Pros: One-of-a-kind styling stands out among compact cars; passenger-side third door provides a bit more passenger and cargo versatility than most sporty coupes
Cons: Sluggish acceleration with base engine; sloped roofline makes for poor rear visibility and subpar rear-seat headroom; not quite as agile as some sporty-compact competitors
CG Says: For 2014, Hyundai’s quirky Veloster gains a new, performance-oriented Turbo R-Spec model and standard rear-view camera, driver’s blind spot mirror, and daytime running lights. The Turbo R-Spec gets unique suspension and steering tuning, a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission with a B&M Racing-brand short-throw shifter, and unique trim. The regular Turbo model continues, and gets standard Torque Vectoring Control and “Active Sound Design” for a sportier engine notes inside the cabin. Veloster combines several attractive attributes into an outlandishly styled package. A reasonably roomy interior for 4 passengers, a large cargo hold, high-tech connectivity features, and respectable EPA numbers help Veloster stand out in its class. Plus, the passenger-side third door is a novel touch that adds a tad more utility… at least among sporty cars. Base Velosters are disappointingly slow, but Turbo models (and the new-for-2014 Turbo R-Spec) deliver sprightly acceleration and crisper handling that are more in keeping with the car’s zany looks.
