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Review Hyundai Veloster N Final Drive 2022 | Goodbye, sweet hatchback


This isn’t meant to be a farewell drive, but midway through testing 2022 Hyundai Veloster WOMEN and the publication of this review, Hyundai announced that the hot, gritty three-door hatchback is dead. There will be no 2023 Veloster. Stage = Stage.

It’s a tough one to make, like Veloster N introduced us now a blooming performance brand in Hyundaiinvestment’s portfolio. With it, Hyundai has finally proven that it can create a top performance car. Division N has since gone gold a few more times with Elantra WOMEN and Kona WOMENbut only Women’s Veloster gave birth to the brand in the United States in the 2019 model year. And sure, 2019 may seem like 10 years ago to most of us, but in terms of cars, it’s only 4 model years (including 2022) ) is not a long life. At least they were four lovely models.

For the final drive, we’ll end up where we started, with the Veloster N. equipped with a six-speed manual transmission. Hyundai has added a dual-clutch automatic transmission for the 2021 and We found it to be a good choice for auto tilt. The DCT is also available for this final 2022 model year, which means it’s been in production for two years. However, nothing could make us happier than spending our final drive in this car with a neat gearshift manual.

It doesn’t take long to fall back into a favorite Veloster N. Swing the longer driver’s door open – it’s large, like that of a two-door coupe – and super-high-backed N seats await you. These chairs are “N Light” sport seats (the N in the backrest actually lights up at night) were introduced in 2021 and they help accentuate a basic back cabin. Performance Blue accents for the large steering wheel drive mode selectors signal you to activate immediately. With a single touch of the checkered flag, the car switches to N mode, opens the exhaust, and fires up fun pop-and-bang music.

The rest of the cabin, except for the Performance Blue seat belts, is pretty basic. Honda Civic’s The interior is far from luxurious, but it’s premium compared to the materials and design you’ll find inside the Veloster N. That’s not to say the Hyundai’s simple nature is a bad thing – prioritizing performance More luxurious interior materials are not a decision that we feel uncomfortable with . Also, if you really need a nicer interior, Elantra WOMEN waiting.

Finding anything to complain about driving the Veloster N is as tough as it was back in 2019. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder drives this 3,106-pound hatchback with it all. what it needs. Its 275 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque make the front end wobble for grip when the Pirelli P Zero summer tires cool, but warm them up, and this little monster will scream out of the way. stops for just over 5 seconds each Car and Driver test.

The noise it makes when getting there is arguably more interesting than the acceleration itself. Assuming you have the exhaust on full throttle, each gearshift is accompanied by a loud bang before you step back into the throttle, reawakening the bass-filled roar of the enhanced engine. No form of noise is out of the equation. Whatever you want, whether it’s the sound of turbochargers or the squeal of rubber from the big front wheels, the Veloster N can provide the desired atmosphere. We’d say we’ll miss the noise the most, but luckily a similar humming experience can be had in the other N models on sale right now.

The Veloster N is notably in stark contrast to other heated windows, which are much more subtle when it comes to outside sounds, such as Volkswagen GTI or The last generation Honda Civic Type R. The Hyundai might be as quiet as those cars if you put it in “Normal” mode, but what’s the fun in that?

Thankfully, the Elantra N will catch up with the Veloster N when it comes to handling performance. That said, even four years later, the Veloster N is an absolute riot to laugh around. The The previous generation Civic Type R setting the world standard for handling in front-wheel drive cars, and the Veloster N comes close to that. Hyundai’s electronic limited-slip differential works its magic to ensure torque is efficiently distributed to the ground, taking you through corners with incredible speed and inspiring confidence. very big. A bit of torque steering is possible – unlike the Type R – but the Veloster N does a steady job and allows the driver to maintain full control over the position of the previous wheels.

The presence of a “Custom” driving mode that allows you to set everything up exactly how you want is a huge boon for both everyday and enthusiastic driving. Twisting all the way to the “N” end, the suspension is so stiff that it becomes a burden on all but the smoothest of roads. Being able to soften the dampers but still keep the childish exhaust and heavy steering means you can be happy any time you’re in the driver’s seat. The rotation match function is also appreciated in any case. Step through each device as you brake for a light, and each gear shift is accompanied by a blip in time with the squeal from the accompanying exhaust. You can drive around and annoy society as much as you want, all while enjoying a reasonable ride quality.

In addition to the indisputable performance, the strangeness of the Veloster N is what we will miss most. No, a car with three doors and aggressive looks doesn’t make any sense when you think about it from a utilitarian perspective, but the fact that it exists is something we nerdy nerds can feel. thanks. Plus, on a serious note, we spent a weekend snooping around in the backseat of this Racing Red model, and complaints are few and far between. It’s a pity that only one of the rear windows goes down (the one opens up), but rear legroom is ample as long as one of your riders accepts having to skim the rear bench to in and out.

Don’t look at the “Last Drive” though, as you’ve completely missed the boat on the Veloster N. Hyundai will be selling the small hatchback until the 2022 model year, so there’s still a chance to buy one. The price isn’t as enticing as it was when the Veloster N launched in 2019, but $33,595 is a fair amount to pay for its performance – an extra $1,500 if you want the DCT. Unfortunately, that price puts it above by Elantra FEMALE, bringing more beautiful interior space, better view and more utilities with 4 full doors. You can see what it means to pull the plug – not to mention more people buying regular, not N Elantras than Velosters, making a special low-volume business proposition a more palatable business proposition. So there’s logic to the decision, but that doesn’t mean Veloster N’s ​​absence won’t leave a hole in our hearts.

In the end, the Veloster N has accomplished its mission of completely trying to use the letter “N” as something special for enthusiasts. It effectively sets high expectations and lays the groundwork for every successful successor to the Model N in its place. Now, Hyundai just needs to keep up the drum beat.

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