2012 Hyundai Veloster quick take review: Compact carnivore

Veloster, well, if there isn’t a flesh-eating dinosaur with that name, there should be.

The 2012 Hyundai Veloster would certainly earn such status, if only its mission in life were to prey on critters further down the food chain than those on which, say, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe might dine. The Veloster isn’t an air-superiority carnivore.

But for its size, it’s formidable. The 1.6-liter four is rated at 138 horsepower at 6300 rpm and makes a respectable 123 lb-ft at 4850 rpm, thanks to continuously variable valve timing on intake and exhaust camshafts and gasoline direct injection. It’s the same base engine in the 2012 Kia Rio.

Sporty? The 2012 Hyundai Veloster is a coupe, or at least a four-door disguised to look very much like a coupe. And those four doors aren’t exactly where one might expect, and they don’t look like one might expect.

Unlike every vehicle we can think of with the asymmetric door arrangement, the Hyundai Veloster’s rear door is hinged at the front instead of at the rear edge, “suicide” style. Hyundai says that the front-hinged door is more convenient because the front door doesn’t need to be opened for the rear door to open.

The fourth door, then, is the rear hatch. It’s fairly conventional, with a large access and fold down rear seatbacks for hauling all that stuff that can’t be stuffed into a sedan’s trunk.

The styling of the Veloster includes either a black panel on the roof or, as part of an option package, a panoramic sunroof that looks black.

The interior is attractive in a Power Rangers way, the center stack in the popular “V” or wing shape with a single knob in the center: it’s another radio that doesn’t use the conventional volume and tuning knobs. But at least the 2012 Hyundai Veloster doesn’t shy away from the Hyundai tradition of lots of stuff for the money.

There’s no upgrade models as such, but the 2012 Veloster comes with one or two option packages, the Style Package and the Tech Package—which requires the Style Package.

A six-speed “EcoShift” dual clutch transmission with paddle shift and hillstart assist is optional, but we drove the standard-equipment six-speed manual, and a slick-shifting gearbox it is. Hyundai also nailed the action on the electric-boost power steering. Acceleration is more earnest than overwhelming, which is what one would expect 138 horsepower. Our only gripe—and it’s a big one—is the positioning of the pedals.

The 2012 Hyundai Veloster is cast as a young person’s car, and the Veloster is priced accordingly, with a base price (including delivery) of $18,060, which compares to the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle at $20,565, the 2012 Scion tC at $19,305 and 2011 Honda CR-Z at 20,115.

Cue the carnivore music, professor.

This is an abridged version. Read the full 2012 Hyundai Veloster review at CarBuzzard.com.

2012 Hyundai Veloster, prices and key specifications, as tested

Base price: $17,300

Features: front/front side/side curtain airbags, air conditioning, 7-inch high resolution LCD touchscreen video, AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio w/ 6-speakers, iPod/USB/video aux input jacks, Gracenote, Bluetooth, Blue Link, steering wheel audio and cruise control buttons, power windows, power door locks with keyless remote, alarm, heated outside mirrors, tilt-and-tele steering wheel, 6-way adjustable driver’s seat, front LED headlight accents, rear wiper: std

Style Package: 18-inch alloy wheels w/ 215/40R18 tires, chrome grille surround w/ piano black highlights, fog lights, panoramic sunroof, Dimension premium audio w/ 8 speakers, external amp and subwoofer, leatherette bolster seats & door inserts, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, alloy pedals, driver auto-up window: $2,000
Tech Package: 18-inch alloy wheels w/ painted inserts, backup warning sensors, navigation system w/ rearview camera, automatic headlamps, proximity key w/ electronic pushbutton start, 115v outlet: $2,000
Destination: $760

Total: $22,060

Body style/layout: 4-door hatchback coupe, front engine/front drive

Engine