2020 Hyundai Veloster

Hyundai has re-shuffled the trim lineup for the 2020 Veloster and removed the Manual Transmission from a lot of trims. The Base and the Premium Trim get the same 2.0L Naturally Aspirated Motor while all the other trims get the 1.6L Turbocharged unit. In terms of features, you get a Premium Touchscreen Infotainment System, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a lot more premium features as standard in all trims. Other differences have been shown below. 

Trims	2.0 Base	2.0 Premium	Turbo R-Spec	Turbo	Turbo Ultimate
MSRP (Manual)	$18,600	-	$22,800	-	-
MSRP (6 Speed A/T)	$19,600	$22,800	-	-	-
MSRP (EcoShift DCT)	-	-	-	$25,450	$28,150
Key Features	Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist	Adds/Upgrades from Previous Trim	Adds/Upgrades from Previous Trim	Adds/Upgrades from Previous Trim	Adds/Upgrades from Previous Trim
	7” Touchscreen Infotainment System	8 Speaker Infinity Audio System	Sports Tuned Suspension, Steering	Turn Indicators on ORVM’s	8” Touchscreen Navigation system with HUD, HD Radio
	AM/FM Compatibility	18” Alloy Wheels	18” Alloys with Michelin PS4 tires	Power Adjustable Lumbar Support For Driver’s Seat	Leather Seating Surfaces with Wireless Charging Pad
	Apple Car Play, Android Auto	Wide Sunroof	Rear LED Taillights	Blind-Spot Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning	Dual Tone Roof
	Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines	Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel	60/40 Split-Folding Rear Seats	Smart Cruise Control with Blue Link Guidance Package for 3 years

Which trim should you buy?

With the Turbo R-Spec trim, you will enjoy a lot of features and plenty of sporty credentials in your Veloster, hence making your commutes, both exciting and fun.

The engine options available with the Hyundai Veloster will not humiliate a rival on stoplight races but it is potent enough. The Nu 2.0 liter engine doles out 147 hp at 6200 rpm and maximum torque of132 lb-ft at 4500 rpm. The Veloster’s Gamma 1.6 liter turbocharged, direct-injected four-cylinder produces 201 hp at 6000 rpm and 195 lb-ft of torque.

You get FWD as standard on all trims of the Veloster. Talking of the transmission, the base trim gets a 6 Speed Manual as standard and an optional 6 Speed A/T. The Premium Trim does away with the manual and gets the standard 6 Speed A/T. The Turbo R-Spec again gets the 6 Speed Manual as standard to match the sporty nature of the turbo motor. The 7 Speed Dual Clutch Transmission has been reserved for just the top 2 trims. 

Models	Hyundai Veloster Turbo R-Spec	Ford Fiesta ST*	Honda Civic Sport*	Toyota Corolla SE *
MSRP	$22,800	$22,215	$23,145	$21,095
Engine	1.6L i4	1.6L i4	1.5L i4	2.0L i4
Transmission	6 Speed manual	6 Speed manual	6 Speed manual	6 Speed manual
Horsepower (hp)	201 @ 6000rpm	197 @ 6000rpm	174 @ 6000rpm	168 @ 6600rpm
Torque (lbs.-ft.)	195 @ 1500rpm	202 @4200rpm	162 @ 1700rpm	155 @ 4800rpm

*2019 Model Year Figures used for reference purposes only

The Hyundai comes out on top, in terms of the power figures against all its adversaries. The Fiesta ST nearly matches the Veloster in the Power game. The Civic Sport falls short of its top 2 rivals by quite some margin and the Toyota, rounds up the list by being the least powerful of the lot.

How quick is it?

The response from the turbocharged engine is energetic and it takes just 6.2 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill. The quarter-mile is achieved in under 15 seconds and is a remarkable time, considering the segment that the Veloster finds itself in. Out on the road, the base motor lacks the eagerness to accelerate and you need to be in the right gear, to make that odd overtake.

The Turbo Motor feels much more enthusiastic to accelerate and makes overtaking, a breeze both on the Motorway and in the City. 

Models	Hyundai Veloster Turbo R-Spec	Ford Fiesta ST*	Honda Civic Sport*	Toyota Corolla SE *
0-60 MPH	6.2 sec	6.5 sec	7.1	7.5 sec
Quarter mile	14.8 sec	14.5	15.2	16.0 sec
Engine	1.6L i4	1.6L i4	1.5L i4	2.0L i4
Emission  (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	5.8	6.3	5.5	N/A

 The Veloster is the quickest of the entire lot here. The Fiesta ST, with similar power as the Hyundai, comes in second in this list and is then followed by the Japanese duo of the Civic and the Corolla respectively.

How well does the Veloster tackle the Roads?

The turbo engine of the Veloster is athletic and fun to drive with the manual transmission but the automatic transmission is sluggish in downshifts. The audio system amplifies a synthetic engine noise that can be toggled down from pop-and-crackle to mellow and sweet. The 2020 Veloster rides sharp with a stiffer body and independent multi-link setup, replacing the outgoing torsion beam unit in the rear. The front gets a lighter, rigid independent suspension that uses MacPherson struts. 

Ride quality has improved and the Veloster soaks up bumps and undulations very well. The Column-mounted electric rack-and-pinion power steering is tuned to deliver a decent feel and weight. The chassis works well and there is minimal body roll on corners. The steering isn’t quick and dead off-center but works well in normal conditions. 

What about the stopping power?

The Veloster is equipped with disc brakes both in the front and rear and 4 wheel ABS as well. The traction control uses wheel-speed sensors coupled with ESC algorithms to apply precise braking force to the inside front wheel during spirited cornering. Braking Performance is superb at all times but you do feel the nose-diving while braking hard or during instances of panic braking.

The Brakes feel soft initially but weigh up well, once the pressure increases adding to the braking performance and driver’s confidence. 

Model	Hyundai Veloster Turbo R-Spec	Ford Fiesta ST*	Honda Civic Sport*	Toyota Corolla SE *
Brake Front (in.)	11	10.9	11.1	11.5
Brake Rear (in.)	10.3	10	10.2	10.5
Curb Weight (lbs.)	2833	2742	2870	3060
60-0 MPH (ft.)	108	118	113	131

 When compared to its rivals, the Veloster manages to trump all of them by a big margin. While we don’t have the braking figures of the Fiesta and the Civic, sources indicate a decent figure for both of them. The Corolla is the worst performing of the lot here and falls short of its rivals by some margin.

Hyundai offers the 2020 Veloster with 2 Engines, A Naturally Aspirated Unit and A Turbocharged One. Since both these engines offers different Power figures and have different performance as well, they deliver slightly different MPG figures as well. While the MPG figures of the Turbo version of the Veloster has been tabulated below, the Naturally aspirated version loses out by just 1MPG in the city and by the same margin, on the overall front as well. 

Talking of the range, the Veloster can do over 340 miles on a fuel tank of fuel on the City and over 430 miles, on the motorway. This is respectable considering the fact that the Turbo version generates over 200 horses and still delivers on the mileage front as well

Model	Hyundai Veloster Turbo R-Spec	Ford Fiesta ST*	Honda Civic Sport*	Toyota Corolla SE *
MPG (city)	26	25	29	28
MPG (highway)	33	32	38	37
MPG (combined)	29	28	33	31
Fuel Capacity (Gallons)	13.2	12.4	12.4	13.2
Range (City/Hwy)	343/436 Miles	310/397	360/471	370/488

 The Honda Civic turns out to be the best performer as far as Mileage figures go. Coming a close second is the Toyota Corolla Hatch that is also, the least powerful of the bunch. The Hyundai saves itself from being the last in the comparison and giving that crown to the Ford Fiesta ST.

The Interiors of the Veloster takes its inspiration from the Kona and is a good thing in many ways. Barring a few areas where cost-cutting is evident, Hyundai has maintained decent levels of Quality on the inside. Like the exterior, the asymmetrical design inside the Veloster is driver-focused. A contrasting color scheme separates the Turbo variant from other trims.

The front seats are quite comfortable and there is a clear division between the driver’s and passenger’s sides of the front cabin. The second row is tight in legroom and headroom for an average adult. Getting in and out of the Veloster is a chore because of the two-plus-one door configuration that allows egress for the rear passengers only from one side. 

Model	Hyundai Veloster Turbo R-Spec	Ford Fiesta ST*	Honda Civic Sport*	Toyota Corolla SE *
Passenger capacity	4	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.1/56.0/42.6	39.1/52.7/43.6	39.3/57.0/42.3	38.4/53.9/42.0
Second  (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	35.9/54.3/34.1	37.2/49.0/31.2	37.4/55.0/36.0	37.6/54.5/29.9

 While the Veloster feels plenty spacious and comfortable on the front, it loses out on rear space against its rivals. The Honda Civic and the Corolla, manage to carve out the most space for passengers on the back. The Ford, on the other hand, feels spacious than the Hyundai at the back but feels claustrophobic, when compared to the Japanese duo of Toyota and Honda.

Interior Features on offer?

Hyundai likes to load up the Interiors of their cars with plenty of features and the Veloster is no exception either.

• Power Adjustable front heated seats
• 60/40 Split-folding rear seats
• Interior Cargo Shade
• Proximity Key entry with Push Button start
• Auto Temperature Control with Auto Defogging
• Tilt and Telescopic adjust Leather-wrapped Steering with Integrated Controls for Audio and Telephony 
• Front Illuminated Power Window switches with driver’s auto-down
• Variable Speed Intermittent Wipers
• Passenger Vanity Mirror
• Passenger Illuminated Visor Mirror

 

 

 How good is the Infotainment system?

The Hyundai Veloster offers sophisticated technologies paired with an intuitive infotainment system to keep passengers informed and entertained. The response from this unit, may not be class-leading but gets the job done every time. This premium system offers the following amenities:

• 8” Touchscreen Infotainment System with navigation
• 8 Speaker Infinity Audio System with External Amp, Sub-woofer
• SiriusXM/HD Radio
• USB, Bluetooth, and Aux Inputs
• Bluelink Connected care for 3 years
• Wireless Charging Pad 
• Android Auto and Apple Car Play
• 4.2” color TFT instrument console
• Heads Up Display with Sport Display

 

 

 What is the cargo capacity of the Hyundai Veloster?

The new Veloster also offers generous rear cargo capacity, with 19.9 cubic feet of interior volume behind the 2nd-row seat. This can also be increased with the 60/40 rear folding seats to accommodate more cargo.

Model	Hyundai Veloster Turbo R-Spec	Ford Fiesta ST*	Honda Civic Sport*	Toyota Corolla SE *
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	19.9	10.1	22.6	17.8

The Hyundai Veloster's boot space is one of the biggest in its class. The Veloster offers similar space like the Civic and there is not much of a difference between them.

The 2020 Hyundai Veloster retains a unique two-plus-one door configuration that seats four people. It merges the design appeal of a sports coupe with a handy third door for easier rear-seat access. The LED headlights with daytime running lights flank an aggressive cascading grille. Functional air splitters add to the visual appeal of the Veloster with a low stance.

The sharp character lines accentuate body sides for an athletic look with a beetle-like roofline, rounding towards the rear fascia. The back end houses a short back window and squinty LED taillights. Veloster’s centered twin tailpipes under the bumper looks pleasant and impart sporty feel. A contrasting roof is available for the Turbo model as well. 

Model	Hyundai Veloster Turbo R-Spec	Ford Fiesta ST*	Honda Civic Sport*	Toyota Corolla SE *
Curb weight (lbs.)	2833	2742	2870	3060
Length(in)	166.9	160.1	177.9	169.9
Height(in)	55.1	57.2	56.3	57.1
Width(in)	70.9	67.8	70.8	69.9
Ground clearance (in)	5.6	6.1	6.7	5.1
Wheelbase (in)	104.3	98.0	106.3	103.9

 With a 104.3-inch wheelbase and a 166.9-inches overall length, the 2020 Hyundai Veloster is only fractionally larger than the first-generation model. All of the rivals are ahead in terms of dimensions which accounts for more interior space.

Hyundai has always been a pioneer in the segment when it came to offering the most advanced driver assistance and safety features as standard in their cars and the Veloster is a prime example of the same. Hyundai has loaded the Veloster, with a plethora of Safety and Driver Assistance features that are sure to increase your peace of mind while driving this hot hatch from the Korean Major.

*2020 Hyundai Veloster has not been tested by the safety authorities, however, 2019 Hyundai Veloster pics have been updated for reference until fresh data comes in.

Safety Features

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection
• Driver’s Blind Spot Mirror
• Blind Spot Collision Warning
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning
• Rain Sensing Wipers
• Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines 
• Dual Front, Side Impact and Side Curtain Airbags
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• ESC with Traction Control and Vehicle Stability Management System

Hyundai Veloster vs. Ford Fiesta ST

The Ford Fiesta is a proper Hot Hatchback, in almost every sense. Its compact proportion, peppy motor, and superb steering make it a joy to drive through the city streets. The Fiesta has a great infotainment system as well and makes the drive, even more, engaging and involving. However, the Fiesta isn’t as spacious as the Veloster and the Interiors of the Veloster feel a class above the Fiesta. Both the Cars are great on equipment and there is little separating between the two. If you want a proper sports hot hatch, the Fiesta Hatch would suit your bill but if you want a practical sports hatch, the Veloster should be your choice.

Hyundai Veloster vs. Toyota Corolla

Powered by a dreary inline-four which produces 136 hp mated to a clunky CVT or an energetic 6-speed manual and a fuel economy lagging behind its rivals, it will please those who prefer safety over performance. The interior is rather roomy but feels cheap. Overall, there's not much about the 2020 Toyota Corolla that impresses but as a daily driver, it’s hard to fault this little car. The Veloster is way ahead in terms of overall performance and driving dynamics. If you want your daily commutes to be fun and exciting, the Veloster will be your bet but if long term reliability and frugality are what you want, the Corolla is the way to go.

 Hyundai Veloster vs. Honda Civic

The Honda Civic comes in available in a wide variety of body styles. It offers great fuel efficiency and best in class driving dynamics. It has one of the nicest interiors in the class, a good amount of cargo space, and plenty of tech features. The Veloster is good, but the Civic is a bit better in terms of space and practicality– and it costs about the same. If you are in pursuit of power and performance, the Veloster will suit your bill the best but otherwise, the Civic will be the better long term driver.

Hyundai has done nearly everything right with the Veloster. It’s high on power, is good on space and has a powerful and potent engine as well. The Veloster even comes loaded to the brim with features and you wouldn’t be left wanting for more. The Interior Quality may not feel the best when compared to the rivals but for the asking price, we can’t complain. So, if you are willing to live with a Car that has access via just 3 doors but makes your daily commutes and weekend rides fun, the 2020 Hyundai Veloster is a Car that will tick all those boxes for you.