Hyundai Veloster review

Overview

Most coupés make you climb past a front seat to get in the back. The first UK Veloster gives rear passengers their own door on the left, while keeping one long door on the driver's side. That idea is more useful than it looks, especially when you usually stop at a kerb to let somebody out. This review covers the UK 2012–2013 Sport with the naturally aspirated 1.6 GDi and six-speed manual, not the Blue Drive, dual-clutch or Turbo versions. RoadMatch has not tested this car ourselves; the assessment combines Hyundai's original UK brochure with original UK reporting. Its styling is sportier than its performance, and it is better to go in expecting that.

Exterior and interior

A quick look from each side explains why the Veloster still attracts attention. The near-side rear door handle sits high, so the profile stays clean even though the two sides are not symmetrical. The cabin feels low in relation to an ordinary hatchback, and the roof glass on Sport makes it feel brighter without creating more space above your head. Hyundai's dimensions table actually shows less front headroom with the panoramic roof. Try that driving position yourself before searching exclusively for Sport. Inspect the coloured wheel inserts and lower body for damage, and open and close the roof while listening for binding rather than trusting that a bright cabin means everything works.

Practicality

This is a four-seater with three side doors and a tailgate; the four-door database count includes the hatch. The left-side back door is helpful for kerbside access in the UK, but the roofline and the smaller opening still limit how useful the back is for adults. Hyundai quotes 320 litres VDA or 440 litres SAE in the brochure, so the higher number is not a VDA result. The backrests fold in a split for occasional awkward loads. Before relying on that, bring your regular luggage and see how much lifting the opening needs. If a child seat has to come in and out frequently, try the actual seat rather than estimating from the shape of the door.

Driving experience

Buy the ordinary GDi for a light, straightforward drive rather than for the responses of a dedicated sports car. Its six-speed gearbox lets you make use of the revs, but there is less pull without a downshift than the bodywork leads you to expect. UK reviewers also separated the car's styling appeal from its dynamic ability. The Sport's original 18-inch wheels are worth trying on the roads you know, as the price of a striking wheel design may be a less forgiving ride on damaged surfaces. A test route with a roundabout, a rough residential street and a short faster stretch tells you much more than a lap of the forecourt.

Performance

Hyundai's UK brochure gives 103 kW, or 138 bhp, and 167 Nm for the non-turbo 1.6. The six-speed manual reaches 62 mph in a claimed 9.7 seconds. That is the manufacturer's 0–62 mph result, not a timed 0–60 run, and does not describe the slower dual-clutch derivative or the Turbo. Peak torque comes at relatively high engine speed, so use a lower gear when you need acceleration with passengers aboard. During a viewing, confirm the engine pulls cleanly when warm and gears engage normally both cold and warm. If your idea of sporty is strong acceleration without downshifting, use the ordinary 1.6 as your comparison point, not your default choice.

Fuel economy

The brochure puts the ordinary GDi manual at 43.5 imperial mpg combined on the old NEDC cycle. Figures for the stop-start Blue Drive derivative or for a different transmission do not apply to this Sport. For planning we assume 36 mpg and use a separate 32 mpg check for frequent urban starts: at 8,000 miles and £1.45 a litre, those assumptions give roughly £1,465 and £1,650 a year respectively. Neither is a prediction for a particular vehicle. Tyres, use and condition will move the result. Look up the actual car by registration if you need clean-air-zone access rather than relying on a generic description of the engine.

Reliability

There is not enough evidence here for a failure-rate claim on this exact 1.6 manual, so RoadMatch's confidence is limited. At a viewing, use invoices and MOT mileage to establish how consistently the car was maintained, then check a genuine cold start and a long enough drive to warm the powertrain. Test the panoramic roof, air conditioning and doors; inspect the roof lining and boot for moisture. A damaged side door or missing trim may be harder to source than regular service parts, so get a parts quote before accepting a discount for body damage. Those are purchase checks, not assertions that the model routinely develops faults in those areas.

Safety

Euro NCAP's historic 2011 assessment used a left-hand-drive 1.6 GDi GLS. It gives relevant generation context, not a standalone test of this UK Sport, and was conducted under a different protocol from modern tests. Hyundai's UK brochure lists stability control, airbags and rear ISOFIX anchors. Check the owner's handbook for restraint fit and look for airbag or stability-control warnings; the unusual back-door layout makes a physical fitting trial useful. For a car advertised with repairs or replacement roof glass, ask for the paperwork. Use the government safety recall checker with the registration and ask Hyundai to confirm open campaigns against the VIN. No historic test says anything about the condition of an individual used car.

Technology and features

Sport adds heated front seats and a panoramic roof, and the original range brochure lists Bluetooth, conventional cruise and reversing sensors. The optional Media Pack includes the camera and navigation, so do not assume that the presence of a touchscreen proves either. At a viewing, connect your phone and try audio as well as calls; this generation's factory USB and Bluetooth do not establish Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Some cars may have replacement head units, in which case check whether the steering-wheel controls and camera still work. Confirm the sensors before purchase even if the seller describes them accurately; on a car with such a small view through the rear glass, they are especially useful.

Running costs

Treat £3,500–£7,000 as a November 2026 shopping envelope, not a snapshot of stock or a valuation of a specific Veloster. Allow about £1,465 for fuel at 8,000 miles, 36 mpg and £1.45 a litre, plus a rounded £250 tax placeholder and £535–£1,035 for servicing, MOT and wear. That produces a planning total of £2,250–£2,750 before insurance, depreciation, finance or big repairs. Check tax and insurance against the plate before making an offer. When two cars cost about the same, favour better tyres and cleaner service records over a more desirable paint colour; buying a set of proper tyres and rectifying neglected equipment can erase the apparent saving.

Advantages and disadvantages