Review: Hyundai Veloster (From Crewe Guardian)

Review: Hyundai Veloster

3:26pm Thursday 28th June 2012 in Motors By Catherine Lawler

The sleek Hyundai Veloster has an unusual string to its bow.

Its sharp, coupe looks are appealing, but I particularly liked the single rear door on the passenger side, something that its rivals – the Vauxhall Astra GTC and the VW Scirocco – don’t offer.

It meant I was able to install the child seat (and the child) very easily while still enjoying the Veloster’s sporty looks and performance. That said, adults sitting in the back would be a bit squashed.

It is powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder GDi petrol engine, generating 140 PS, and you can choose from either the Veloster or the Veloster Sport.

Standard features include 17-inch alloy wheels, a seven-inch TFT touch screen media centre with capability of playing games through consoles and films from smart-phones, Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition, climate control air-conditioning, reversing sensors and LED daytime running lights.

It also features a stereo RDS radio/CD player with MP3/WMA compatibility and an iPod connection.

The Veloster Sport adds 18-inch alloys, black leather upholstery with heated front seats, a panoramic glass sunroof, cruise control, keyless entry with an engine start/stop button and sporty alloy pedals.

The new coupe’s steering, handling and ride deliver a responsive drive, with well balanced characteristics. There’s plenty of grip thanks to generous 215-section tyres mounted on the alloy wheels.

Safety features include ESP (electronic stability programme), ABS (anti-lock braking system), HAC (hill assist control) to prevent roll-back when starting on an incline and VSM (vehicle stability management).

VSM counters the effects of asymmetric grip on slippery surfaces and helps the vehicle stay in a stable position by reducing the amount of steering assistance.

Sport models have the option of a rear-view parking camera which has a 130-degree wide-angle lens that transmits images to a navigation display screen.

All models have Hyundai’s Five Year Triple Care customer assurance package. This offers a five-year warranty with no mileage limit, five years of roadside assistance and five years of vehicle health checks – free of charge.

Factfile

Car: Hyundai Veloster

On the road: £17,995

0-62mph: 9.7 seconds

Top speed: 125mph

Fuel: 43.5g/km (combined)

CO2 emissions: 148g/km