Car shopping is accelerating - and I'm not interested in a Veloster N

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
09/10/2020 at 13:11 • Filed to: None

Yesterday I test drove a Veloster N, and no, I will not be buying a Veloster N. I’ve been sorta kinda casually looking at cars for the past year or so, thinking about when I’d inevitably replace my 335xi.

The Veloster N hasn’t really been on my list because I’ve never been much a fan of its body shape, and to get the N performance goodies you give up a lot of equipment that’s available in other Veloster trims, or even compared to more direct competitors. For example, the main car that makes me not want a Veloster N, the Civic Si, at least gives you heated seats and a sunroof. The 2020 Si also has active cruise.

But, I know the 2021 Veloster N is arriving soon, and in addition to an optional DCT, it’s at least gaining a few things like better looking seats that will now be heated, and some active safety gizmos. These might be unique to the DCT, I’m unclear . The 2021 updates were just enough to make me curious enough to try a 2020 to see how I feel about the overall car.

If you specifically want a rorty sporty hot hatch and can put up with some compromises, it’s a good car, but not a fit for what I’m seeking in my next car.

For those unfamiliar with the Veloster N, when equipped with its optional Performance Package (which becomes standard for 2021) it has a 275 hp 2.0 liter turbo 4, a 6-speed manual with auto rev matching , electronically controlled LSD, adaptive shocks, and many drive mode adjustments. On paper this is a great hot hatch formula, but it’s packaged in the less-than-optimal Veloster body.

The chassis tuning was good, but a little disappointing to me. The steering is precise with some feel, but not tons. The diff is good and seems effective. The car takes turns very competently but obviously doesn’t rotate with the throttle like a rwd or awd car. The ride even in comfort mode is just ok. It handles bumps alright, but it never gets to the point where I felt it was a great handling car that also can comfy itself up enough for me to relax & cruise.

Steering & damping are two areas where I feel the Veloster N falls short of my preferred cheap ‘n cheerful hot not-a-hatch, the Civic Si. C ompared to the adaptive shocks on the Civic Si, the Veloster N’s shocks don’t quite soften up enough. The Civic Si isn’t known as a particularly comfy car, but its seats are more plush and it has just enough extra compliance vs. the Veloster N . But, the Civic Si’s steering destroys the Veloster N. The steering on the Veloster N gets the job done, but the Si’s turn-in response is a whole order of magnitude sharper, and you can feel everything that’s happening with the front end, including feeling the Si’s fully mechanical LSD clawing its way out of corners as you power out of them. You don’t really get that fwd/LSD clawing feeling through the Veloster N’s wheel.

The power’s enough to feel quick-ish, but not overwhelming. My butt dyno is all out of whack because I drive my full bolt-ons + Stage 2 tuned 335xi. The Veloster N is not as fast as my car, of course. But the Veloster N at least feels somewhat punchier than other, less-powerful turbo 4 cars like the Civic Si or VW GTI/GLI. But not that much faster.

The exhaust in its sportiest mode is suitably farty and obnoxious, but doesn’t sound nearly as good as more desirable cylinder formats like an I6 or V8 etc. There are some turbo 4s that sound really excellent, and this is in the upper range among turbo 4s, but it can get a little tiring. Putting the exhaust in quiet mode quiets things down a bit but it’s not a quiet car.

The shifter is not great. It works, but the reverse lockout is clumsy, and it’s just not a nice snick-snick shifter like you would get from companies like Honda. I couldn’t get any of the rev matching settings to consistently match revs so I just turned it off and matched revs myself. Overall the transmission was fine. If you must have a stick, you won’t hate it. But for me, it was mediocre enough while putzing arou nd town that if I were more interested in a Veloster N, I’d most likely go for the DCT.

Now, about that compromised Veloster body shape. I’ve been one of those folks carping about how Hyundai should’ve sold the i30 N here as the Elantra GT N, but that ain’t happening so whatever. The Veloster body is less compromised than I worried it would be, but still compromised. The rear window is pretty tiny. It’s at least relatively upright so you can see cars behind you but the opening is still smaller than ideal. The side mirrors are at least good at helping mitigate this but they’re no replacement for a bigger damn window. The trunk is ok but smaller than other regular 5-door hatches. The back seat juuust passes the sit-behind-myself test (I’m 5'11" with short legs & long torso).

Compared to a Civic Si sedan, the Si is much roomier in general, especially in back. It’s easier to see out of, and has a sunroof. Overall, it’s a normal friggin car which is fine enough to cruise around in without feeling all closed up inside, which is definitely the feeling I get when I drive the Veloster. If the Veloster had a sunroof, that would help mitigate the claustrophobic feeling , but the nice big sunroof on the Veloster Turbo isn’t available on the N.

I know I’ve had various negative things to say about the Veloster N, but overall it’s a good car for the right buyer. I personally would rather save $5k+ and get a Civic Si, which is not that much slower than the Veloster N in a straight line , while offering much better daily driver livability including its damping , a better shifter, and fantastic steering.

DISCUSSION (18)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Textured Soy Protein
09/10/2020 at 13:16

What else is on the list?

Tripper > Textured Soy Protein
09/10/2020 at 13:19

“ The exhaust in its sportiest mode is suitably farty and obnoxious”

Thank you! My neighbor has the elantra variant and I think that every time I hear it. It’s not even like a “ funny haha fart”, it’s like a “ sad, stinky, letitgoatthewrongtime fuckin embarrassing fart”

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Textured Soy Protein
09/10/2020 at 13:44

what kind of car are you looking for tho?

sn4cktimes > Textured Soy Protein
09/10/2020 at 13:46

I had a 2013 Veloster Turbo for a while. The oil pump broke and a chunk held down the exhaust valves on the first cylinder... The engine blew up and took the auto transmission with it.

smobgirl > Textured Soy Protein
09/10/2020 at 13:54

This sounds like a James May review.

Textured Soy Protein > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
09/10/2020 at 13:59

The list is insane and stupid and runs the gamut but since I’m actually potentially maybe close to buying something I don’t want to ruin the “surprise.”

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Textured Soy Protein
09/10/2020 at 14:00

Gotcha - look forward to updates.

Textured Soy Protein > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
09/10/2020 at 14:04

In the most general sense, I want something that doesn’t beat me up like my 335xi but is still fun to drive, and also holds its value, is reliable, and cheap to fix/maintain.

TechJunky > Textured Soy Protein
09/10/2020 at 14:04

As an owner of a 2018 Si, I fully endorse that option. Its been a great daily. There are faster cars, su re, but its quick enough to not be boring, rides well enough to not be tiring, and is optioned enough to not feel lacking. I can fit a kid in the back comfortable, get 30mpg around the city (when I was commuting pre-covid, I averaged 34-35mpg consistently), and it is definitely affordable. The new features (radar cruise, led headlights, etc) make it an even better value now.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Textured Soy Protein
09/10/2020 at 14:41

With the body-style as it is... the question isn’t can you sit behind yourself on the driver’s side with the coupe door.

but can you sit behind yourself on the passenger’s side, where the two doors are.

Veloster has always seemed like a lost opportunity. An interesting asymmetrical layout, stunted by a squashed profile and too-small size.

Pininfarina Cambiano concept was a much better execution of the asymmetrical door configuration, but should have had a rear fastback hatch, rather than a trunk, or a stunted little hatch with too little visibility.

Kinja'd!!!

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Textured Soy Protein
09/10/2020 at 14:42

ND2 miata?

Textured Soy Protein > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
09/10/2020 at 14:45

I got in the passenger side back door and slid over to the driver’s side.

Kinja'd!!!

Textured Soy Protein > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
09/10/2020 at 14:45

I probably should’ve added, “reasonably practical.”

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Textured Soy Protein
09/10/2020 at 14:46

Dammit!

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Textured Soy Protein
09/10/2020 at 15:07

Infiniti G37? You could find a (rare) manual as well. Doesn’t hold value a lot but better than BMW I suppose and they’re damn reliable

Textured Soy Protein > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
09/10/2020 at 15:25

Probably should’ve mentioned I really want Android Auto.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Textured Soy Protein
09/10/2020 at 15:47

Ah, ok so including that condition, it has to be one of the later model years sport compacts. Like you mentioned Civic Si, might want to check out Kia forte GT or Hyundai Elantra sport. Dunno which year the WRX got android but that’s another popular option.

Or just get an older sport sedan and swap out the headunit for around $500

Textured Soy Protein > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
09/10/2020 at 16:31

I’m really not trying to get an older car. I feel like mainstream normal modern cars are getting really nice and refined. Like, I get in my wife’s CX-5, or basically any decent rental car, and I feel like ahhh this is perfectly nice and chill and comfy. Not luxury, just comfy & quiet . So I’m trying to get that, but with something that’s also got some proper sporty chops to it .

All the equipment that can be loaded up into the various Hyunkia 1.6T models is appealing, but their chassis isn’t really in the conversation with the Si. They’re more like well- equipped commuter runabouts with better-than-base power, but without serious performance hardware.

Let’s just say I’m past the point of needing suggestions.