2012 Hyundai Veloster

The 2012 Hyundai Veloster is offered in a single trim which costs $17,300 and comes equipped with a 1.6 L 4-Cylinder Engine. The features list includes 18-inch alloy wheels with painted inserts and 215/40R18 tires, premium cloth seating surfaces, manual 6-way adjustable driver bucket seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, power panoramic sunroof with sliding sunshade, automatic headlights, dual centered chrome exhaust tips, 8-speaker audio system with 7” display and many more.

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You have only one trim option while buying the Veloster. However, to customize the car further, the brand offers a couple of additional packages, the Styling and Technology Package costing $1840 for each. You can take either of these, based on your requirement. The Style Package brings cosmetic embellishments, while the Technology Package fits essential comfort and safety features.

The 2012 Veloster is powered by a 1.6L inline-4 engine mated to either 6-speed manual or DCT automatic transmission, combined with an FWD system. The engine generates just 138 horsepower and 123 foot-pounds of torque. It helps the car in attaining 60mph from rest in just 8.8 seconds and can reach a quarter-mile within 16.6 seconds.

Compared to the dynamic and sporty exterior look of the car, the engine feels feeble and hesitant at times. However, despite the engine returning a substandard amount of power, the car performs well in the city. It feels composed and calm but while on the highways, it does only a satisfactory job.

In terms of pricing, the 2012 Veloster is less expensive compared to the competition, while the Mini Cooper is on the expensive side. The Veloster and Mini Cooper are powered by 1.6L inline-4 engines, while the Scion and Volkswagen are powered by 2.5L inline-4 and 2.5L inline-5 engines respectively. The Scion tC performs the best in the comparison with outstanding power figures. The Mini Cooper sits at the bottom in performance, despite being the priciest.

It’s a good thing that the engine develops a small amount of power when you look at the fuel efficiency. The substandard power figures on the 2012 Veloster offer an advantage in terms of economy. The car returns 27, 37, and 31 MPG in the city, highway, and combined driving cycles respectively. Furthermore, the 2012 Veloster comes built with a 13.2-gallon fuel tank which gives it an advantageous range of 356/488/409 in the city, highways and combined respectively.

As mentioned above in the performance section, the Cooper stays at the bottom due to its feeble performance. But, it does exhibit excellent MPG figures at 32MPG combined; coupled with an impressive fuel tank, it has a decent range. The Volkswagen Beetle stays at the bottom when it comes to fuel efficiency.

The 2021 Hyundai Veloster comes built with a practical yet beautifully curated cabin inside which is spacious, comfortable, and feature-packed. The cabin comes wrapped with good quality cloth, which feels soft and premium. The cabin can seat 4 people and as standard, the seats are covered with premium cloth gray or black with the driver’s seat being a 6-way manually adjustable bucket seat. On the front, the head and legroom offered are on the wider side. However, the story is less interesting in the back, the head and legroom are on the confined side, which can be concerning for tall passengers.

Other standard features included a tilt-telescopic steering wheel with audio and cruise control, AC, power windows and door locks, a multi-functional driver’s display, dual-tiered armrest with storage boxes, beverage holders, and many other features. Optional features comprise leather-wrapped steering with a shift-knob, power panoramic sunroof, a power outlet, and driver auto-up window. On the rear side, the 2012 Veloster offers 15.5 cubic feet of cargo space, which can be well used according to one’s needs. One can fold them to get further space.

The Hyundai Veloster offers a fair amount of front space, but the rear feels confined. But it has the largest cargo space in the lot. The Scion is the only 5 seater hatchback in the comparison, the rest accommodate only 4 people. The 2012 Veloster offers the best front passenger space, while the Volkswagen Beetle offers the better rear row passenger space. Standout interior features include:

• Manual 6-way adjustable driver bucket seat
• Leather-wrapped tilt-telescopic steering with audio and cruise control
• Power panoramic sunroof with sliding sunshade
• Front and rear dual cup holders, two 12-volt outlets
• Leatherette upholstery
• 115V outlet
• 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback

How intuitive is the 2012 Hyundai Veloster’s Infotainment Unit?

The 2012 Veloster has one of the best in class infotainment systems. The brand has fitted an extensive amount of features that make the car a practical choice when it comes to functionality. As standard, the Infotainment unit comes fitted with a 7” touchscreen display that sits between the AC vents and is programmed with Hyundai’s Blue-Link software. A CD player/AM/FM/SiriusXM/MP3 player and a 6-speaker audio system come standard with the car. 

Other features like Bluetooth hands-free and voice recognition, audio streaming, speed-sensitive automatic volume control, XM Navweather, and sports ticker, Pandora Internet Radio come with trial subscriptions. Going upwards, spending more money will get you a premium 8-speaker music system by Dimension along with a navigation system. Standout infotainment features in the 2012 Hyundai Veloster include:

• 7” touchscreen display
• 8-Speaker Dimension Audio System
• Navigation System
• Bluetooth hands-free with Voice recognition and audio streaming
• Pandora Internet Radio
• SiriusXM, XM Navweather, sports, and stock ticker

One of the reasons why you should get yourself the 2012 Veloster is because of the sporty fascia. Hyundai took a big risk by building the car with a 3 door body design and it has paid off. The 3 door design can be interpreted like a coupe or as a traditional hatchback. At the front, sharp headlights with signature LED accents, automatic headlights, and fog lights make it not only bold and sophisticated but also check the boxes of functionality.

Additionally, there are few elements that significantly season and spice up the car’s looks. A dual centered chrome exhaust tip, the chrome grille with piano black accents, and a black rear bumper are the subtle elements that contribute significantly to the car’s sporty characteristics. 18-inch alloy wheels with painted inserts with all-season P215/40R18 tires are the best fit, which garnishes the final appeal.

The Scion tC being the only 5-seater is the heaviest and largest here among other hatchbacks. It also enjoys the best ground clearance. While, on the other side, the Veloster despite having a large wheelbase weighs low. The Mini Cooper turns out to be a much smaller car, which is reflected in its cargo as well as rear seat space. Standout exterior features in the 2012 Hyundai Veloster are:

• Sporty 3-door design
• Automatic headlights, Signature LEDs with Fog lamps
• Dual-centered chrome exhaust tips
• Piano Black Rear Bumper
• 18-inch alloy wheels with painted inserts and P215/40R18 tires

Hyundai is one of the trusted and reliable car makers that produces trustworthy and robust cars these days. Likewise, the 2012 Hyundai Veloster comes fitted and programmed with several important safety and driver-assist programs. All the wheels are fitted with disc brakes which are further programmed with ABS, EBD, and Brake Assist. Important attributes like Electronic Stability Control and Vehicle Stability Management are present for further safety. Standout safety features in the 2012 Hyundai Veloster are:

• Hill-start Assist Control
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Cruise Control
• Rear View Camera
• Engine Immobilizer
• Hyundai's BlueLink
• SOS Notification
• Crash Alert

Hyundai has made the hatchback segment more competitive after introducing an affordable hatchback in the market. What makes other brands uncomfortable, is the 2012 Veloster’s dashing look. The new Hyundai Veloster has a sporty and bold exterior, an efficient engine, a comfortable and cozy cabin, and a heap of features inside-out. It offers the best value, being priced at 17 grand, it’s a fair deal to bring a Veloster home.