Every so often a car comes along that has people scrambling for their cameras to snag a shot of it; drivers slowing down to steal a longer look; and kids rushing up to it in parking lots, peppering the driver with questions. The all-new 2012 Hyundai Veloster is one of those cars. It's got that reverse halo effect going on. And from what we've witnessed so far, ordinary folks young and old are digging it.
Not surprisingly, the Veloster is first and foremost about its form. There are several flashy details: the three-door setup; the motorcycle-inspired interior cues; the trick, trapezoidal exhaust tips center-mounted in a big black rear fascia piece; muscular fenders framing the optional, 18-inch rim/tire package with painted inserts; blacked-out A-pillar; bold, buck-toothed front fascia; and its scalloped, glass-heavy, baby-got-back behind.
Like several other cars in Hyundai's lineup, the Veloster deploys a version of the automaker's direct-injected 1.6-liter four-cylinder rated at 138 horsepower and 123 lb-ft of torque (the same numbers as the Accent), mated to either a six-speed manual or Hyundai's new dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with paddle shifters.
We sampled both gearboxes and came away relatively impressed. The six-speed manual's clutch engagement was easy to get used to and was neither too light nor heavy. The throws were on the shortish side and overall feel was solid for a car
in this segment. Hyundai is estimating some 30 percent of buyers will go manual, and with EPA numbers rated at 28 mpg city and the magical 40 mpg highway, we suspect they're on target.
Inside, the Veloster is as expressive as the exterior, with instrument binnacles, the stop-start button, and other touches drawing cues from sport bikes. The front doors feature large handles an engineer told us did nothing but look cool. Seats are nicely bolstered for when the going gets curvy. The optional moon roof brightens up the cabin, and six airbags are set to deploy in emergency situations. Look out the rear view, and you’ll actually be able to see, with the lower window and right-sized rear view mirrors providing acceptable sight lines. The window even has a darling little window wiper. Grab the hidden handle to open up the rear third door, and you'll find two seats with a cupholder setup in the middle. Also, as has become the norm with Hyundai, there are multiple power outlets (including a 115-volt outlet) and ports to connect and charge all your devices.
At the center of it all is a standard, LG-sourced 7-inch touchscreen with some of the best graphic design elements we’ve laid our eyes on recently. The system is customizable and comes with Hyundai's Blue Link telematics system on board, with its impressive suite of emergency, guidance, and diagnostic features. Pandora integration, Gracenote voice recognition, and Bluetooth also come standard. The available tech package features a 450-watt, 8-speaker stereo system with XM Radio, a backup camera, and navigation.
Add it all up and from where we're sitting, the Veloster lends Hyundai the sort of reverse halo effect the automaker was seeking, at a relatively affordable price. Now get that turbo model here and that halo may really shine.
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