The Veloster N is a great car, but one that is going to appeal most to those who prioritize the driving experience over other attributes
My car is the Veloster N...the Veloster N is a 250 horsepower (N) or 275 horsepower (N with the Performance Package) turbocharged I4 available only in a six-speed manual transmission (with a rumored wet DCT model in testing). It is nothing like the normal Veloster (which I've previously owned). The Veloster N looks quite a bit different, and drives so differently it is an entirely different animal. Subsequently, this review applies exclusively to the Veloster N.
The Veloster N is a true niche car. It is made for those who value the experience of driver engagement, and it is oriented towards those who may wish to participate in motorsports. It is a whole lot of car for not a lot of money, and it is insanely fun to drive. Civil as the daily driver yet competent on the track, it's reasonably quick in a straight line, and quite fast when curves are involved.
First, it is important to note the things that the Veloster N does NOT have, because it differs from many other cars. There is no option for: leather seats, heated seats/mirrors/steering wheel, automatic down passenger windows, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, garage door memory, power seats, or any driver assistance technologies whatsoever except a backup camera. The interior itself is functional-but-plain...and there is a whole lot of plastic. While other Veloster trims like the Veloster Ultimate offer many of these above options, the Veloster N offers none of this, and the only option available is the Performance Package, which exclusively adds performance augmentations. If having any of these luxuries are deal-breakers for you, or if you must have a super fancy interior, this is not your car.
So why do I love this car so much? Well, you do get a 250 or 275 brake horsepower turbocharged Theta II engine that sounds so good that people struggle to believe that you are driving a four-banger. You get a six speed manual transmission that is executed flawlessly - the clutch is light but linear, the gear throws are short and solid, and the transmission is great for shifting whether you are in stop and go traffic or dodging cones. You get a performance-oriented suspension, brakes (despite using a floating caliper, the brakes are just outstanding), true (i.e., summer) performance tires, and infotainment system (with built-in track functions.) You can adjust the steering weight/sharpness, ride stiffness, engine throttle response, exhaust output, rev matching settings (which you can disable outright), traction control sensitivity, and limited slip differential settings (on performance package models). You get basic cloth seats, but ones with strong bolstering and an adjustable driver side lumbar support - so they are extremely comfortable and supportive. Oh, and you can adjust just about every setting in this car, down to whether the lane-change turn signal feature blinks three times, five times, or is disabled. You get an infotainment system and a dash cluster with center LCD that is responsive, intuitive, and truly integrates the cars functions - and a very good sound system for a factory unit. You get some cool-looking external changes (most of which are actually functional, such as intakes designed to redirect air to cool the front brakes.) You're also getting an outstanding steering wheel design (exclusive to the N), push-button start and key-less entry, a customized key fob with the 'N' logo on it, and standard LED (low-beam) headlights... The 'flagship' color of the N, Performance Blue (a really light shade of blue) looks amazing in person (pictures don't nearly do it justice) and it is a shade of blue that is unique from just about all other cars. All of this adds up to a really fun driving experience for a very low price.
The N drops many amenities/luxuries and replaces them with performance features that someone who is looking for a driver's car is going to absolutely love...and doing this maintains an extremely competitive price. It is an immensely rewarding car to drive, and thanks to all of the adjustable settings, it can function as a refined street car for daily usage, and double as a track toy for the weekend warrior. Subsequently, this car is going to appeal to a very specific buyer. But for that specific buyer, this car delivers in all the ways that count. No one (myself included) thought that Hyundai could design a hot hatch this well on their first go-round...but they did. If you are shopping for cars in this segment, you should really test drive one to experience first-hand just how well the N like has taken on (and outdone) the competition.
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