Just when you thought you’ve seen it all from Hyundai this year, here comes the 2012 Veloster Ecoshift DCT with her three doors, aerodynamic design in a hatchback coupe! If you are a leader and definitely not a follower, take this Veloster for a test drive.
Exterior
What you read above is correct, as the Veloster is both a coupe and a hatchback but offers a revolutionary passenger side forward hinged rear door. In the past, some coupes have used limited access rear hinged access doors. These coupes have required opening the front door before the rear door could be opened, an inconvenience for drivers and passengers, and difficult to use in tight parking lot situations. Hyundai’s new thinking implements a conventionally hinged door on the passenger side, providing safe and easy access to the rear seats and a hidden door handle to maintain its coupe design. You have to do a double take to even notice the neatly designed door into the curved exterior of the Veloster. Our century white test model sported 18 inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, chrome grille surrounded with piano black headlights and front fog lights. From the hood scoop to the muscular and athletic appearance this car is a looker!
Interior
The roomy and stylish interior of the 2012 Hyundai Veloster Ecoshift DCT doesn’t disappoint with its enormous panoramic sunroof, piano black interior accents, dimension premium audio with 8 speakers that totally rocks, external amp and subwoofer, leatherette bolster seats and door inserts, navigation system with rearview camera, automatic headlights, electronic push button start, rear wiper, AC, AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3, iPod and USB input jacks, Hyundai Bluelink telematics system, remote keyless entry with alarm, steering wheel mounted cruise audio and phone controls, integrated Bluetooth hands free phone system and tilt and telescopic steering column. The overall interior feel is that of a sports car with an eye on function, and it really works here. With room for four and a decent storage area to boot, the Veloster is on to something here my friends. One of the standouts of the interior was the sturdy and comfortable front seats that you usually don’t find in a so-called compact.
Performance
At this point, it’s easy to tell that the 2012 Hyundai Veloster Ecoshift DCT looks great and has a smart interior design, so I’m sure you are wondering about the performance. Before I go any further, you need to know that this test model clocked in with 29mpg in the city and an impressive 38 mpg in highway driving! Under the hood, Hyundai dropped a 1.6 liter GDi 138 horsepower DOHC four cylinder engine with dual continuous variable valve timing, 6 speed ecoshift dual clutch transmission with paddle shifters, and an active ECO system with hillstart assist control. Handling was superb with the help of electronic stability control with traction control, ABS with electronic brake force distribution, and brake assist with 4 wheel disc brakes. The driving experience is very similar to a sports car (there’s that comparison again) without the feeling that every bump in the road has your name on it! The Veloster probably looks somewhat faster than it is, but with a few tweaks to this car, it can easily attract those with a need for speed.
Overview
Most cars get lost in the shuffle on the road these days, but the 2012 Hyundai Veloster Ecoshift DCT clearly stands out in the crowd and garners positive reactions no matter where you go. Most people figure the Veloster is a sports car and are completely shocked when you inform them that the sticker price on our test model came in at $22,500. Considering the modern exterior styling, impressive fuel efficiency, determined performance and top of the line interior, I can see why so many folks want to drive the 2012 Hyundai Veloster.
