I want to like the Veloster N but the rear visibility is killing it for me

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein) 01/17/2019 at 12:58 • Filed to: None

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The Hyundai Veloster N, especially with the Performance Package, ticks all my cheap performance car boxes. But I also kinda hate it, because this is what you see when you look into the back seat area of a 2019 Hyundai Veloster. It doesn’t have to be this way, Hyundai!

The original Veloster had a 2-piece glass hatch like a Prius (or EF CRX). While the sloped roofline didn’t exactly make for a great view out the back, there was at least a lot of glass to help it not feel quite so claustrophobic . It also had a panorama sunroof that was the full width of the roof, and had a small extra bit of glass behind the movable glass panel.

Look at all that glass above and behind you as you sit in the original Veloster! But on the new Veloster, Hyundai got rid of multiple pieces of glass from the old one. Not only did the rear hatch lose its extra glass, the sunroof also did. It’s still a quasi-panorama roof but now it’s just a large regular sunroof without the extra fixed piece of glass.

While the sunroof doesn’t help the rear visibility, at least it helps make the cabin of the new Veloster feel more open and airy inside. But the Veloster N doesn’t let you choose the sunroof as an option. The only option is the Performance Package—which is a great package!—but that doesn’t add any more glass to the car. If you want a Veloster N, this is all the glass you get.

And now, time for some forbidden fruit. The goddamn i30 (a.k.a. Elantra GT) N gets a panorama sunroof option. So not only does it have a much roomier back seat and trunk than the Velo ster N, and a regular upright back window you can actually see out of, nearly the whole roof can become a sunroof too. Look at all that glasssssssssss.

Hyundai USA, I’ll make you a deal: bring us the i30 N with the panorama roof, and I’ll buy one!

For Sweden > Textured Soy Protein 01/17/2019 at 13:02

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You don’t need to look back when you live life with no regrets

Textured Soy Protein > For Sweden 01/17/2019 at 13:03

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HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Textured Soy Protein 01/17/2019 at 13:06

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I test drove the old Turbo Spec-R and I hated even looking in the mirror. Looking back at all just seemed like a cave. It would benefit greatly from grey pillars and headliner.

I also very much dislike that they ditch the big hath from the first gen. I’m assuming this was done to ad more rear headroom, because thats the only reason I can fathom. I loved this big opening, it changed my mind completely about the V eloster as I hated ti when it firs t came out.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Textured Soy Protein 01/17/2019 at 13:08

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Did someone say poor rear visi bility in a hatch?

https://jalopnik.com/the-2019-mazda-3-hatchs-rear-visibility-is-precisely-as-1830754940

Textured Soy Protein > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/17/2019 at 13:10

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I also considered complaining about the shrunken hatch opening vs. the old one but the new one is still sorta kinda big-ish. There’s more to it than only the glass, at least. 

Textured Soy Protein > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 01/17/2019 at 13:11

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That’s even worse because it’s a regular practical 5-door and not a quasi-sportscar 3-door suicide door thingamabobber. 

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Textured Soy Protein 01/17/2019 at 13:11

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yeah I’m glad ti at least opens forward of the spoiler . but it’s still a rather small opening, where as the old one reminded me of an old Saab. 

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Textured Soy Protein 01/17/2019 at 13:12

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The i30 is a better and more useful vehicle, so of course we don’t get.

Those backseats in the Veloster look very flat. Probably not the best for long trips or people you like.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Textured Soy Protein 01/17/2019 at 13:12

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But damn does it look good in that red!

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Textured Soy Protein 01/17/2019 at 13:13

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all in all I think I’d take a turbo beetle over the Veloster every time. I almost did but the Beetle I wanted sold and I bought my e90 a fe w weeks later

dogisbadob > Textured Soy Protein 01/17/2019 at 13:17

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If you can’t decide between a 2-door or a 4-door, get a 3-door :p

Fuck Hyundai for not letting you get the sunroof in the Veloster N!

Al so, fuck them for not letting you get the Elantra GT with the big sunroof and manual transmission in the US! They do allow this combo in Canada, though... and up there, they offer an orange GT that you can’t get down here.

HammerheadFistpunch > Textured Soy Protein 01/17/2019 at 13:21

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I’ m not going to lie, I think the Veloster is stupid. It isn’t that great of a driver’ s car, it’ s not remotely practical...and I don’t even think it’ s that good looking?

Textured Soy Protein > dogisbadob 01/17/2019 at 13:25

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Ya know, I didn’t even realize that the Elantra GT Sport only lets you add the tech package on the DCT. For 2019 it’s being replaced by the Elantra GT N-Line which is the same basic idea but a little firmed up suspension and some other tweaks. The configurator isn’t up yet but maybe they’ll allow the manual + tech package combo?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > HammerheadFistpunch 01/17/2019 at 13:36

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The non-N veloster is that for sure. The veloster turbo has Fiesta ST power for GTI/FoST prices and size. Also the DCT is dogshit and it’s not too practical. Then the civic SI got refreshed and made it completely obsolete.

But supposedly the N is a driving revelation for well under 30 grand. Even with the performance bits you will be at 29k. Base prices are mid 20s. I’m highly optimistic about at least test driving one. And I will buy one, as I said before, when they offer it in a funky color. 

Urambo Tauro > Textured Soy Protein 01/17/2019 at 13:42

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Oof. Yeah, I hadn’t seen the driver’s POV until now but sure enough, that visibility is about as bad as I’d feared. You’re not overreacting.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Textured Soy Protein 01/17/2019 at 13:44

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Who needs to do the Birdbox challenge when you can just drive this or a camaro?

gettingoldercarguy > Textured Soy Protein 01/17/2019 at 13:45

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Counterpoint, if they add the sunroof option, all dealers will spec their orders for one, for profit you see. So the track focus message that Hyundai is pin ing for will be compromised as taller drivers won’t fit in with a helmet, higher center of gravity, etc.

Yes, I can already hear retorts that not enough people will track their Veloster and that dealers can custom order a car for you if they’re willing, but that clearly isn’t what Hyundai and Kia are going for.

They should seriously bring the I30 over for people who want all that glass up high.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > HammerheadFistpunch 01/17/2019 at 14:01

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Bettle>Veloster every time. I think the beetle is the closest comparison o n the market. The 500 is also pretty close. I guess then it would come down to how often you use the back seat. If the answer is “almost never” than 500 Abarth is   the way to go.

dogisbadob > Textured Soy Protein 01/17/2019 at 14:46

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I was talking about the non-sport (non-turbo engine) in regards to sunroof + manual availability.

As far as the turbo Sport goes, the sunroof is DCT-only on both sides of the border.

MUSASHI66 > Textured Soy Protein 01/17/2019 at 14:59

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Panorama roofs are the worst options ever on a car - my unpopular opinion. We had 2 Forester XTs, both with the humongous sunroof, and we kept the cover on 99% of the time because it was too hot otherwise. I am super happy to be able to buy cars I want without a sunroof. I don’t care if they are offered as an option, as long as I can opt out. 

Textured Soy Protein > gettingoldercarguy 01/17/2019 at 15:42

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I’m sure a few non-sunroof cars would still make their way to dealer lots for those who prefer not to have a sunroof.

But you’re right, the “because track days, bro” explanation doesn’t hold a lot of water with me. Most people just want fun cars that they enjoy driving daily and in a car like the Veloster with such limited visibility, the sunroof would help.

I don’t know why Hyundai went all in on the Veloster N for the US when the i30 N would directly compete against the GTI, Focus ST, etc. It’s like if VW decided to only sell the S cirocco here and not the GTI.

Textured Soy Protein > MUSASHI66 01/17/2019 at 15:59

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I am an unabashed sunroof lover. The only car I’ve ever bought without a sunroof was a Miata. The only time I close the shade is when I park in the summer or if I’m driving around midday and the sun is just beating down on me. 

My wife doesn’t care about them as much but her two most recent cars, an Impreza and now a CX-5, have had sunroofs because I’ve wanted them. She does end up keeping the shade closed a lot because she’s sensitive to glare but she still likes being able to open it up sometimes. 

Textured Soy Protein > dogisbadob 01/17/2019 at 16:05

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What I really, really, really want is an i30 N with the Performance Pack, panorama roof, and if I find myself back in a situation where I need to spend more time in DC traffic than I do at the moment while working from home, the DCT. Because Hyundai is working on a new 8-speed DCT they’re developing to handle the torque from the N motor.

Textured Soy Protein > HammerheadFistpunch 01/17/2019 at 16:27

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The Hyundai N models with the Performance Pack (Veloster, i30 5-door and i30 fastback) are all pretty solid as fwd hot hatches go. 275 hp, e-LSD, adaptive dampers, etc. The Veloster is the dumbest shape of car to get those goodies though.

Even if Hyundai has little faith in Americans’ thirst for 5-door hatchbacks, the fastback which is like their take on a mini S 5 Sportback would be perfect for this market.

Murricans love 5-door fastbacks marketed as “coupes.” And of course, that one comes with a sunroof, at least in non-N form.

Textured Soy Protein > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 01/17/2019 at 16:35

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Meh, I don’t like it . A while back I tried and failed to photoshop a quarter window into that pillar. The whole door glass would have to be redone to flow into it.

That 3 hatch is so disappointing to me because it’s just odd looking and impractical to see out of. While Mazda has been the default choice for sporty, reasonably reliable mainstream cars, for a while, their quality had also been dogshit for a while. I say this as a former Mazdaspeed 6 owner.

I spent a good long while during and after my ownership of that car warning people off Mazdas, but now they’ve finally got their act together with quality, I’ve gone back to recommending them. I even willingly took my wife to the Mazda dealer when we were shopping for her car and we ended up with a CX-5.

But I can’t get myself to like this 3 hatch.

way2blu does a rev update > Textured Soy Protein 01/17/2019 at 17:05

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For the same price, same horsepower, and same visibility, why not get this?

It’s even available in orange.

dogisbadob > Textured Soy Protein 01/17/2019 at 17:13

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I hate DCT’s because they drive like shit, like Donald Trump trying to drive a stick

Icbog > Textured Soy Protein 01/17/2019 at 17:43

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I mean, that’s your call.

I have a ‘16 Turbo and just laugh about the abject lack of rear visibility.

Were you aware that putting blind spot mirrors on the driver side was so common that Hyundai eventually just started building them in?

The thing is a cult classic. No, it’s not for everyone. Yeah, you have to want it. Yeah, there are sacrifices.

I’m not planning on getting rid of mine until the warranty is up.

You wouldn’t even consider it.

That’s fine.

This is why the all-benevolent Invisible Hand™ sees fit to g race us with more than one car to choose from.

Kat > Textured Soy Protein 01/17/2019 at 20:32

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I am love my Veloster. I have to 2013 turbo model. I’m a hatchback fan. I loved this car on vacation. Seats fold down for luggage and easy to pack. Heck I can out a papasan chair back there. It handled the hairpin turns traveling in the Appalachian Mountains perfectly. This little car has some pep. It’s my comuter car, grocery getter. It turns heads and I get asked often about it.  I’ll probably still have this car well into my first kid. That’s is if the Santa Cruz comes out first. I’m excited to see that!

If you aren’t use to hatchbacks and their compact feel. Then the Veloster isn’t for you. 

DoomsdayMelody > HammerheadFistpunch 01/17/2019 at 22:19

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It’s plenty practical as a hatch  and as a drivers car it’s actually decent as far as the 2nd gen is considered. I was cross shopping the veloster turbo before I bought a fiesta st. The veloster was bigger and faster, but the ST just felt like how I wanted a hatch to drive. Now with some miles on the ST there are times I wish I would’ve gone with the veloster  because it is both bigger and more comfortable. The VT is still a car I’ll consider if/when I get rid of the Fiesta.

BTTFGenesis > Textured Soy Protein 01/17/2019 at 22:44

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As much as I have an affection for the Veloster N, I think the i30N would better compete with the Golf and Civic. I suspect Hyundai USA didn’t offer the i3 0N here in the United States based on the fact that the i30N is bult in the Czech Republic. Oddly enough, the i30N isn’t available in Hyundai’s home market (only the standard model). In S outh Korea, the Veloster N is the only N model availabe. 

chris > Textured Soy Protein 01/18/2019 at 01:18

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Sounds like someone needs to find an AMC Pacer to satisfy the glass fetish once and for all. ;-)

Sir Halffast > Textured Soy Protein 01/18/2019 at 09:27

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Oh don’t be so dramatic. It’s not killing you, it’s just going to cause you to get killed.

Textured Soy Protein > Sir Halffast 01/18/2019 at 09:49

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Textured Soy Protein > chris 01/18/2019 at 09:50

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I prefer my AMC Pacers to be flattened.

Shankems > Textured Soy Protein 01/18/2019 at 16:35

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What are you talking about? I can see those rear seats just fine.

Vectogeek > Textured Soy Protein 01/18/2019 at 16:40

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I like the Veloster styling way better the the Elantra GT. When I get a sport hatch back I want something that stands out and looks different than all the other bland cars and  is fun to drive. The Veloster N and Turbo models hit all those marks for me.