2012 Hyundai Veloster

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$17,300 - $18,550
Starting Price 
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on November 3, 2023

ProsConsWhat's New

Game-changing fascia

Sloppy acceleration

Brand new model

Responsive and quick steering

Firm ride at times

Commendable fuel efficiency

Restricted rear visibility

Excellent warranty coverage

Cramped rear seats

Specs & Features

$17,300

price

138 hp @ 6300 rpm

horsepower

123 lb.-ft. @ 4850 rpm

torque

TBD

transmission

1.6L 4cyl 6M

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

The hatchback segment is gaining steady popularity among buyers and geeks because of apparent reasons like cost and convenience. Thus, carmakers today are engaged in a dogfight amongst themselves in this segment. Subsequently, Hyundai is looking to earn a comfortable place among those who already enjoy being household names. The 2012 Hyundai Veloster aims to make good use of that market opportunity.

Buying Advice

You have only one trim option while buying the Veloster. However, to customize the car further, the brand offers a couple of additional packages, the Styling and Technology Package costing $1840 for each. You can take either of these, based on your requirement. The Style Package brings cosmetic embellishments, while the Technology Package fits essential comfort and safety features.

Comparative Analysis against Competition

In the year 2012, Hyundai introduced the Veloster in the luring and competitive hatchback market. It rivals the likes of Volkswagen Beetle, Scion tC, and Mini Cooper 2dr Hardtop. Post-launch, the 2012 Hyundai Veloster was received well by the customers and is ranked 3rd in the segment for its apparent sporty and unorthodox looks, the unusual 3-door design, well-balanced engine, and admirable interior.

Features
9.9/10

The 2012 Hyundai Veloster is offered in a single trim which costs $17,300 and comes equipped with a 1.6 L 4-Cylinder Engine. The features list includes 18-inch alloy wheels with painted inserts and 215/40R18 tires, premium cloth seating surfaces, manual 6-way adjustable driver bucket seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, power panoramic sunroof with sliding sunshade, automatic headlights, dual centered chrome exhaust tips, 8-speaker audio system with 7” display and many more.

Trim

Veloster

MSRP (Manual)

$17,300

MSRP (Auto)

$18,550

Features

1.6L inline-4 engine

 

6-speed manual transmission

 

17-inch alloy wheels with P215/45R17 tires

 

Premium cloth upholsteries

 

Manual 6-way adjustable driver bucket seat

 

tilt-and-telescopic steering with audio and cruise controls

 

Steering wheel audio and cruise controls

 

Multi-function trip computer

 

7” display

 

6-speaker audio system

 

Bluetooth hands-free and voice recognition

 

Tire Pressure Monitor

 

LED Headlights

We Recommend

You have only one trim option while buying the Veloster. However, to customize the car further, the brand offers a couple of additional packages, the Styling and Technology Package costing $1840 for each. You can take either of these, based on your requirement. The Style Package brings cosmetic embellishments, while the Technology Package fits essential comfort and safety features.

Engine and Performance
7.0/10

The 2012 Veloster is powered by a 1.6L inline-4 engine mated to either 6-speed manual or DCT automatic transmission, combined with an FWD system. The engine generates just 138 horsepower and 123 foot-pounds of torque. It helps the car in attaining 60mph from rest in just 8.8 seconds and can reach a quarter-mile within 16.6 seconds.

Compared to the dynamic and sporty exterior look of the car, the engine feels feeble and hesitant at times. However, despite the engine returning a substandard amount of power, the car performs well in the city. It feels composed and calm but while on the highways, it does only a satisfactory job.

Models

2012 Hyundai Veloster

2012 Scion tC

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Mini Cooper 2dr Hardtop

MSRP

$17,300

$18,575

$18,995

$19,500

Engine 

1.6L inline-4

2.5L inline-4

2.5L inline-5

1.6L inline-4

Drivetrain

FWD

FWD

FWD

FWD

Transmission

6-speed manual

6-speed manual

5-speed manual

6-speed manual

Power 

138hp @ 6300 rpm

180hp @ 6000 rpm

170hp @ 5700 rpm

121hp @ 6000 rpm

Torque

123lb-ft @ 4850 rpm

173lb-ft @ 4100 rpm

177lb-ft @ 4250 rpm

114lb-ft @ 4250 rpm

0-60 MPH (sec)

8.8

7.4

8.8

9.5

Quarter mile (sec)

16.6

15.7

16.7

17.2

Top Speed (MPH)

126

127

126

124

In terms of pricing, the 2012 Veloster is less expensive compared to the competition, while the Mini Cooper is on the expensive side. The Veloster and Mini Cooper are powered by 1.6L inline-4 engines, while the Scion and Volkswagen are powered by 2.5L inline-4 and 2.5L inline-5 engines respectively. The Scion tC performs the best in the comparison with outstanding power figures. The Mini Cooper sits at the bottom in performance, despite being the priciest.

Fuel Economy
8.0/10

It’s a good thing that the engine develops a small amount of power when you look at the fuel efficiency. The substandard power figures on the 2012 Veloster offer an advantage in terms of economy. The car returns 27, 37, and 31 MPG in the city, highway, and combined driving cycles respectively. Furthermore, the 2012 Veloster comes built with a 13.2-gallon fuel tank which gives it an advantageous range of 356/488/409 in the city, highways and combined respectively.

Models

2012 Hyundai Veloster

2012 Scion tC

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Mini Cooper 2dr Hardtop

MPG (City)

27

23

22

29

MPG (Highway)

37

31

31

37

MPG (Combined)

31

26

25

32

Fuel Capacity (gallons)

13.2

14.5

14.5

13.2

Range (City/ Highway) (miles)

356.4/488.4

333.5/449.5

319/449.5

382.8/488.4

As mentioned above in the performance section, the Cooper stays at the bottom due to its feeble performance. But, it does exhibit excellent MPG figures at 32MPG combined; coupled with an impressive fuel tank, it has a decent range. The Volkswagen Beetle stays at the bottom when it comes to fuel efficiency.

Interior
6.0/10

The 2021 Hyundai Veloster comes built with a practical yet beautifully curated cabin inside which is spacious, comfortable, and feature-packed. The cabin comes wrapped with good quality cloth, which feels soft and premium. The cabin can seat 4 people and as standard, the seats are covered with premium cloth gray or black with the driver’s seat being a 6-way manually adjustable bucket seat. On the front, the head and legroom offered are on the wider side. However, the story is less interesting in the back, the head and legroom are on the confined side, which can be concerning for tall passengers.

Other standard features included a tilt-telescopic steering wheel with audio and cruise control, AC, power windows and door locks, a multi-functional driver’s display, dual-tiered armrest with storage boxes, beverage holders, and many other features. Optional features comprise leather-wrapped steering with a shift-knob, power panoramic sunroof, a power outlet, and driver auto-up window. On the rear side, the 2012 Veloster offers 15.5 cubic feet of cargo space, which can be well used according to one’s needs. One can fold them to get further space.

Models

2012 Hyundai Veloster

2012 Scion tC

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Mini Cooper 2dr Hardtop

Seating Capacity

4

5

4

4

Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)

39/55.6/43.9

37.7/55.4/41.8

39.4/55.3/41.3

38.8/50.3/41.7

Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)

35.3/54/31.7

36.4/52.1/34.6

37.1/49/31.4

37.6/44.7/27.9

Cargo Capacity (cu-ft)

15.5

14.7

12

5.7

The Hyundai Veloster offers a fair amount of front space, but the rear feels confined. But it has the largest cargo space in the lot. The Scion is the only 5 seater hatchback in the comparison, the rest accommodate only 4 people. The 2012 Veloster offers the best front passenger space, while the Volkswagen Beetle offers the better rear row passenger space. Standout interior features include:

  • Manual 6-way adjustable driver bucket seat
  • Leather-wrapped tilt-telescopic steering with audio and cruise control
  • Power panoramic sunroof with sliding sunshade
  • Front and rear dual cup holders, two 12-volt outlets
  • Leatherette upholstery
  • 115V outlet
  • 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback

How intuitive is the 2012 Hyundai Veloster’s Infotainment Unit?

The 2012 Veloster has one of the best in class infotainment systems. The brand has fitted an extensive amount of features that make the car a practical choice when it comes to functionality. As standard, the Infotainment unit comes fitted with a 7” touchscreen display that sits between the AC vents and is programmed with Hyundai’s Blue-Link software. A CD player/AM/FM/SiriusXM/MP3 player and a 6-speaker audio system come standard with the car. 

Other features like Bluetooth hands-free and voice recognition, audio streaming, speed-sensitive automatic volume control, XM Navweather, and sports ticker, Pandora Internet Radio come with trial subscriptions. Going upwards, spending more money will get you a premium 8-speaker music system by Dimension along with a navigation system. Standout infotainment features in the 2012 Hyundai Veloster include:

  • 7” touchscreen display
  • 8-Speaker Dimension Audio System
  • Navigation System
  • Bluetooth hands-free with Voice recognition and audio streaming
  • Pandora Internet Radio
  • SiriusXM, XM Navweather, sports, and stock ticker

Exterior
9.0/10

One of the reasons why you should get yourself the 2012 Veloster is because of the sporty fascia. Hyundai took a big risk by building the car with a 3 door body design and it has paid off. The 3 door design can be interpreted like a coupe or as a traditional hatchback. At the front, sharp headlights with signature LED accents, automatic headlights, and fog lights make it not only bold and sophisticated but also check the boxes of functionality.

Additionally, there are few elements that significantly season and spice up the car’s looks. A dual centered chrome exhaust tip, the chrome grille with piano black accents, and a black rear bumper are the subtle elements that contribute significantly to the car’s sporty characteristics. 18-inch alloy wheels with painted inserts with all-season P215/40R18 tires are the best fit, which garnishes the final appeal.

Models

2012 Hyundai Veloster

2012 Scion tC

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Mini Cooper 2dr Hardtop

Curb Weight (lbs.)

2,584

3,060

2,939

2,535

Length (in.)

166.1

174

168.4

146.6

Width (in.)

70.5

70.7

71.2

66.3

Height (in.)

55.1

55.7

58.5

55.4

Ground Clearance (in.)

5.6

6.3

5.7

5.2

Wheelbase (in.)

104.3

106.3

99.9

97.1

The Scion tC being the only 5-seater is the heaviest and largest here among other hatchbacks. It also enjoys the best ground clearance. While, on the other side, the Veloster despite having a large wheelbase weighs low. The Mini Cooper turns out to be a much smaller car, which is reflected in its cargo as well as rear seat space. Standout exterior features in the 2012 Hyundai Veloster are:

  • Sporty 3-door design
  • Automatic headlights, Signature LEDs with Fog lamps
  • Dual-centered chrome exhaust tips
  • Piano Black Rear Bumper
  • 18-inch alloy wheels with painted inserts and P215/40R18 tires

Safety
8.0/10

Hyundai is one of the trusted and reliable car makers that produces trustworthy and robust cars these days. Likewise, the 2012 Hyundai Veloster comes fitted and programmed with several important safety and driver-assist programs. All the wheels are fitted with disc brakes which are further programmed with ABS, EBD, and Brake Assist. Important attributes like Electronic Stability Control and Vehicle Stability Management are present for further safety. Standout safety features in the 2012 Hyundai Veloster are:

  • Hill-start Assist Control
  • Tire pressure monitoring system
  • Cruise Control
  • Rear View Camera
  • Engine Immobilizer
  • Hyundai's BlueLink
  • SOS Notification
  • Crash Alert

Final Verdict

Hyundai has made the hatchback segment more competitive after introducing an affordable hatchback in the market. What makes other brands uncomfortable, is the 2012 Veloster’s dashing look. The new Hyundai Veloster has a sporty and bold exterior, an efficient engine, a comfortable and cozy cabin, and a heap of features inside-out. It offers the best value, being priced at 17 grand, it’s a fair deal to bring a Veloster home.

Trims

    Base
    $17,300 onwards
    • 17-inch silver aluminum Wheels
    • 1St row LCD monitor
    • A-Spec Sport Seats
    • Front manual air conditioning
    • Heated mirrors
    • Premium cloth Seat trim
    • Remote keyless entry

Compare to similar cars

Price

$17,300- $18,550

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

7.81

Horsepower

138 hp @ 6300 rpm

Torque

123 lb.-ft. @ 4850 rpm

Capacity

5

Read Review

$15,325- $19,690

Gasoline

8.15

117 hp @ 6600 rpm

106 lb.-ft. @ 4800 rpm

5

Read Review

$19,990- $26,080

Gasoline

7.33

188 hp @ 5600 rpm

177 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm

5

Read Review

$15,345- $17,050

Gasoline

7.29

128 hp @ 6000 rpm

125 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm

5

Read Review

$18,575- $21,905

Gasoline

7.79

180 hp @ 6000 rpm

173 lb.-ft. @ 4100 rpm

5

Read Review

$24,950- $31,850

Gasoline

7.8

227 hp @ 5000 rpm

236 lb.-ft. @ 2300 rpm

-

Read Review

2012 Hyundai Veloster vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    8.8 sec--
    6.6 sec15.1 sec-
    7.7 sec--
    2012 Scion TC

    Ranked #3

    7.9 sec16.0 sec-
    8.3 sec16.5 sec115 mph
    2012 Scion XD

    Ranked #5

    8.72 sec--

    2012 Hyundai Veloster vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      27 mpg37 mpg31 mpg13.2 gal.356.4/488.4 mi.
      2012 Scion XD

      Ranked #2

      27 mpg33 mpg29 mpg11.1 gal.299.7/366.3 mi.
      28 mpg33 mpg29 mpg10.6 gal.286.2/349.8 mi.
      27 mpg32 mpg29 mpg13.2 gal.356.4/422.4 mi.
      2012 Scion TC

      Ranked #3

      23 mpg31 mpg26 mpg14.5 gal.333.5/449.5 mi.
      21 mpg30 mpg24 mpg15.9 gal.- -

      2012 Hyundai Veloster vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        166.1 in.70.5 in.55.1 in.5.6 in.104.3 in.
        2012 Scion TC

        Ranked #1

        174 in.70.7 in.55.7 in.6.3 in.106.3 in.
        167.4 in.70.2 in.57 in.5.3 in.103.9 in.
        162.4 in.69.5 in.61.8 in.7 in.99.6 in.
        161.6 in.66.7 in.60 in.6 in.98.4 in.
        2012 Scion XD

        Ranked #6

        154.7 in.67.9 in.59.4 in.6.5 in.96.9 in.

        2012 Hyundai Veloster vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          15.5 cu.ft.89.8 cu.ft.14.2 cu.ft.
          10.5 cu.ft.86.7 cu.ft.35.9 cu.ft.
          20.6 cu.ft.90.8 cu.ft.57.3 cu.ft.
          2012 Scion XD

          Ranked #3

          10.5 cu.ft.84.5 cu.ft.35.7 cu.ft.
          2012 Scion TC

          Ranked #4

          14.7 cu.ft.88.4 cu.ft.34.5 cu.ft.
          -89 cu.ft.146.7 cu.ft.

          2012 Hyundai Veloster vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            SourceCompare
            14.2 cu.ft.15.5 cu.ft.14.2 cu.ft.-
            57.3 cu.ft.20.6 cu.ft.57.3 cu.ft.72 ft.
            20.2 cu.ft.-146.7 cu.ft.98 ft.
            88 cu.ft.10.5 cu.ft.35.9 cu.ft.78 ft.
            2012 Scion XD

            Ranked #5

            35.7 cu.ft.10.5 cu.ft.35.7 cu.ft.-
            2012 Scion TC

            Ranked #6

            34.5 cu.ft.14.7 cu.ft.34.5 cu.ft.-

            2012 Hyundai Veloster vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              1014 lbs.2584 lbs.
              -2496 lbs.
              1009 lbs.2959 lbs.
              2012 Scion TC

              Ranked #1

              -3060 lbs.
              1101 lbs.- -
              2012 Scion XD

              Ranked #1

              -2625 lbs.

              2012 Hyundai Veloster Hatchback Problems, Issues, Complaints, Recalls, and which year to avoid?

              6

              Recalls

              2

              Investigations

              292

              Complaints
              Overall Safety Rating
              Read More

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              2012 Hyundai Veloster User Reviews

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              POPULAR TAGS

              Jmy

              Joel michael yates

              2013 Hyundai Veloster

              w/Red Interior 3dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 6M)

              Not Rated

              User Overall Rating

              Posted On: July 2, 2024

              Really fun to drive, great car. Barely any complaints

              Pros - ["The size is very convenient for feeling in control", "The gas mileage is decent."]

              Cons - ["Kinda hard to clean between, and under the chairs.", "I don't hate it, but one back seat door is a bit weird."]

              Really great driving wise, but you can't just jump in and play music. Great responsive steering, really nice size inside and out. Looks really cool. Lots of features in the touch pad. Average mpg on the dash is awesome, my last car didn't have that. I wish I knew how to upload a custom home screen color though, it only has 3 options. It gets me around 30mpg on the highway 26 in town. Interior is ...

              Not Rated
              Features
              Not Rated
              Interior
              Not Rated
              Design
              Not Rated
              Safety
              Not Rated
              Reliability
              Not Rated
              Deal Value
              Not Rated
              Dealer Review