MotorMouths

Whether it be in shifting, acceleration, or other dynamics important to going fast and having fun, the Veloster Turbo was at once capable and forgiving. It starts with a car with so much potential, and mitigates the main weakness—lack of power—without screwing up the rest of the package.

The Veloster Turbo has plentiful power and practical interior space, and nowhere else can buyers get this kind of styling in this affordable price range. And there’s no other performance-oriented small car that can touch its fuel economy.

This innovative three-door coupe now has the power to back up its aggressive styling. With a base price under $23,000 and 38-mpg highway, the Veloster Turbo makes a compelling package.

With the Turbo, Hyundai recognizes and celebrates the Veloster as a sporty car, not a sports car. If that sounds like damnation with faint praise, it’s not.

A significant performance boost has elevated the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo from mostly funky to absolutely fun. We can safely say that the major horsepower and torque infusion brought about by Hyundai’s new Gamma 1.6-liter turbocharged engine has failed to expose any deal-breaking flaws.

With the added power of the Veloster Turbo and only a minimal penalty in fuel economy, an important barrier for some potential buyers vaporizes. For some that still won’t be enough thanks to one fact: the Veloster’s polarizing exterior design.

An impressive machine based on all the available statistics, the Veloster Turbo is undeniably fun but fails to deliver that wow factor. It delivers the goods on paper while in reality it isn’t too hard-edged and won’t scare off the average consumer. A hot hatch for all, enthusiasts need not apply.

Tthe Veloster Turbo performed relatively well during our on-road drive, but if you want the hottest hatch you can buy, you’d best look elsewhere. If value, edgy style, and MPGs factor in just as much, then the Veloster Turbo may be your ticket to ride.

Even with a turbocharger, the Veloster’s best attributes remain its value, fuel economy, and infotainment features. As with the base Veloster, you’re more likely to experience emotions looking at the Turbo than driving it.

The 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo adds a healthy dose of straight-line performance to its techie, trendy formula.

Maybe I’m being a bit unfair to the Veloster Turbo, but with the extra power and mean-looking body kit, I was expecting a lot more thrills. All it is, is the car the original Veloster should have been — a sporty economy car that delivers acceptable acceleration and good fuel economy.

Irrespective of age or psychographics, consumers value a product that meets or exceeds their perception of it. By that standard, the Veloster is simply not as fast, frugal or fun as it looks.