Hyundai’s funky four-door Veloster hatchback pushes several of our buttons in a good way—it looks interesting, has a unique asymmetric door layout, and is pretty affordable—but it just isn’t that fun to drive. Even the more-powerful Turbo model Hyundai added to the lineup this year failed to light a fire in the driving excitement department. Perhaps Hyundai heard the call, because the company has announced it will make a grippier summer tire option available to 2013 Veloster and Veloster Turbo customers looking for more dynamism.
- Instrumented Test: 2012 Hyundai Veloster
- Instrumented Test: 2012 Hyundai Veloster DCT
- First Drive: 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo
The new tire option consists of four Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires, and should make a meaningful difference in the Veloster’s middling grip levels. (In our testing, a 2012 Veloster hung on for just 0.82 g around our skidpad, and the trip from 70 mph to a stop took a seemingly endless 179 feet; we have yet to strap our test gear to Turbo version.) The summer tires’ potential to improve braking and grip likely will be most significant to customers checking out the 201-hp Veloster Turbo, which until now was available only with the same all-season tires as the regular Veloster. There is one stipulation for buyers looking at the standard-grade Veloster to keep in mind: The summer tires are available only with the step-up 18-inch wheels. The Veloster Turbo comes standard with 18-inch rollers, so customers need only order the tires. The tires will cost buyers an extra $1200 on top of the price of the 2013 Veloster or Veloster Turbo.
Alexander Stoklosa
Online Editor
Alexander Stoklosa has been editing, writing, and reviewing cars for Car and Driver since 2010. Occasionally, he takes a subpar photograph or whips together a cheesy illustration to the chagrin of C/D’s art staff. More often he can be found taking needlessly contrarian positions in inter-office car debates.
