It's almost there.
Let me preference by saying that I have the RSpec, so it does without some features that the standard turbo has such as heated seats, sunroof, and navigation. Of those features, heated seats and a sunroof are the only things I find myself missing, but I forewent them for the sake of a lower payment. The touch screen works well, and the stereo is adequate for all but the most bass intensive music. This is my first car with a back up cam, and I am so glad these are becoming mandated equipment. Backing up through the tiny rear window would be a little stressful I think. The camera projects a distance overlay to help with parking, but it does not project trajectory which would have been a nice feature, but for the price point, its nice just to have a back up cam.
If you want to talk performance, this is where the Veloster's price point holds it back the most. Having come from a car that had both an independent rear suspension, and a limited slip differential, I find myself missing both every time I take a tight turn at speed, or accelerate out of one. The aftermarket provides some remedies for these problems, but I am glad to see the Gen2 Velosters fix both these short comings properly. The 1.6L GDI Turbo engine is a marvel for what it is. 201 hp and 197 lbft is a lot for such a little car with so little displacement. Is it enough? Hell no, but is it ever? What you do get from such a small engine is 33mpg as long as you don't let the boost rise too much, and the real icing on that cake is that you get it on 87 octane pump gas. Premium is unnecessary which is amazing considering most turbocharged cars require at least 91 out of the box. All these figures compare favorably imo to the only other vehicle operating in the same space as the Veloster Turbo, the Ford Fiesta ST. The Fiesta ST gives up a little bit of power to the VT at only 197 hp keeping it technically out of the 200 club. Whats more is that the Fiesta requires 93 octane to get all of its ponies while the VT is happy sipping 87. Another symptom of the Veloster's price point is the lack of a boost gauge, an unforgivable sin imo for any performance minded vehicle with forced induction. Again this seems to be a matter of price point since neither the Fiesta ST nor the 500 Abarth have one either. The performance of the Veloster Turbo/RSpec is competitive for its segment, but I can't help but feel another 20 hp in addition to a LSD would really help the car earn a reputation as a legitimate hot hatch. I have no complaints about the slick 6 speed. My RSpec came with a crisp short throw B&M shifter, a feature that has since become standard on all manual turbo models. Is the automatic any good? No idea, but in my opinion your doing it wrong if you're getting your sporty car fitted with a slush box. As it stands, the Velsoter is widely seen as more style than substance, a criticism I don't entirely disagree with.
Speaking of style, there is no arguing that the Veloster is a beautiful car. It has more style than cars costing twice as much. Its loud exterior may put off some people, but for anyone who wants a sporty looking car at an economy price, you really can't do better. The large open mouthed grill, the muscular bulging rear fenders, and the over-sized center mounted exhaust outlets are particular favorites of mine. I wish the outlets were actual tailpipes, but that again is a problem the aftermarket can solve. RSpec's like my own also come with a loud cherry red and black upholstery that adds a cherry (no pun intended) on top of the loud styling. Bonus points if you get your Veloster in black like I did. The contrast is preferable to the white and blues colors which comprise the only 2 alternative colors for the RSpec.
All in all the Veloster Turbo / RSpec is a neat little car that splits the difference between hot hatch and sports coupe. It manages to look several thousand dollars more expensive than it is with unique and aggressive styling, and also manages to hide its cheap price point from anyone not looking for it. I wish it had four doors instead of 3, but if that is a deal breaker for you, there is always the aforementioned Fiesta ST. you'll give up some power, a back up cam, and a boat load of styling... but you'll get that 4th door. A car like this would have been a 16 year old me's dream, and even at 30 I am grateful for how much I get for comparatively so little. I see this car as a great daily driver for a young professional who has little to no kids, or as fun little 3rd car to complement the minivan and the crossover already parked in the driveway.
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