Fun and capable at a great value
I purchased this vehicle after a year of searching for the right car for me to buy. In the end, I decided on the Veloster N Performance Package because I prioritized driving fun above many other factors. This car presented me with the most enticing blend of an incredibly fun experience, track capability, and daily usability, while coming in under my price point. On the road, this car is well behaved. The ride is firm but not unusable. It is very stable on the highway. The fuel economy is good. The handling limits of the car will never be approached in any corner on public roads at a legal speed but the car is playful enough to still be engaging. The acceleration isn't so extreme that you find yourself speeding but it is still more than sufficient. It is in the sweet spot in my opinion.
While I have not tracked my Veloster N, 4 autocross events have given me good experience of how the car behaves at the limit. The limitations on factory camber adjustment hurts the grip capabilities and results in uneven tire wear. The car is still class competitive if we look at national times, but it still lags behind class competitors such as the Civic Type R and Focus RS, both of which cost more than this vehicle so that is a forgivable offense. The chassis balance is good. It never gets too far out of shape to become unreasonable for the driver to save. The car remains neutral if the driver tackles slaloms reasonably. Over exuberance in a weight transfer situation can cause oversteer, which actually neutralizes the natural understeer tendencies of the FWD platform.
As a daily driver the 19 inch wheels equipped on the performance package leave some to be desired. While they look nice, they weigh a considerable amount and they sacrifice too much tire sidewall. Many owners of the car have experienced sidewall failures, particularly on rough pavement. This immobilizes the car since it is without a spare and the vehicle needs to be recovered. Usability of the car is better than expected. It has more rear passenger room and cargo volume than the equivalent Corolla hatchback. I can fit a set of track tires, my tools, and luggage inside the back with the seats folded down. Perfect for going to the track and back. It can also turn 30 mpg at highway speeds so I have no issue with using it to commute to work or travel. The seats take some adjustment to achieve comfort, particularly in the lumbar region. They do hold you wheel during high g force events in competition. Infotainment is good and the interior layout is incredibly easy to use. The stereo system has a little too much distortion and my EQ is rather unorthodox compared to how I set it on studio grade equipment.
In summary, I think this car is the most fun you can have in a car that is usable every day for under $30,000. The pros definitely outweigh the drawbacks.
Recommended
Verified Owner
