BY ANTUAN GOODWIN
The 250-horsepower 2019 Hyundai Veloster N will start at $27,785, including a $885 freight and destination charge, when it hits the road this fall.
Pricing is particularly important for Hyundai -- a brand that many think of as a "lower priced alternative" to more established players -- so to see the Veloster N starting $475 more than the 2018 Volkswagen GTI's $27,310 base price is a bit surprising. Hyundai justifies its price with performance technologies like a standard adaptive suspension and, of course, 30 more horsepower than the Volkswagen. However, the Veloster's lack of available driver-aid and convenience technologies still leaves an optioned-up GTI as the seemingly better daily driver pick.
Considering taking your Veloster N on the track like I was recently able to? You'll want to check out the optional N Performance package for an additional $2,100, bringing the bottom line to $29,885. The Performance package comes with a decent power bump up to 275 horsepower, thanks to an engine software tweak.
With greater power comes improved control for the N Performance package due to Hyundai's N Corner Carving limited-slip differential, larger 19-inch wheels with Pirelli P Zero summer tires, and beefier 13.6-inch front and 12.4-inch rear brake rotors. Performance models also get upgraded with a variable exhaust valve, adding a bit more bark to go with the sharper bite. The step up to the Performance package changes the Veloster N's calculus a bit, taking it from a slightly sharper GTI-fighter to a value alternative to vehicles like the Golf R or Civic Type R with both price and performance that compete aggressively.
First (and second) impressions of the Veloster N have been positive, but I'll have to wait until we get Hyundai's hot hatch on our home turf before deciding if the extra money is well spent.
"This article first appeared at cnet.com
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| Photo:Nick Miotke/Roadshow |
The 250-horsepower 2019 Hyundai Veloster N will start at $27,785, including a $885 freight and destination charge, when it hits the road this fall.
Pricing is particularly important for Hyundai -- a brand that many think of as a "lower priced alternative" to more established players -- so to see the Veloster N starting $475 more than the 2018 Volkswagen GTI's $27,310 base price is a bit surprising. Hyundai justifies its price with performance technologies like a standard adaptive suspension and, of course, 30 more horsepower than the Volkswagen. However, the Veloster's lack of available driver-aid and convenience technologies still leaves an optioned-up GTI as the seemingly better daily driver pick.
Considering taking your Veloster N on the track like I was recently able to? You'll want to check out the optional N Performance package for an additional $2,100, bringing the bottom line to $29,885. The Performance package comes with a decent power bump up to 275 horsepower, thanks to an engine software tweak.
With greater power comes improved control for the N Performance package due to Hyundai's N Corner Carving limited-slip differential, larger 19-inch wheels with Pirelli P Zero summer tires, and beefier 13.6-inch front and 12.4-inch rear brake rotors. Performance models also get upgraded with a variable exhaust valve, adding a bit more bark to go with the sharper bite. The step up to the Performance package changes the Veloster N's calculus a bit, taking it from a slightly sharper GTI-fighter to a value alternative to vehicles like the Golf R or Civic Type R with both price and performance that compete aggressively.
First (and second) impressions of the Veloster N have been positive, but I'll have to wait until we get Hyundai's hot hatch on our home turf before deciding if the extra money is well spent.
"This article first appeared at cnet.com
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