New King of the Hot Hatches? Veloster N Reviewed

"Driving Sports TV" (drivingsports)
04/14/2020 at 11:03 • Filed to: hot hatch

The Veloster N gets so much right and it starts at under $30,000. Honda and MINI should be watching their backs. Full review with Launch Control tests, slalom and more.

DISCUSSION (22)

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Driving Sports TV
04/14/2020 at 11:18

I 100% get why people love it. But having to drive it every day for years (something no reviewers ever do, which is not their fault), I just couldn’t live with the interior. It’s not even on the same planet as a GTI.

Is it more engaging to drive? Seems like it. But if we’re honest with ourselves, do we push our cars to the point where that matters every day? Or is comfort, luxury, and refinement more important?

For me, I’d rather drive the “nicer” car. But, that’s just my opinion.

Driving Sports TV > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
04/14/2020 at 11:26

The Veloster N has only been out for a year... do you mean versus the standard model?

Tripper > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
04/14/2020 at 11:30

THIS. VW’s edge over all of its competition is that the cars are leaps and bounds nicer while delivering 85-99% of the drive depending on the model.

3point8isgreat > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
04/14/2020 at 11:36

While not fancy, I find my N’s interior to at least be comfortable. But comfort for me is mostly about how the seat and layout feels.

My issue with the GTI is that I’ve never heard anything good about their reliability. So they were immediately off my list since I wanted something that may not be a nightmare 10+ years down the line. I of course realize that the horror stories are what you’re more likely to hear, and that newer cars are basically all pretty reliable now days so it’d probably be perfectly fine . But still couldn’t get over the Volkswagen reliability stigma. Which even I found sort of sad since the GTI did effectively tick every box for what I needed.

... That and I wanted something with a bit of silliness. Which the bright blue paint and loud mode on demand accomplish quite well. As soon as I heard the car startup I new I was sold on it.

3point8isgreat > Driving Sports TV
04/14/2020 at 11:47

I think the non-N models can actually get nicer interiors than the N. I had a good laugh at the fact that a car several thousand cheaper would’ve had more luxury features.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Driving Sports TV
04/14/2020 at 11:53

My point is that I’d rather have a more upscale, less pure performance GTI than the more brash, sportier, less luxurious Veloster.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > 3point8isgreat
04/14/2020 at 11:55

Can’t fault you for an of those points. I get it! Anecdotally, I’ve only had 1 issue between 2 GTIs over ~60k miles combined . It was a simple fix covered under warranty.

CobraJoe > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
04/14/2020 at 11:57

For me, I’d rather drive the “nicer” car. But, that’s just my opinion.

For me, I’d happily give up refinement and quality interior for a fun driving car.

Sure, nicer interiors are some comfort when stuck in traffic, but if the car doesn’t provide entertainment when I get some open road, I’ll always grow to hate it.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > CobraJoe
04/14/2020 at 12:05

That’s the GTI’s point though, best of both worlds.

Just because it’s only 90% as sharp as a Veloster N, does not mean it isn’t sharper , more engaging, more to ssable and fun than 99% of the cars on sale today .

Tripper > CobraJoe
04/14/2020 at 12:15

Agree but I’d have the Subaru in this category if I was going to sacrifice niceness/ quality for a fun drive

feather-throttle-not-hair > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
04/14/2020 at 12:45

I definitely feel the opposite, I’d much rather get that little twinge of excitement every time I approach my vehicle to go for a drive. Don’t get me wrong, I’d live with a Gti, it’s a good vehicle I’d be happy to own, but if given the option I’d almost always take the more special feeling car. I also dailied a 350z for almost 14 years, was the interior bad? Yup. Even worse than what you’re probably imagining right now! But the seats we’re comfortable, the driving position good and ultimately it was fine as a daily. Cars are really expensive and I tend to buy for the long term (witness: 14 years in a Z car) I want the car to be about as special as possible within reason. You have to get to caterham or at the very least lotus levels of impracticality before I’m not trying to daily a car.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Driving Sports TV
04/14/2020 at 12:48

I just wish we got the much better looking and more practical i30 N. The veloster is still cool but knowing there’s a better car that shares the chassis rubs me the wrong way.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > feather-throttle-not-hair
04/14/2020 at 12:54

All excellent points, and I love that people love their cars even if they lack a little refinement. Hell, I dro ve my 71 Nova every day in the summer it didn’t rain. B ut I DO get that tinge of excitement about driving my car. It’s still more engaging, tossable, dynamic, and fun than most cars on the road.

My favorite part of the GTI is that it provides the excitement you’re talking about while ALSO delivering in the refinement and luxury (tech) department.

feather-throttle-not-hair > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
04/14/2020 at 13:03

Yeah, as I was writing that, I was like “a gti would also make me excited to drive it every day...just slightly less than the Hyundai.”

I think there’s a little bit of a snob factor for me if I’m honest, not in terms of brands but rather in terms of rarity. I had a celica all trac before the Z and I always missed having something rare, despite the fact that the Z was pretty much better in every way other than inclement weather performance. That’s a stupid irrational thing to consider when picking a car, but choosing a car isn’t necessarily a rational decision anyway.

Anyway, I get the GTi love. It makes sense to me, just different strokes for different folks.

CobraJoe > Tripper
04/14/2020 at 13:14

I’ve had a turbo subaru. Also didn’t like it.

Turbo, manual, AWD is a horrible combination for my tastes. Maybe modern turbos would be better, but I find the non-drama of AWD to be very boring.

412GTI > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
04/14/2020 at 13:18

I think all of us GTI guys own them for the same reasons. I seriously love mine for that sort of dual personality of comfort & refinement + nimble & fun when you want it. Totally get why some people would want a more raw experience but I love how we can get in our cars and do a 7hr road trip with less fatigue. Hard to beat for the price.

CobraJoe > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
04/14/2020 at 13:31

That’s the GTI’s point though, best of both worlds.

I have yet to find a vehicle that is the best of both worlds.

Either they’re refined and comfy, which dulls the experience, or they’re raucous and hillarious but tiring.

Granted, I haven’t driven a modern GTI, but I have driven comfy cars that are fast and boring, and plastic rattle traps that are slow but fun as hell.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > CobraJoe
04/14/2020 at 13:36

Fair, maybe “has a strong presence in both worlds” is more apt.

Tripper > CobraJoe
04/14/2020 at 13:49

Yeah I mean AWD is super predictable, TC is pretty much unnecessary. The My WRX eventually became boring, but the STI I bought after was ROWDY.

CobraJoe > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
04/14/2020 at 13:49

That sounds well put.

I’ve often thought as the GTI as one of the “nicest” car that I wouldn’t get sick of.

CobraJoe > Tripper
04/14/2020 at 13:57

Mine was a Legacy GT with a stage 2 tune and a couple of mods. Mostly, I couldn’t stand the turbo lag (or the low RPM boost cutoff). By the time you get on the boost, you’re already needing to shift and have to start building boost again.

AWD was a blast on gravel or snow, but I always found myself on dry pavement instead. I’d much rather have RWD shenanigans, or even some FWD tire frying than total grip.

Tripper > CobraJoe
04/14/2020 at 15:10

Agree that low end is trash in the subarus. The STi is geared so you’d never know it but you’re forever shifting. RWD is it. FWD can be fun but I hate the feeling of being pulled as opposed to push ed by the car.