FEATURING new styling and a sexy rear end, the 2020 Hyundai Veloster Turbo Premium is the ultimate car for anyone who wants to be seen and heard, and have fun while they’re doing it. It’s a car with a cult following and its fans will love the latest version.
Offered in a range of awesome colours that just adds to the funky nature of the Veloster, along with its asymmetrical door layout, it’s powered by a 1.6-litre inline 4-cylinder turbo engine that delivers 150kW of power and 265Nm of torque.
Fuel economy is a claimed 6.9-litres/100km, which is pretty impressive, but if you put your foot down a lot, you’ll find yourself closer to 9.0-litres/100km, like we did. It’s hard not to ‘enjoy’ such a driver-focused car though.
And that’s without even mentioning the Thunder Bolt yellow and Phantom Black paint job that makes it stand out, no matter where you are, or its motor sport inspired cockpit that features digital performance gauges for G-forces and boost pressure.
The Veloster Turbo Premium is super fun to drive, and feels sprightly on the road, especially through corners. Minimal body roll thanks to its rigid chassis and Hyundai’s Australian tuned suspension, make it an agile performer.
Throw in a 1,350kg kerb weight and it’s easy to see why it’s quick off the mark, with the 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission only serving to enhance the driving experience via quick shifters on the steering wheel.
It would be remiss of us not to make special mention of the improved engine and exhaust note over the previous generation. We were grinning like Cheshire cats the first time we heard the boost pressure dump as we shifted gears.
It’s a sound that leaves you brimming with excitement. Hyundai have created a great driving experience with the Veloster Turbo Premium and it isn’t just about showing off or pushing the unique hatch to its limits either.
It also serves the daily commuter role exceptionally well, with our team putting it through its paces with some cross city commuting between Sydney’s south west and the eastern suburbs. We also snuck down to the NSW South Coast, because well, you have to right.
Overall, the suspension and handling is firm yet comfortable. It felt stable and capable through any of the twisty bends we threw its way. It provides good feedback through the well weighted steering wheel, and it feels neither too light or heavy when pushed.
There is a host of safety technology and driver aids to help you out too, including a smart cruise control feature that’s easy to set up and use. Once activated, the Veloster maintains a safe cruising distance to the vehicles in front of you.
We reckon its a feature that should be standard on all cars as it vastly improves driver safety. It’s one of those things you miss when you get back in your own car too, especially when that doesn’t have it.
Hyundai’s Veloster Turbo Premium is the top of its model range, and also comes with forward collision avoidance system, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and driver attention warning.
A head-up display, LED headlights and a reversing camera complete the package. You’ll need that last one because rear window visibility is limited, at best. Rear passenger comfort is no better either, especially if you put tall adults back there.
While the large glass sunroof is awesome, the sloping roof line of the Veloster is not. There’s also no ventilation back there, although it’s debatable whether it’s needed in the smallish hatch. We were also disappointed by the sound system.
The 2020 Hyundai Veloster Turbo Premium is priced at $47,373 drive away in the exact specification we tested. It is available with a 6-speed manual, and in a host of other colours. Four of those are offered with either a body colour or Phantom Black roof.
These include Ignite flame, Tangerine Comet, Premium Chalk White and the Thunder Bolt of our test vehicle. You can also choose Phantom Black and Dark Knight as your colour (but these only come with a body coloured roof).
It comes with a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty and the option to pre-pay your vehicle servicing for three, four or five years.
Our 2020 Hyundai Veloster Turbo Premium was provided by Hyundai Australia. To find out more, contact your local Hyundai dealer.
