Yes it's true. In the latest issue of Automobile magazine (December) the Velocter, MINI S Coupe and the new beetle were pitted against each other. The Hyundai Velocter came out on top! The comparisions were based on exterior style, Interior and performance. The Hyundai's performance was of course lacking but made up ground on exterior style and interior style and function. Based on value/best bang for the buck the Velocter came out on top in this article.

 

Spitfire. I read this article this morning and got something different out of it. I believe they sum up by saying that this is not a comparision where anyone wins or loses and that each car has different strengths and weaknesses. As far as value MINI did themselves no favors by sending a loaded up S vs the small engined Beetle and much cheaper Velocetor.
The MINI did win in the departments I care about which is the fun to drive and sportier areas.
I think the article is right up MINI owners alley by saying that some people just want something a little out of the norm when it comes to motoring options. Having driven each of these cars I agree.

 

I saw one parked downtown a couple of weeks ago and was kind of mesmerized by it. It looks kind of weird but cool, I don't know, perhaps part of me was simply confused that it was a Hyundai.

After that I looked into specs and reviews, and I had yet to see someone who wasn't horribly disappointed at its performance. And while I can't bear to drive a boring-looking car and I certainly don't want the interior looking dumpy, performance is worth at least double those two factors as far as I'm concerned. Why you'd buy something with style over substance when there are so many other ways to go without that sacrifice is beyond my comprehension.

 

LOL which is best, an orange, a tomato, or a pumpkin?

 

Veloster is pretty cool.

It succeeds in offering a cheaper alternative for someone who wants a great gas mileage car. It has styling on the exterior but feels a bit plasticky on the inside. It also has the worst startup chime ever. It plays a song that lasts about 4-5 seconds everytime you start it up. It is terrible.

It does come standard with a touch screen interface thing which is awesome. The gas mileage is like 40mpg on highway.

It lacks power though. It competes moreso with a Justacooper as opposed to a Cooper S. The Cooper S is a good 2 seconds faster 0-60 I believe. It isn't super sport I would say. Its sleek but its still large type hatchback looking.

I'm okay with being the niche crowd.

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH8YmmCTrbU#t=1m33s

Startup Veloster sound when you turn on the car. It doesn't do it EVERYTIME but everytime you go back to it after an extended period of time. Something like 1 or 2 hrs since the last time you were in the car.


Pretty god awful lol...

 

The Velocter performance is severely lacking. However, There is a turbo that will be offered. I wonder if this will shake things up?

 

wait...that little christmas carol sounding thing is part of the Veloster's startup?

 

"function"MINI's will never do good in that category...

That being said Hyundai Has been kicking *** lately on the value front too..

 

I test drove the Veloster and thought it was a nice economical car with some cool styling. After driving it though I cant for the life of me figure why they named it the Veloster. While it certainly looks fast and its name suggests it should be fast, it just doesnt live up to its own hype.

 

Yes

Yep.. This is what will compare more with MINI

204hp is rumored with 194lb ft of torque I believe.

 

No matter how much you polish it,,, you still have a Hyundai....

 

I don't know if when I start up my car I want it to sound like Windows is starting up I would hate to have to try and reboot the car at 65 on the interstate.

 

I haven't read the article, but it seems like a weird comparison. If you're going to compare a MINI to the Veloster, it should be a lightly-optioned Cooper HARDTOP. It would have more similar performance (similar 0-60, MINI wins handling), much more similar price, 4-seats each, etc.

It makes absolutely zero sense to compare the Veloster to a MCS Coupe except that they're both new, quirky, and fuel efficient. However, by that standard, they should have included the Fisker Karma, too.

 

I can't decide which car is uglier. The Veloster looks like a squashed Juke.

I'll be sure to smoke the first Veloster I see in my JCW Coupe.

 

You can put lipstick on a pig.....but it will still be a ...

 

Everybody has different priorities...so to compare 3 markedly different cars is kinda just a trick to try to get hedlines......make some fodder for the advertising folks...how often have you seen a good review or snippet about a movie that you saw that was awful?! One of the first reviews called it great to get points....to get future first dibs...
wonder what happened here...i guess timw will tell....
.

 

For those of you who haven't read the article read it. The point was that these cars were supposed to be different, from each other and from the common everyday "car" that most purchase. It's nice that there is a market for each of these niche cars otherwise we would all be driving boring vehicles.

 

You can turn the welcome chime off in the settings, so since that looks like half of the complaints here you can now go and buy one and turn it off. I like it, once the turbo arrives I might go drive one...for the wife of course.

 

A lot of people here dissing Hyundai because of its econobox origins, but don't underestimate them. Their cars have been getting good reviews and they've had some success in racing (placed high a few years back in 24 hours of Nurburgring).

Rhys Millen's 500 hp Veloster
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/09/h...-chicago-2011/

 

If you watch the video it shows that this feature is defeatable entirely via the 7" touchscreen. Gotta say the user interface and options on this touchscreen is pretty amazing. Hyundia was definately going for the "connected" crowd with this equipment.

 

The Turbo version of the Veloster is pretty cool looking and very quick. My company prepares all of the Hyundai and Kia product for advertising. We just painted the Turbo for a media event in Detroit next week where it will be unveiled to the public. I love my MCS but the Veloster might be a bit more reliable and with a much better warranty!!

 

Veloster will be giving MINI a serious run for its money once they plop a turbo under the bonnet. It will be much cheaper than overpriced MINIs too

 

Wow, fully loaded and with automatic it's only $23,300 and has a very impressive list of stardard equipment Even with a turbo it will be significantly cheaper than a comparably equipped MCS. Very interesting car and as others have said, don't underestimate Hyundai. It's still suffering from the bad rap of its early days but they're making very high quality, reliable cars with the best warranties available. This car with a turbo will definitely give Mini a run for its money, especially if Mini doesn't do something about reliability and repair costs. In the meantime, I'm anxiously awaiting my MCS.

 

Easy to make a sub-$24000 car when your government is subsidizing it. I'll take style over cheap ricey knock offs any day.