Hyundai 2012 Veloster. Of the off-the-wall or unique cars available (Nissan Juke, VW Beetle, MINI Cooper,Fiat 500, Scion tC, etc.), I like the Juke for its optional AWD and impressive turbocharged engine; and the Veloster I like for its useable rear bench and affordability.There is no bad angle to this car. Seriously, for $18,999, your grubby, misshapen PS3 fingers will meander across the cabin and come in contact with a 7” high-res LCD touchscreen, an AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 6-speaker stereo with iPod/AUX/USB inputs and Gracenote (iPod album cover art and advanced voice recognition), Bluetooth (very easy connection), push-button start and rear-view camera.
For an extra $3,500, you'll add to that list a navigation system, bigger wheels, a panoramic sunroof, a Dimension 8-speaker premium audio system and other niceties.
Steve Kelleher isn’t your average car company president.
A three-door coupe configuration — a driver’s side door, one large door and one small door on the passenger side — the Veloster is unlike anything currently available in Canada, though close competitors include the Honda CR-Z and the Scion tC, and the Fiat 500 and Mini as secondary competitors.
“This is a halo car for Hyundai,” Kelleher continued. Hyundai 2012 Veloster might not consider this to be the replacement of its sporty Tiburon, but in terms of sleek and aggressive styling, the Veloster returns those design cues to the Hyundai stable. Underscoring Kelleher’s comments about the “halo” positioning of the new coupe is the optional 6-speed dual clutch transmission, the first DCT developed by Hyundai.
Meaning sporty shifts and performance, and improved fuel economy. What Hyundai Canada has discovered is that unlike horsepower-mad, status symbol-driven Baby Boomers, Gen Yers’ top priorities when it comes to a vehicle are technology and efficiency.
The Hyundai 2012 Veloster has that latter point covered with its price points — $18,999 for the base model and $22,499 for the Technology Package— and its excellent fuel economy.
Style: Front-wheel drive three-door coupe
Seats: Four
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder (138hp)
Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed dual clutch automatic
Fuel Economy (manual/dual clutch): 7.2 city/4.9 hwy L/100km; 7.0 city/4.9 hwy L/100km
Price: $18,999 (base); $22,499 (Tech Package).