2019 Hyundai Veloster Review, Ratings, Specs, Prices | With koan Hoyega | 2018

The 2019 Hyundai Veloster gives asymmetry a second chance.

It’d have been easy to drop the sporty Veloster hatchback from the lineup, as crossovers take over the Hyundai brand. But the Veloster brings in buyers who might find a Civic Coupe alluring, or a VW Golf enticing.

It’d have been even easier to add a fourth door to the 2019 Veloster. Hyundai hasn’t: the two-left-door, one-right-door layout still antes up something completely unlike anything else on the road. Something no Civic or Golf can offer.

Review continues below
It’ll be fascinating to watch as the new, more compelling, better-sorted Veloster tackles the top Civic Type R and VW Golf GTI when it spins off a high-performance 275-horsepower Veloster N later this year.

THE CAR CONNECTION EXPERT RATING BREAKDOWN
Styling
7 / 10

Performance
5 / 10
Comfort & Quality
5 / 10

Safety
N/A / 10
Features
8 / 10

Fuel Economy
6 / 10
Until then, we give the 2019 Veloster a 6.2 out of 10. It’s better-looking, much more refined, and handles much better, but it’s still a slim-hipped hatch with considerably more attitude than space. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

Sold in 2.0, 2.0 Premium, turbocharged R-Spec, Turbo, and Turbo Ultimate trim, the 2019 Veloster smooths out some of the wrinkles of the first-generation model. Hyundai’s deep bag of styling tricks makes sense of its offbeat door setup, though we’re not 100 percent sure about the abrupt end of the side scoops. The interior’s similar to that in the Kona SUV and it’s agreeably finished in plastic trim and capped by a big touchscreen.

Performance ranges from naturally aspirated to fully stoked. We’ve only driven the Veloster Turbo in R-Spec and Ultimate trim, but the 201-horsepower turbo-4 pairs well with the Veloster’s stripped-down curb weight of less than 3,000 pounds. The manual Turbo has a sweetly snicky shift lever, while dual-clutch cars have clean midrange shifts, with an occasional bumble in low-speed changes.

Handling’s improved this year thanks to a stiffer body structure, and a choice between 18-inch all-season or summer tires. Quick steering isn’t quite as precise as the new multi-link suspension’s ride motions, but it’s fine. The Veloster N’s limited-slip diff and P-Zero tires will be welcome adds.

The 2019 Hyundai Veloster Turbo spends all its second-generation capital on feel-good features–and it works.
Interior space isn’t really changed, but the Veloster’s front seats have better padding. The funky door layout is more a stunt than a utility plus, but the Veloster has good cargo space once its rear seats are folded down, and occasional space in back for two adults.

Safety data isn’t in yet, but the 2019 Veloster gets standard automatic emergency braking. Blind-spot monitors and adaptive cruise control can be fitted. All Velosters get standard power features, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; Turbo Ultimate models have beige leather with natty striping, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a head-up display–but no power seats.

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2019 Hyundai Veloster
Styling
The 2019 Hyundai Veloster refines its offbeat look with an expert styling hand.
The 2019 Hyundai Veloster retains its same unique shape, with a sporty roofline and a spare door on the passenger side. But it’s reached deep into its bag of styling riffs to clean up a shape that’s more harmonious than before, more neatly formatted.

We give it a 7 for styling. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

With the 2019 Veloster, Hyundai has better blended a deep front fascia, a prominent grille, and slimmer headlights with the rest of the Hyundai lineup. Designers pushed the A-pillars rearward to stretch the hood out, tapered the roofline, and flagrantly flared the wheel arches. An abrupt end to the front side sculpting and a rear-fender flare would be worthy of a TED Talk on any other car, but the Veloster’s funked-up door collection pus,#hyundai,