The Toyota Corolla is the safe, sensible choice, reliable, efficient, and brand new for the price. It’s the kind of car you buy when you want zero surprises. But in today’s market, that same money can unlock something far more exciting, if you’re willing to look in the right places.
Not long ago, Hyundai built a hot hatch that flew under the radar despite delivering one of the most engaging driving experiences in its class. It didn’t get the recognition it deserved at the time, but depreciation has quietly turned it into one of the biggest bargains for enthusiasts.
That’s what makes it so compelling now. For less than the cost of a new economy car, you can get a machine with serious performance, real character, and a level of driver involvement that’s becoming harder to find, especially at this price point.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites, including the EPA.
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The Veloster N is a masterpiece unappreciated in its time
A clean example now costs less than a new Corolla
Over the last couple of year, Hyundai’s N division has been hard at work developing some of the most interesting and engaging sporting cars on the market. The Elantra N, in particular, has received a ton of praise. Before the Elantra, however, came an equally raucous hatchback called the Veloster N. It delivers a lot of the same engaging driving experience, and five-year-old models can now be had for less than dull mainstream options like the Corolla.
2021 Hyundai Veloster N average list price
|
Model |
Average list price |
|---|---|
|
Veloster N |
$18,799 |
Back when new, a Veloster N came with a starting MSRP of $33,595. This means that you’re essentially saving yourself close to $15,000 thanks to depreciation. Comparatively, if you were to get yourself a brand new Toyota Corolla, you’d be spending $23,125, which is over $4,000 more than a 2021 Veloster N.
The Veloster N ran from 2019 to 2022, with 2021 models getting the last batch of changes. There are, all around, fewer 2021 models than 2022 models, but they can generally be had for a little bit less. If you can’t find a clean 2021 Veloster N, the average list price of a 2022 model currently sits at $23,509, which is the same price as a new Corolla. Either way, you’re getting a ton of standard features and a bucketload of performance on tap.
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The Veloster N is quick off the line and offers unmatched engagement
A quiet king in a segment full of giants
People like to downplay how good N models are because they’re Korean. It happened to the likes of Toyota and Honda when they tried to push into the market, and now it’s happening to Hyundai. Look past reputations and get behind the wheel, however, and you’ll find that the Veloster N is one of the best driving hot hatches of its time.
Hyundai Elantra N performance and efficiency
- Base Trim Engine
-
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
-
6-Speed Manual
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
275 hp
- Base Trim Torque
-
260 lb-ft @ 1450 rpm
- Fuel Economy
-
22/28 MPG
- Make
-
Hyundai
- Model
-
Veloster N
- Segment
-
Compact Hatchback
Under the hood of every Veloster N sits an incredibly impressive turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It puts down 275 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent exclusively to the front wheels. It comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission or a well-tuned eight-speed wet DCT. Models equipped with the DCT do come with an overboost function, which temporarily increases torque up to 278 pound-feet.
Hyundai packed the Veloster N with a ton of performance-oriented features, including a limited-slip differential, a rev-matching system, and adaptive. All of these, along with the steering weight, throttle response, and exhaust sound can be customized. You can also switch between Eco, Normal, Sport, and N drive modes. In its sportiest setting, the exhaust sounds fantastic, and it puts out plenty of burbles and bangs.
In terms of performance, the Veloster N is incredibly sharp. Its steering is well weighted and loads up nicely through corners. It is also more communicative than a lot of its rivals. Match this with its 5.1 seconds zero to 60 time, and you get a machine that is better suited to enthusiasts than most hot hatchbacks from this era.
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Fast, functional, and easy to live with every day.
The cabin of the N is a little underwhelming, but it’s still easy to live with
It clearly shows its budget-oriented roots
While it definitely feels like a better driver’s car than the likes of the Volkswagen GTI or even the new GR Corolla, the Veloster N doesn’t have as nice an interior. You get enough modern features that it doesn’t feel outdated, and its design isn’t horrible, but you will be able to feel where costs were cut.
Interior dimensions and comfort
|
Front row headroom |
38.1 inches |
|---|---|
|
Front row legroom |
42.6 inches |
|
Second row headroom |
35.9 inches |
|
Second row legroom |
34.1 inches |
|
Cargo capacity (behind second row) |
19.9 cubic feet |
The Veloster N comes with three doors but four seats, which is part of what gives it such a fantastic silhouette. Unfortunately, this does mean that the back seats are a little more cramped than other options in this segment, particularly in the headroom department. The cargo hold is pretty reasonable, though, and more spacious than some of its other competitors.
Apart from the blue buttons on the steering wheel and some other blue accents, you’d be hard-pressed to tell this is not a regular Veloster from inside. While everything is neatly stacked and easy to use, a lot of touchpoints feature scratchy plastics which give away the Veloster’s budget roots. We will say, however, that we really like the bucket seats in this hot hatch, which hold you in nicely even under very spirited driving.
- Type
-
Tire Inflator
- Dimensions
-
4.16″L x 4.16″W x 9.3″H
- Weight
-
3.07 Pounds
A tire inflator is important even if all you need to do is fill your tires up a bit, and this heavy-duty inflator from WOLFBOX will take care of all of your needs.
Infotainment and technology
As long as you’re not looking for cutting-edge luxury features, you’re not likely going to be let down by the Veloster N’s tech offerings. It comes with a reasonable eight-inch infotainment system, which is exceptionally average. The gauge cluster is mostly analog, but we actually prefer it that way.
You get the modern features that you would want from a car in the Veloster N, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You can even get Hyundai’s Blue Link Connected Care and Remote package, which allows you to control a lot of the vehicles’ functions from your phone. You also get a pretty impressive standard Infinity sound system, which is one of the better sound systems at this price point.
At $20,000, this enthusiast-focused hot hatch is a steal
If you’ve been looking for a cheap used sports car, but you can’t live without the practicality of a hatchback, then you should definitely consider the Veloster N. Yes, it’s front-wheel drive, and that comes with a lot of limitations, but this Hyundai is one of the sharpest and most engaging front-wheel drive cars there is. It might not offer the same peace of mind you get from something mundane, like a new Corolla, but it’ll never stop putting a smile on your face, and that is worth quite a lot in our books.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
