Originally published March 10, 2012
Eleven days before the start of Denver’s big car show, I toss out a tip for those planning to attend.
From the entrance, stroll through the General Motors’ layout and on in among the Hyundai offerings. Look for the new car called Veloster.
There is no missing the distinctive exterior style of the 2012 Hyundai Veloster; nothing else at the show looks like it. It is quirky.
The Veloster is a true three-door coupe. It has one door on the driver side, two on the passenger side.
The door on the driver side is 10 inches longer than the front door on the passenger side. Of course, that design enables a third door to be placed for rear-seat entry on the passenger side. The only car I remember that had differing size doors for the front seat was the AMC Pacer of the 1970s.
The passenger-side door on the Pacer was 8 inches longer than the driver-side door, in order that occupants for the rear seat would use the passenger-side door and have more room to squeeze through into the back.
The Veloster’s sharp rear slope slices the opening for the third door and creates some difficulty in entering or exiting the rear seating area. A hatch opening at the rear unveils sizable trunk space. Muscular fenders and 18-inch wheels with Kumho Solus KH25 215/40R18 tires add to the lure.
The Denver Auto Show opens Wednesday, March 21, and continues through Sunday, March 25, at the Colorado Convention Center. Tickets, $10 for adults and $5 for kids 6-12, may be purchased online (DenverAutoShow.com) or at the convention center days of the event.
The Veloster’s far-out styling and relatively low pricing ($18,000 to $23,000) should appeal to younger drivers. Color-keyed inserts on the bolstered leatherette seats and a panoramic sunroof brighten the interior. Large door-pull handles, which partially block access to the power door locks, add to the offbeat look of the cabin.
The Veloster is equipped with the same 138-horsepower, 1.6-liter 4-cylinder as is used in the Accent. With a 6-speed manual transmission and short-throw shifter, it is fun to drive, yet slow in acceleration. A downshift must accompany any bit of slowdown on the highway or the Veloster will be a sitting duck for those following.
The tradeoff of the small engine is economy, for the little three-door has posted an impressive EPA rating of 40 miles per gallon on the highway (28 in town). An optional transmission is Hyundai’s new dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifters.
Hyundai officials say the Veloster style influence came from high-performance motorcycles. Its slope and small rear windows create a blind spot in rear vision.
The addition of optional style and tech packages boosted the Veloster’s sticker price to $22,155. These added navigation, rearview camera, premium audio, fog lights, automatic headlights and several aforementioned features.
Sidebar: The test drive
When buying a new or used car, do your due diligence and take it on a proper test drive. Here’s how:
Before driving
Walk around the car. Inspect its lines, quality of assembly, body panel alignment, paint and door handles. Try it on for size. Get in and out. Adjust the seats. Sit in the back seat. Try the accessories. Make sure the controls are easy to reach and operate. Open and close the tailgate/trunk. Imagine loading items. Imagine driving this vehicle. Ask yourself: “Is this my kind of car?” Let the salesperson give the pitch before hitting the road. He or she may have helpful information to share, but they shouldn’t do it while you’re driving.Things to look for while driving
Ride quality. Drive on a number of different road surfaces. Power. Test the power in real-world situations: highway merging, passing, city driving. Transmission. Look for smooth operation and ease of use. Handling. Practice long turns and short turns, sudden swerves and smooth transitions. Braking. Brake softly, then aggressively to test the car’s reaction to sudden braking. Noise. Listen for excessive engine, interior, road and wind noise. Driving position. See how comfortable you are in the driver’s seat.– Courtesy Autos.MSN.com
