2022 Hyundai Veloster N Final Drive Review | Goodbye, sweet hatchback

This wasn’t intended to be a farewell travel, but in involving tests the 2022 Hyundai Veloster N and the publishing of this overview, Hyundai announced that the spunky, three-door very hot hatchback is lifeless. There will be no 2023 Veloster. Period of time. 

It is a hard one particular to acquire, as the Veloster N released us to what is now a blossoming effectiveness manufacturer in Hyundai’s portfolio. With it, Hyundai lastly proved that it could make a major-tier functionality auto. The N division has considering that struck gold a couple more times with the Elantra N and Kona N, but only the Veloster N birthed the manufacturer in the United States back again in the 2019 product calendar year. And confident, 2019 would seem like 10 many years back to most of us, but in car terms, a mere 4 design years (counting 2022) is not a very long existence. At least they were being 4 beautiful model a long time. 

For the last push, we’re ending where we started, with a 6-velocity guide-equipped Veloster N. Hyundai additional a twin-clutch automated transmission for the 2021 product yr, and we located it to be a good option for the automobile-inclined. The DCT is also out there for this closing 2022 model year, which signifies it will get a two-12 months manufacturing operate. Even so, absolutely nothing could make us happier than paying out the previous drive in this vehicle with the neat-shifting manual.

It doesn’t choose extensive to slip again into loving the Veloster N. Swing the additional-long driver door open — it’s massive, like that of a two-doorway coupe — and the tremendous-higher bolstered N seats await. These seats are the “N Light” sport seats (the N in the backrest pretty much lights up at night time) introduced for 2021, and they aid to spruce up an normally again-to-principles cabin. The Effectiveness Blue accents for the substantial steering wheel push mode selector buttons beckon your activation appropriate absent. One particular tap on the checkered flag button, and the car switches into N manner, opening the exhaust up and activating the hilarious pop-and-bang soundtrack.

The relaxation of the cabin, apart from for the Functionality Blue seatbelts, is virtually brutally simple. A Honda Civic’s interior is far from deluxe, but it is upscale in contrast to the resources and design you find inside the Veloster N. Which is not to say the Hyundai’s simple character is a bad factor — prioritizing general performance in excess of high-class interior products isn’t a final decision we acquire offense to. Moreover, if you really will need a nicer interior, the Elantra N awaits.

Getting something to complain about when it comes to driving the Veloster N is just as tricky as it was back in 2019. The 2.-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder motivates this 3,106-pound hatchback with all the kick it needs. Its 275 horsepower and 260 pound-toes of torque leaves the front close scrabbling for grip when the Pirelli P Zero summer months tires are chilly, but get them heat, and this very little monster will scream absent from a dead end in just about 5 seconds for every Motor vehicle and Driver testing.

The sounds it can make obtaining there is arguably extra entertaining than the acceleration itself. Assuming you have the exhaust in its most aggressive setting, just about every change is accompanied by a speedy-fire bang bang prior to you stage back again on to the throttle, reawakening the bass-stuffed roar of the boosted motor. There’s no form of sound left out of the equation. No make any difference what you want, no matter whether that’s the sound of a turbocharger or screeching rubber from a significant entrance-wheel burnout, the Veloster N can deliver the sought after atmosphere. We’d say that we’ll pass up the noises the most, but thankfully, a likewise noisy working experience can be experienced in the other N designs on sale now.

The Veloster N notably sits in stark contrast to other scorching hatches that are much extra refined when it comes to external audio, these as the Volkswagen GTI or final-gen Honda Civic Sort R. The Hyundai can be peaceful like those people cars and trucks if you adhere it into “Normal” method, but what is the enjoyment in that?

Fortunately, the Elantra N will decide on up where the Veloster N leaves off when it will come to managing overall performance. That said, even 4 yrs later, the Veloster N is an complete riot to chuck around. The previous-gen Civic Style R set the earth standard for dealing with in entrance-travel automobiles, and the Veloster N is approximately at that exact same amount. Hyundai’s electronic restricted-slip differential is effective its magic to make guaranteed torque is successfully distributed to the floor, sling-shotting you close to corners with surprising rate and inspiring enormous amounts of self confidence. It’s achievable to induce a tiny torque steer — contrary to the Style R — but the Veloster N does a bang-up career of tempering it and permitting the driver to maintain whole regulate of exactly where these entrance wheels are pointing.

The presence of a “Custom” push method that allows you to set all the things up specifically as you want is a big boon to equally enthusiastic and every day driving. Twisted up to full “N,” the suspension is rock-tricky to the point of staying a stress on all but the smoothest of roadways. Becoming able to soften the dampers but hold the childish exhaust and weighty steering usually means you can have pleasurable any time you hop in the driver’s seat. The rev-match purpose is drastically appreciated below all conditions, way too. Phase through every single gear as you brake for a mild, and each individual downshift is accompanied by a well timed blip with accompanying chatter from the exhaust. You can travel close to and be a nuisance to culture as a great deal as you want, all when experiencing a acceptable trip good quality.

Further than the inarguable functionality, the Veloster N’s weirdness is what we’ll overlook the most. No, a automobile with 3 doors and a squished hatchback stature doesn’t make perception when you believe about it from a utilitarian point of view, but the simple fact that it existed at all is one thing us weird nerds can be thankful for. Moreover, on a significant take note, we invested a weekend toting persons around in the back again seat of this Racing Crimson instance, and the problems ended up minimum. It’s a disgrace that only a person of the rear home windows goes down (the a single in the doorway that opens), but rear legroom is plentiful so lengthy as just one of your riders accepts the want to scoot across the rear bench to get in and out.

Never look at this “Final Drive” as you totally missing the boat on the Veloster N, though. Hyundai will sell the tiny hatchback by the 2022 model yr, so there’s continue to a likelihood to snag 1. The rate isn’t as engaging as it was when the Veloster N launched in 2019, but $33,595 is a realistic amount of money to pay out for its efficiency — include $1,500 to that if you want the DCT. Sadly, that price tag places it higher than that of the Elantra N, which features a nicer inside, better visibility and extra utility with four total doors. You can see how pulling the plug built feeling – not to mention that considerably more individuals obtain regular, non-N Elantras than Velosters, creating a small-quantity, fanatic special a a lot more palatable business proposition. So there’s logic to the conclusion, but that doesn’t imply the Veloster N’s absence will not go away a funky-formed hole in our hearts.

In the close, the Veloster N did its occupation of thoroughly entrenching “N” as some thing particular to lovers. It efficiently set significant expectations and laid the groundwork for each individual successive N product to realize success in its put. Now, Hyundai just desires to keep the drumbeat heading.

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