Hyundai Veloster SR Turbo First Drive Review
HYUNDAI VELOSTER TURBO REVIEW
Vehicle style: Small sports hatch
Engine: 1.6 litre (with twin-scroll turbo)
Power: 150kW @ 6000rpm | Torque: 265Nm @ 1750-4500rpm
Transmissions: six-speed manual, six-speed automatic
Fuel consumption (listed combined): 6.8 l/100km (manual); 7.6 l/100km (auto).
Fuel consumption (on test): not recorded
OVERVIEW
Hyundai's naturally-aspirated Veloster range has been selling up a storm since it arrived here six months ago. But ever since our first drive, we thought it was missing some sparkle in the engine department.
Cue the Veloster SR Turbo.
By cramming a direct-injected, turbocharged and intercooled 1.6 litre inline four behind the Veloster's snout, Hyundai has transformed its quirky three (or is that four?) door from a head-turning hatchback into a proper pocket-rocket.
Priced from $31,990, the highly-specced SR Turbo is also a bit of a bargain. As far as hot hatches go, it delivers plenty of bang for your hard-earned buck.
THE INTERIOR
The Veloster SR Turbo, as the new flagship of the range, gets all the toys enjoyed by the previous range-topper, the Veloster +.
That means such niceties as cruise control, climate control sat-nav, a proximity key, keyless ignition and a gargantuan glass sunroof are all standard.
Add a reversing camera, auto-on headlamps, power folding side mirrors, a trip computer, Bluetooth phone/audio integration and an up-rated sound system to that list of standard kit, and the SR Turbo is very well specced.
There are some omissions though. The driver's seat has power adjustment for the squab only, with a manual backrest.