Hyundai Veloster

Inside the Hyundai Veloster, the settings are absolutely plush and very pleasing. The way the dashboard is stacked is commendable. An 8-inch display sits right in the middle with AC vents on the two sides. There are a lot of control buttons and the music system is rich. The centre console for the driver comprises two analogue meters along with a digital display in the middle.

The driver’s seat is power-adjustable while the rear bench-type arrangement can be folded at 60:40. The side mirrors can be controlled electronically. A fully automatic air-conditioning ensures optimum comfort for all the occupants.

The Hyundai Veloster replicates a sports car perfectly. It has a big brawny front face with a huge hexagonal grille. The sides of the grille are chiselled and have a sleek-looking LED headlamps cluster. The wheel arches are nicely done to enhance the sports car feel. It has a coupe-like roofline and a shark fin antenna sits on it. The rear is just an extension to the racy design with a skid plate, roof spoiler and twin round exhaust tips.

The sporty car rides on attractively-sculpted 18-inch alloy wheels with 225-section tyres. The ground clearance, at 151 mm, appears to be very low.

Just like you would expect from a sporty car, the Hyundai Veloster has different drive modes up its sleeves - Normal, Eco, Smart and Sport. The modes change the riding dynamics and gas pedal feedback to a great extent.

The handles pretty well and the transmission works smoothly. However, the power delivery isn’t as punchy as you would expect a 205 PS engine to be. Moreover, there is a lot of wind noise that starts creeping inside the cabin post the 60 km/h mark. This proves that the cabin insulation isn’t the best in the segment.

Just like the exterior suggests, the engine bay of the Hyundai Veloster features a powerful heart. The car gets all its driveable power from a 1.6-litre, Gamma, turbocharged petrol engine. This engine can churn out a huge power of 204 PS that comes at 6,000 RPM, along with a highest torque of 265 Nm, which kicks in at just 1,500 RPM. The produced power is sent to the ground with the help of a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which also happens to have a paddle shifter.

The Hyundai Veloster is very compliant when it comes to offering safety bits. It gets ABS, along with electronic brakeforce distribution as well as brake assist. Inside the cabin, there are airbags all around, for the driver, side and curtains. There is a vehicle immobiliser, child seat anchor point of ISOFIX, etc. too.

However, what is even more exciting is the fact that there is a blind spot monitor given as standard, which could be a great thing as the outer mirror and small rear windows don’t help much.

Despite talking about how much the Hyundai Veloster can exude its power, one major fact is that it did become quite docile compared to what the predecessor was. Yet, it is decently powerful, though the cabin won’t help you much with the feeling, thanks to the low noise insulation level.