Turbo 2dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6M)
Turbo 2dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 7A)
Value Edition w/Black Interior 3dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6AM)
Value Edition w/Black Interior 3dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6AM)
SE FWD
Turbo 2dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 7A)
w/Black Interior 3dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6AM)
Turbo R-Spec FWD
Turbo 2dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 7A)
w/Yellow Interior Accent 3dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6AM)
Value Edition w/Black Interior 3dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6AM)
Don’t want to go far?
Find all cars near me?Turbo 2dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6M)
Turbo Rally Edition 2dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6M)
2dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
Re:Flex 2dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
Value Edition w/Black Interior 3dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6AM)
Turbo R-Spec FWD
Turbo 2dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 7A)
w/Yellow Interior Accent 3dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6AM)
w/Yellow Interior Accent 3dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6AM)
Overall Rating
The 2016 Hyundai Veloster offers a punchy turbocharged engine, decent fuel economy, and user-friendly tech features. Its standard powertrain is not that powerful and comes mated to a six-speed automatic as standard and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is optional.
The 2016 Hyundai Veloster is bringing in an upgrade with aesthetic changes including the newer wheels and tires along with refreshing 7-speed automatic transmission as per trims. It has also got its infotainment system updated for the 2016 model year. Joining as the newest configuration in the lineup beside Cpe, Turbo, and Turbo R-Spec is the Rally Edition that has got its own exclusive mechanical adjustments.
Featuring a sporty interior with a cargo capacity of up to 34.7 cu-ft and aggressive exterior styling, the Hyundai Veloster has been priced at a base MSRP of $18,835. And, with the same 138 hp 1.6L I-4 for the base and 201 hp turbo variant engine for the rest starring under the platform, it churns that punch to keep you seated aback against the pumps of the Mazda 3 and Honda Civic.Â
If your ideal car is one that is small, fuel-efficient, and offers great value, a compact hatchback could be the way to go. There are many cars in this class that meet those requirements, and some are even fun to drive. At first glance, this Hyundai hatchback appears to fit into this subsection, with a wide, low stance and muscular fender flares. But the actual driving experience may leave you wanting.
Value Edition w/Black Interior 3dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6AM)
Turbo 2dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 7A)
w/Black Interior 3dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6AM)
2dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
2dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6A)
The 2016 Hyundai Veloster offers a punchy turbocharged engine, decent fuel economy, and user-friendly tech features. Its standard powertrain is not that powerful and comes mated to a six-speed automatic as standard and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is optional.
The 2016 Hyundai Veloster is bringing in an upgrade with aesthetic changes including the newer wheels and tires along with refreshing 7-speed automatic transmission as per trims. It has also got its infotainment system updated for the 2016 model year. Joining as the newest configuration in the lineup beside Cpe, Turbo, and Turbo R-Spec is the Rally Edition that has got its own exclusive mechanical adjustments.
Featuring a sporty interior with a cargo capacity of up to 34.7 cu-ft and aggressive exterior styling, the Hyundai Veloster has been priced at a base MSRP of $18,835. And, with the same 138 hp 1.6L I-4 for the base and 201 hp turbo variant engine for the rest starring under the platform, it churns that punch to keep you seated aback against the pumps of the Mazda 3 and Honda Civic.Â
The 2016 Veloster comes in four trims: base, Turbo, R-Spec, and Rally Edition. The Hyundai Veloster base trim has a 7-inch touch screen, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, a USB port, a CD player, keyless entry, cruise control, air conditioning, cloth upholstery, and alloy wheels. The Hyundai Veloster Turbo adds a zippier turbocharged engine, leather seats, heated front seats, Blue Link connectivity, a Dimension sound system, and quicker steering. Both of these trims are available with a navigation system, rear parking sensors, automatic climate control, and a sunroof.
Trim |
Base, 3dr coupe |
R-Spec |
Turbo |
Rally Edition |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$18,000 |
$21,600 |
$22,600 |
$23,950 |
Key Features |
Aluminum wheels |
Aluminum wheels & tire pressure monitoring system |
Aluminum wheels & tire pressure monitoring system |
Keyless Start |
|
Backup camera |
Alarm and backup camera |
Adjustable Steering Wheel |
Steering Wheel Controls |
|
Auto-off headlights |
Auto-off headlights and fog lamps |
Fog Lamps |
Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel |
|
Keyless entry |
Keyless entry and start |
Premium Sound System |
Power Driver Seat |
|
A trip computer |
Remote trunk release |
Onboard Hands-Free Communications System |
Driver Lumbar |
|
Pass-Through Rear Seat |
Heated mirrors |
Heated Front Seats |
Leather seats |
|
Wireless cell phone hookup |
Climate control |
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors |
|
|
Bucket Seats |
Dual-zone A/C |
Electronic Stability Control |
|
|
Cloth seats |
Premium Synthetic Seats |
Traction Control |
|
|
Auxiliary audio input |
Heated front seats |
||
|
HD radio |
MP3 player |
The Veloster Turbo R-Spec trim adds a stiffer suspension, a short-throw shifter, and sport seats with red accents. The Rally Edition adds blue exterior paint and blue seat accents. The base and Veloster Turbo models are available with a Tech package, which includes rear parking sensors, automatic headlights, keyless ignition and entry, automatic climate control, a 115-volt household-style power outlet, and a navigation system with the new second-gen Blue Link system (includes improvements such as Google-based navigation search and engine remote start).
We Recommend
If your ideal car is one that is small, fuel-efficient, and offers great value, the Hyundai Veloster R-Spec could be the way to go. There are many cars in this class that meet those requirements, and some are even fun to drive. At first glance, this Hyundai hatchback appears to fit into this subsection, with a wide, low stance and muscular fender flares. But the actual driving experience may leave you wanting.
The Hyundai Veloster has two engine options: a 1.6L Inline-4 with 132 horsepower, and a turbocharged version of this engine with 201 horsepower. A six-speed manual transmission and FWD are standard; six- and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions are available (sometimes referred to as “EcoShift”).
The standard engine yields decent fuel economy but feels underpowered and poky. The turbocharged engine is far more refined, and it scoots the Veloster up to speed confidently with little turbo lag – though it’s not quite “hot-hatch” fast. The six-speed manual shifts cleanly, though the EcoShift dual-clutch transmissions can be clunky and hesitant to change gear at lower speeds. The 2016 Hyundai Veloster goes from 0 to 60 in 5.9 seconds, making it fairly quick on its feet.
Model |
Hyundai Veloster |
Mazda 3 Hatchback |
Honda Civic Hatchback |
---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$18,000 |
$17,845 |
$19,050 |
Engine |
Regular Unleaded I-4 1.6 L/97 |
Regular Unleaded I-4 2.0 L/122 |
Regular Unleaded I-4 2.0 L/122 |
Drivetrain |
RWD |
RWD |
RWD |
Transmission |
6-speed manual |
6-speed manual |
6-speed manual |
Power |
132hp@6,300rpm |
155hp@6,000rpm |
158hp@6,500rpm |
Torque |
120lb-ft@4,850rpm |
150lb-ft@4,000rpm |
138lb-ft@4,800rpm |
0-60 mph (seconds) |
5.9 |
7.5 |
7.2 |
Quarter-mile (mph) |
15.6 |
16 |
15.5 |
Top Speed (mph) |
154 |
130 |
125 |
The 2016 Mazda 3 hatchback is a far better used-car pick than the Veloster. The Mazda pleases with playful handling and a composed ride that the Veloster can’t match. It also offers a roomier cabin with better-quality materials, more cargo space, higher fuel economy, and more advanced safety features, like forward collision warning. That said, used Mazda 3 hatchbacks are often pricier than used Velosters.
The 2016 Honda Civic is a better pick than the Veloster. Great safety scores and a handsome interior make the Civic a fine choice for a daily driver, and there is plenty of passenger room no matter where you sit. The Civic also gets excellent gas mileage and its peppy engines and balanced handling make it more fun to drive than the Veloster.
The Veloster’s non-turbo engine gets an EPA-estimated 25 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway (or 27/34 mpg city/highway with the manual transmission), which is good for the compact car class. The turbo engine lowers these fuel economy ratings slightly to 22/32 mpg (23/33 mpg, manual).
Model |
Hyundai Veloster |
Mazda 3 Hatchback |
Honda Civic Hatchback |
---|---|---|---|
MPG (City) (mpg) |
25 |
29 |
31 |
MPG (Highway) (mpg) |
33 |
39 |
42 |
MPG (Combined) (mpg) |
28 |
33 |
35 |
Fuel Capacity (gallon) |
13.2 |
13.2 |
12.4 |
When it comes to the most fuel-efficient among the three cars, the Honda Civic takes the top spot with a combined mpg of 35 and 31/42 - city and highway respectively. The Mazda 3, which has 33 mpg combined, is not the worst among the competition but is certainly not the best as it marginally beats the Hyundai Veloster who has the least figures among them when it comes to mpg, of just 28 mpg combined.
The Hyundai Veloster has four seats and a unique three-door layout. There’s one door on the driver’s side and two on the passenger side to provide easier access to the rear seats. The front seats are comfortable and have generous lateral support. This is especially true of the available sport seats. The passenger comfort isn't distributed evenly throughout the vehicle. The Veloster is spacious up front, even with the available sunroof or panoramic roof, which reduces headroom slightly.
The rear seats are comfy as well, but the headroom is tight for adults due to the coupe-like roofline. Rear visibility is also slim. Cloth seats are standard; leather and heated seats are available. The Veloster’s cabin is attractively styled and echoes the car’s sporty exterior, though some of the interior plastics are hard and feel low-quality. If you're tall, you'll fit just fine in the Veloster's front seats, which adjust to a wide range of sizes (despite the lack of a tilt adjustment for those seats' lower cushions).Â
Model |
Hyundai Veloster |
Mazda 3 Hatchback |
Honda Civic Hatchback |
---|---|---|---|
Seating Capacity |
4 |
5 |
5 |
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
39.0/55.6/43.9 |
38.6/57.2/42.2 |
39.3/57.0/42.3 |
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
35.3/54.0/31.7 |
37.6/54.4/35.8 |
34.6/56.9/35.9 |
Trunk Volume (cu- ft.) |
12 |
12.4 |
12.1 |
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The Turbo Velosters have heated leather front seats and an eight-way-adjustable power driver seat. The back seat in the Veloster is just large enough to be useful, but you may end up conflicted about that extra side door, as we did after a six-month extended drive with a Veloster. It's a tight back seat, for sure, and getting in and out is difficult with the narrow door opening.
All 2016 Veloster hatchbacks come standard with a 7-inch touch screen, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, a USB port, a CD player, and support for Pandora internet radio. Available features include a navigation system and Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics (which allows owners to remotely lock/unlock their vehicle and call for help in an emergency).
The Veloster’s audio and climate controls are user-friendly and conveniently arranged. The touch screen has a simple menu structure as well. However, we find it important to mention that the overall infotainment setup feels very dated, and certainly is a place where Hyundai could have done better. Some key infotainment features offered with the 2016 Hyundai Veloster includeL
The 2016 Hyundai Veloster is a lot of things, all at the same time. By design, it's some sporty coupe and a stylish oddity, with some of the functionality of a versatile five-door thrown in the mix. While we can name plenty of vehicles that have tried to be genre-benders in such ways and failed to pull it off, either visually or functionally, the Veloster succeeds, for the most part.
The Veloster is more than a coupe, as it has two doors on the passenger side and a single, larger one (like a true coupe). On the passenger side, the rearmost door is short, so it preserves the curvaceous roofline but allows just a little more practicality. While we're not sure whether to call this a three-door or four-door hatchback, it piles on the personality.
Model |
Hyundai Veloster |
Mazda 3 Hatchback |
Honda Civic Hatchback |
---|---|---|---|
Curb Weight (lbs) |
2679 |
2869 |
2739 |
Length (in.) |
166.1 |
180.3 |
176.9 |
Width (in.) |
70.5 |
70.7 |
70.8 |
Height (in.) |
55.1 |
53.3 |
54.9 |
Wheelbase (in.) |
104.3 |
106.3 |
106.3 |
The Veloster is maybe a little less of a trendsetter inside, yet it's decidedly sporty. Hyundai looked to motorcycles for some of the inspiration—there are hints of a saddle in the center-console design, while the air vents are meant to look like the ends of tailpipes—and in general, the design keeps it simple. The Hyundai falls last in the lot like the Mazda and the Honda top the list in terms of curb weight, length, width, height, and even the wheelbase. Some key exterior features offered with the 2016 Hyundai Veloster include:
The new Hyundai Veloster carries a mixed set of information with respect to safety. While there's a good set of features, its occupant-protection ratings aren't quite top-tier. All Veloster models carry a long list of safety features, including electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes with brake assist, and six standard airbags. Models equipped with the dual-clutch transmission get hill-start assist, to help keep the vehicle from rolling backward on standing starts up steep inclines. A rearview camera system and a driver's blind-spot mirror are included in all models. Some of the highlight safety features offered with the 2016 Hyundai Veloster include:
The 2016 Hyundai Veloster offers a punchy turbocharged engine, decent fuel economy, and user-friendly tech features. But, ultimately, it’s not a great pick if you’re shopping for a compact car. The Veloster only has four seats. On top of that, it offers marginal rear-seat and cargo space, and it has an uncomfortable ride over rough pavement. There are better – and sportier – hatchbacks in this class, including the 2016 Mazda 3 and the Honda Civic. In the end, we would classify the 2016 Hyundai Veloster as an acquired taste. If you're genuinely into the quirks the Veloster has to offer, you'd possibly find it an attractive buy. However, for most people who are looking to buy a usable compact hatch, there certainly are far better options in the market.