With more and more manufacturers jumping on the sports coupe bandwagon, it’s becoming vastly important to be a little bit different to stand out from the rest and Hyundai have made a pretty bold effort to do just that.
Offering styling alone that is more than enough to turn the eye of most road users, the Korean company’s Veloster model has a unique party piece in having a one-plus-two layout in terms of its door layout. To explain, the driver’s side has just the single door as would any standard coupe model, but on the passenger side there are two, with the extra door allowing entry to the back seats.
Based on styling alone, the Veloster’s direct rivals will likely be cars such as Honda’s CR-Z hybrid that has left people more than a little disappointed with its lack of grunt after being promised a sporty, but green individual. Other competitors will be coupe staples like the Renault Megane and Vauxhall Astra GTC.
This initial standard model offers just the single engine in the shape of a 138bhp 1.6 petrol unit which will get you from 0-62mph in 9.7 secs, so not the most spirited of machines. However, later this year Hyundai will be releasing their turbo’d version that brings with it a hike of 45bhp and a larger exhaust that will give little more presence and should give the Veloster a bit more energy on the road.
Going back to the design, the Veloster will likely be a car that splits opinion, just as the styling seems to be split between the various sections of the bodywork, with the front end taking sharp design cues from its modern counterparts, whereas the back is where most eyebrows will be raised with the Veloster’s almost aquatic influences, especially in the lights. However the general flowing visual elements will have most potential customers put their thumbs in the up position.
The contemporary feel of the car carries on in the interior which is very impressive thanks to neat tailoring and a hefty amount of standard equipment that includes rear parking sensors, steering wheel mounted controls for the radio/CD player, climate control and even Bluetooth. The set-up in the cabin makes for a very comforting place to be and the trim is thankfully of a good quality.
Even though there’s a lack of a diesel model, Hyundai have still managed to create a reasonably frugal car after gracing the Veloster with its Blue Drive implements that include Stop-Start and low-resistance tyres. All this combined allows for 47.9mpg (so says Hyundai), but most customers will likely see a drop in that fuel figure thanks to their own driving styles. A lack of a diesel option might also have fleet operators and fuel card holders looking elsewhere.
At £17,995 though, the Veloster benefits from being a few £1,000s cheaper than those around in it in the same coupe bracket, with the Astra GTC and Volkswagen Scirocco models starting at around £20,000 for the sport examples.
The Veloster will not have to contend with more high market vehicles such as the joint project between Subaru and Toyota and their respective BRZ/GT 86 models, but has entered the field of cemented coupe territory and will look to use its unique selling points to fight between them for the consumers’ love.
Sam Bisby writes for UkFuels.co.uk who offer business fuel cards and private fuel car deals.
