2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo Review

MPG-o-Matic 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo Review Summary: The 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo takes it up a notch over the naturally-aspirated Veloster. An added cost of approximately $4,500 delivers a whopping improvement in torque and horsepower (HP), with a negligible hit on fuel economy. The Veloster Turbo ups the ante in the affordable Eco Sport segment, but can it go head-to-head with the Fiat Abarth, 500 Turbo and John Cooper Works MINI? Fingers crossed, we’ll put the Euro rivals to the test down the road …

The Veloster Turbo is equipped with a turbocharged 16-valve Dual-CVVT 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 201 horsepower and 195 pound feet of torque. The intercooled and gasoline direct-injected (GDI) four banger cranks out more than sixty HP and seventy pound feet of torque over the naturally-aspirated 2012 Veloster we tested earlier this year.

A six-speed manual transmission is standard in the Veloster Turbo, while a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters is optional.

The official fuel economy estimates for the six-speed manual 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo are 26 city / 38 highway miles per gallon (MPG). That’s a mere two MPG drop from the base Veloster.

We rolled up more than 500 miles on our manual-equipped Ultra Black review unit and hit the official mileage estimates, with an average of 39.3 MPG on the Interstate highway and 31.4 MPG combined with temperatures in the seventies and eighties.

Interstate Mileage Testing:

• Cruise control set to 68 MPH, A/C off, windows up: 39.2 MPG
• Cruise control off, target speed 60-72 MPH, A/C off, windows up: 41.6 MPG
• Cruise control set to 68 MPH, A/C on, windows up: 37.2 MPG

Interstate highway testing temperatures were in the mid-seventies.

Our test vehicle was equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, clad with optional Michelin Pilot Super Sport 215/40ZR18 summer tires, and was delivered with just over 2000 miles on the odometer. The 2012 Veloster Turbo is equipped with an 13.2 gallon fuel tank and is designed to run on regular unleaded gasoline. Highway driving range is good.

The Veloster is fitted with four-wheel-disc brakes with Anti-Lock Braking (ABS) and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD). 11.8-inch vented discs are used on the front (0.8 inches larger than the base Veloster), with 10.3-inch solid discs on the rear. The manual transmission-equipped Veloster Turbo tips the scales between 2,800 pounds (curb weight)s.

While the Turbo delivers a significantly improved 0-60 time over the naturally-aspirated model, it’s not mind-bendingly fast.

The Veloster Turbo’s interior features leather upholstery, heated front bucket seats, and adjustable power lumbar support (for the driver only).

The eight-speaker LG 450-watt Dimension audio system provides AM/FM/SiriusXM® Satellite Radio along with a MP3 CD drive and is fitted with an external amp and sub-woofers. Hands-free Bluetooth and Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics system are are standard. Two twelve-volt outlets can be found at the base of the dash, on either side of the auxiliary audio and USB input jacks.

Our tester was fitted with the Ultimate option package, which includes a panoramic sunroof, backup warning sensors, automatic headlights, a 115V outlet in the center console, and a navigation system with backup camera.

Be sure to watch our video review, as it dives deep into the Eco Driving and Blue Max fuel-efficiency training features. The Veloster Turbo is a great example of the Burn Rubber, Not Gasoline philosophy.

The three-door Veloster’s second row seat is tight, with 35.3 inches of headroom and 31.7 inches of legroom. (Tall folks will rightfully call shotgun.) There’s 15.5 cubic feet of storage behind the 60/40 rear seat, and a generous amount of room for cargo when the seat is folded down.

All-in-all, the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo is a significant step up over the naturally-aspirated Veloster, with the Turbo including a leather interior, heated front bucket seats, power driver lumbar, and a proximity key, in addition to the huge jump in horsepower. If you’re in the market for a small front-wheel-drive (FWD) car that delivers scoot, tech, style, and MPGs the Veloster Turbo is a solid bet.

2012 Veloster Turbo M/T
MSRP: $23,950
Options:
Ultimtate Package – $2,500
Carpeted Floor Mats – $95
Michelin Pilot Super Sport 215/40ZR18 Summer Tires – $1,200
Inland Freight and Handling – $775

MSRP including options: $26,520

Parts Content Information
US/Canadian Parts Content: 1%
Major Sources of Foreign Parts Content: Korea – 81%
Final Assembly Point: Ulsan, Korea
Country of Origin:
Engine – Korea
Transmission – Korea

– by Daniel Gray