Hyundai Veloster SR Turbo 2014 Review

Australians are taking to warmed-over hatchbacks based on light segment platforms like never before. Small-but-feisty cars are profitable products for the car companies and deliver something a little different for those buyers wanting a four-wheeled statement that's more than just A-to-B motoring. Surprisingly, for a company such as Hyundai, its Veloster Turbo offering sits at the radical and quirky end of the spectrum. It's a decent drive too... especially for the money.

We've driven the Veloster SR Turbo in the past, but given its on-going popularity and competition from a few new rivals, it was time to revisit the Hyundai in 2014.

From a packaging standpoint, there is little difference from the naturally-aspirated Veloster I reviewed about a year and a half ago. The asymmetric body – with two doors on the kerb side and one for the driver – remains an effective each-way bet. You get the coupe looks from one side and the practical, get-in-out-of-the-rain access on the other. But the driver's side door is quite long and limits the room to move, leaving or entering the Veloster in tight car parks.

Another flaw in the car's packaging is the sunroof fitted, encroaching as it does on the front-seat headroom for an adult of average height. To be frank – and after a week of driving the Veloster in Melbourne's 40-degree heatwave – I would rather have the headroom than the sunroof.

If the driving position in the Veloster was not quite ideal for me, however, it came pretty close. The seats are accommodating for all shapes and sizes, providing decent comfort and high levels of support, but without being especially aggressive in their shape. The gear lever was close to hand and provided a light, but slick shift quality. Easily legible instruments, simple, well-placed controls and a large-format infotainment display all served the driver to best effect, without creating undue distractions.

On the road the Veloster's cabin noise was subdued. The engine quietly ticked over at around 2300rpm once the car had reached the open-road limit. Only wind and some tyre noise intruded at that speed. Tyres roared on country roads – an excusable vice given their grip and reasonable ride comfort. The engine didn't send chills up and down the spine the way a MINI Cooper S powerplant in full cry would, but nor did the Hyundai engine set teeth rattling. It was smooth and sounded much like what it was – an efficient and affordable performer.

One of the staff here at motoring.com.au described the engine's power delivery as 'elastic'. After a diet of Mazda6 and Golf 103TSI, the Veloster Turbo seemed slightly peaky to me. In time, it proved effortless to drive gently at low engine speeds, and was generally free of turbo lag. It stood out more for its solid mid-range urge and the way it would pull progressively faster as the revs rose above 3000rpm. Indeed, if the Veloster Turbo exhibited signs of torque steer anywhere, it was typically between 4000 and 5500rpm.

It must be said, I was impressed by the Veloster's grip and traction. Yes, you can spin a wheel from launch or out of a tight bend, but it was also possible to make a fast start by exercising even a modicum of restraint with the clutch and accelerator. Turn-in was lively and the combination of feedback through the wheel and front-end grip encourages drivers to work the car a little harder.

The flat handling was fun and the car would step out at the rear if the driver lifted off the throttle, but the stability control kept everything in check. In view of the Veloster Turbo's performance potential and cornering ability, the level of intervention from the stability control system was probably about right. Under hard braking the active safety system was more conspicuous, continually shifting brake pressure from left to right and back again as the car threatened to lock up one of the rears.

Ride comfort was firm, but on a par with the Veloster's peers. It crashed over sharp impacts (potholes for instance) and skipped over mid-corner bumps. Once again making allowance for the type of car it is, however, the Veloster's ride was bearable.

Rarely are cars tested by motoring.com.au completely free of flaws, and so it proved with the Veloster Turbo. There were some thumps and clunks at times, along with a persistent annoying buzz from the driver's sunvisor. As we learned during the launch for the forced-induction Veloster, the actual fuel consumption was far from the posted ADR-approved combined-cycle test figure. According to the trip computer the Hyundai averaged 10.6L/100km for the week.

Overall the Veloster Turbo reconfirmed the view here that it's a good, fun drive and offers plenty of value. The styling and packaging weren't to my personal liking, although the view from dead astern is certainly business-like – especially with zero overhang, wide track, wide wheels and the twin exhausts poking out from the middle of the rear apron.

From other angles I found the Veloster's look more challenging, but there are clearly plenty of buyers who don't share that opinion.

What we liked:
>> Mid-range torque and lively performance
>> Fun handling and responsive steering
>> Renowned Hyundai equipment levels

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