OVERVIEW An eccentric little hatchback that just so happens to be a firecracker of a car PROSCapable and entertaining performance, crisp manual transmission, hatchback lends a sense of practicality CONSHarsh ride, some interior materials not quite up to par VALUE FOR MONEYExcellent WHAT TO CHANGE?Make the interior a bit nicer HOW TO SPEC IT?Exactly like this Finally. Hyundai finally did it.To be fair, the Veloster has always stood out from the masses. Its three-door configuration and catfish-like maw definitely pushed the little Hyundai more towards eccentric rather than generic, but it never quite had the performance to back up the styling. Sure, you could spec it with a 201-horsepower turbo-four and a six-speed manual, and a few special edition models throughout the years got upgraded suspension bits and tires, but thats about it. The Veloster mightve been promising on paper, but it didnt live up to that performance potential where it actually matters you know, in real life. Not anymore. For 2019, the Veloster grows up. It keeps the funky three-door layout, but the curves and bulges are squared-off and deflated, and the interior is a bit more conventionally laid out. But most importantly, Hyundai has introduced what well now expect from any vehicle getting the full N treatment, transforming the Veloster from eccentric little car into what it shouldve been since Day One a proper, no-nonsense hot hatch. Finally.Just like its Turbo forerunner, on paper the Veloster N is promising. This time around, a 2.0-litre turbo-four kicks out 275 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, available as early as 1,450 rpm, and its hooked up to a six-speed manual. The N also sees a laundry list of upgrades to the chassis, suspension, and powertrain, including more bracing and cooling ducts, stickier tires, an electronic limited-slip differential and adjustable dampers, an active exhaust system, and you know what? We can go over all of the Ns enhancements over the standard Veloster with a fine-tooth comb, but theres no fun in that.The key difference here is, in the real world, the N actually delivers on the performance its spec sheet promises. Set your foot on the clutch pedal and prod the start button, and the turbo-four wakes up with a bark. Theres a touch of torque steer when you nail the go-fast pedal, but the N pulls hard and builds speed, err, rather effectively. The clutch is heavy enough but still easy to modulate in traffic, and the shifter smoothly and satisfyingly clicks into each gear. Stability control and the automatic rev-matching downshifts can be fully disabled. Steering is surprisingly communicative, and effort varies depending on which drive mode youve activated and theres plenty to choose from. Youre kidding yourself if you think the Veloster N will ride as well as a Palisade, or even an Elantra, but in its default Normal mode, it rides well enough over bumps and rough pavement. The exhaust mode is fairly subdued, too still growly, but it doesnt drone at all. Bump the car into Sport mode and the steering becomes a little heavier, the suspension a little stiffer in exchange for better cornering, and the exhaust a little louder. N mode lets you take full advantage of the Velosters performance potential, but its not the best choice for daily driving it hunkers down and takes a corner incredibly well, but the ride is unbearable. Kidney-punching levels of unbearable. Youll enjoy N Custom mode the most, letting you have (almost) free rein to configure the powertrain and chassis just the way you like it. Sadly, the Veloster resorts to Normal mode on startup, but after all, you cant have your cake and eat it, too. Thankfully, you can easily shuffle between the drive and N modes via the baby blue buttons on the steering wheel.Yes, the N is another performance car saddled by adaptive this, sport-plus that, rev-matching whatever, and driving modes out the wazoo. But even with all this, its still a legitimately fun and engaging car. The N comes alive on a snaking backroad, tackling corner after corner flat and without breaking a sweat. Its borderline ridiculous how much speed you can carry; this is a front-wheel-drive hot hatch, yet theres little understeer and the sticky Pirelli P-Zero tires just refuse to let go. Theres an ever-so-slight lick of torque steer if you pin the throttle too soon, but thats not a dealbreaker when the hilarious cracks, pops, and burbles from the exhaust pipes as you flick through the gears slap a big, stupid smile onto your face. This is one firecracker of a car.Inside the N, the apple doesnt fall far from the tree. This means a no-nonsense layout with physical buttons and knobs, an eight-inch touchscreen handling infotainment duties, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. There are a few bits letting you know this is a special little car: The stitching, various trim bits, and even the seat belts are finished in a powdery blue
Origin: Car Review: 2019 Hyundai Veloster N