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: After the addition of a performance-oriented Turbo R-Spec model for 2014, Hyundai’s quirky 3-door hatchback sees no significant changes for 2015. 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 deliver sprightly acceleration and crisper handling that are more in keeping with the car’s zany looks.
| Class | Sporty/Performance Car |
| Body Style(s) | 3-door hatchback |
| Passenger Count | 4 |
| Drive Wheels | front-wheel drive |
| Manufacturer | Hyundai |
| Nation of Manufacture | South Korea |
| Base Prices | Base: $18,000 Turbo R-Spec: $21,600 RE:FLEX: $21,950 Turbo: $22,600 |
| Base Engine 1.6-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower 138 (manual) or 132 (automated manual) |
| Std. Transmission 6-speed manual |
| Avail. Transmission 6-speed automated manual |
| EPA City Range (mpg) 26-27 |
| EPA Hwy Range (mpg) 35-36 |
| Optional Engine turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower 201 |
| Std. Transmission 6-speed manual |
| Avail. Transmission 6-speed automatic |
| EPA City Range (mpg) 24 |
| EPA Hwy Range (mpg) 31-33 |
