Cooler hatch

What we like:

Excellent DCT gearbox

lively paint options with matching interior colours

What we dislike:

Still needs work in the engine department unfortunately

What you probably can’t tell is that for 2016 the Veloster’s drive train has been upgraded with a 7 speed double clutch gearbox.

This is a very good thing, because if the performance of this DCT is anything to go by, the Korean marque is catching up to continental Europe at a pace that should alarm car makers from there. Shifts are bang on and nearly instantaneous, which is not something you’d expect from a relatively inexpensive little hatch from this side of the world.

You can take control of the box via steering wheel mounted paddles like you’d expect and to be honest you should, because the gearbox when left to its own devices is more inclined to cruise than bruise. And besides, this being the closest thing Hyundai has got to making a hot-hatch, driving it in manual mode injects a lot more fun to driving the Veloster Turbo and rewards you with such performance that even ZF’s acclaimed 8 speeder will have to concede.

The engine however, isn’t such a peach. It’s turbocharged yes, and makes now 201 PS and 265 Nm which on the internet sounds like a lot; but in reality the car as mentioned already tends to want to be sedate rather than feisty. Those figures mean that the car doesn’t want for agility or acceleration when you’re driving like the Basic Theory Test guide instructs, but put your foot way down and you’ll find that the car isn’t as fast as the brochure will have you believe.

That said it’s the car’s handling that really shines, with the stiff suspension set up giving it excellent body control at the expense of a limo ride. It’s not uncomfortable by any stretch, but hit a couple of severe imperfections or high humps and you’ll notice the “performance oriented” suspension set up immediately. But the firm set up also means that the car is very controllable and predictable on the limit; oversteer can be induced easily and just as easily controlled making for rather interesting driving.

Steering feel can be altered artificially via a button the wheel, which gives you three modes – Comfort, Normal and Sport – the best being Normal which isn’t too light or too heavy. Steering could also use a bit more feedback but in general it doesn’t ever come up unless you’re thrashing the car around.

But as I said, in our automotive landscape arguably looks is everything and at this price point you probably won’t regret buying the Veloster Turbo given that Cat A COEs are now slightly higher than Cat B, in which this car belongs.

Credits: Story and Photos by Alvan Sio