2020 Hyundai Veloster Review
Used Veloster for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
2020 Hyundai Veloster Review
byDan Frio
Reviews Editor
Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to Edmunds, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.
Pros
- Unique and functional three-door body style
- Enjoyable power from the Veloster's turbocharged engine
- Sporty handling around turns
Cons
- Base engine is down on power
- Fewer trims and option packages mean fewer choices
- Elevated amount of road noise
What's new
- Blind-spot monitoring now standard on the Turbo R-Spec
- Turbo trim level adds standard wireless charging pad
- Manual transmission no longer offered for Turbo Ultimate models
- Part of the second Veloster generation introduced for 2019
Overview
The 2020 Hyundai Veloster is an affordable fun car with unique style, performance and, relative to its size, a large and efficient interior. Fully redesigned last year and now in its second generation of production, the Veloster captures the spirit of fun, small and sporty compact cars and stands out with its signature three-door hatchback style. That extra passenger-side door is no gimmick either. It spares rear passengers the contortions often necessary to get in and out of a regular two-door sport coupe.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Hyundai Veloster N 3dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.10 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$204/mo
Veloster N
vs
$168/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Neither of the Veloster's engines will win any horsepower awards, but the turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the Turbo series of models is plenty sporty for this lightweight car, and its available manual transmission and tight but compliant suspension make it a driver's delight. Those seeking a higher tier of performance can opt for the Veloster N, which offers racetrack durability in a car you drive every day.
The Veloster gets only a handful of changes for 2020, including wider availability of standard driver safety aids and wireless device charging. Notably, the manual transmission is dropped from the Turbo Ultimate trim level, but you can still get it with three other trims, including the base car. Hyundai has also said that there's a new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission for the Veloster N for buyers who don't want to row their own gears, but we don't expect it to be available until the 2021 model year.
Overall, the Veloster fills a unique niche as a sporty hatchback with good technology and utility. (For the car's size, the trunk is huge, for example.) Other compact hatchbacks such as the Honda Civic and the Mazda 3 provide more interior space and similarly lively performance, but nothing else on the road offers the Veloster's unique three-door style.
Edmunds Expert Rating
great
8.3/10
Edmunds Rating
Our VerdictThe Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.
The Veloster is an affordable fun car with unique style, performance and, relative to its size, a large and efficient interior. It's composed and comfortable enough to handle the daily grind, but still surprise you when the road opens up. An available manual transmission and a tight but compliant suspension make it a driver's delight, even if a restrictive clutch hampers some of the fun.
Rated for you by America's best test team.
Which Veloster does Edmunds recommend?
Unless you need to keep your budget to around $20,000, there's no reason not to start with the Veloster Turbo R-Spec. It's not much more expensive than the 2.0 Premium trim before it, but offers higher performance with its turbocharged engine, manual transmission and grippy performance tires. All are standout features in the class.
2020 Hyundai Veloster models
The 2020 Hyundai Veloster is a three-door hatchback that seats four people. It's available in six trims: base 2.0, 2.0 Premium, Turbo R-Spec, Turbo, Turbo Ultimate and Veloster N.