not likely have been messed about with in terms of boosting its performance as it was aimed more at city drivers who wanted practicability.
Additionally, many a used Veloster will still have some of the five year warranty from Hyundai attached to them, making it an even better choice as a used car.
Of course, despite the warranty it is always worth having a look at the service history. This is because if some work has been done on it that has not been by the book, the warranty could now be null and void with regards to certain parts of the car.
So check out the gearbox if the car is a manual, to see if it is making any strange noises and also check the clutch for any slippage or shuddering. Then have a look at all of the electrical aspects as the Veloster does have some history with this aspect. The navigation system is one of those that has been known to be a common problem with the Veloster. As with any used car, check everything works before making a deal and handing over your money.
What you should know is that there is only room in the rear for two due to a rather pointless cup holder being placed in the middle. It can be quite cramped in the rear and there is limited viewing from back there.
Rating 3/5
Engine – Either 1.6 4 Cylinder or 1.6 4 Cylinder Turbo
Transmission – Either Manual 6-Speed or 6-Speed DSG
Economy – 6.4 Litres per 100km of 6.8 Litres per 100km for Turbo
Pros
- Great looking car
- Unique extra door on passenger side
- Turbo edition provides extra punch
- Warranty from Hyundai likely to still be running
Cons
- Odd extra door might turn you off
- Rear seats not overly comfortable
- Cannot live with better performance hatchbacks