The Toyota Corolla is a safe, smart choice, reliable, efficient and new for the price. It’s the kind of car you buy when you want zero surprises. But in today’s market, the same money can unlock something much more interesting if you’re willing to look in the right places.
Not long ago, Hyundai built a hot hatch that flew under the radar despite offering 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 made it one of the biggest bargains for enthusiasts.
Now that’s what makes it so attractive. For less than the cost of a new economy car, you can get a car with serious performance, real character and a level of driver engagement that’s increasingly hard to find, especially at this price point.
In order to provide you with the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the information used to compile this article was obtained from various manufacturer websites, including EPA.
The Veloster N is an underrated masterpiece of its time
A clean example is now cheaper than a new Corolla
Over the past few years, Hyundai’s N division has worked hard to create some of the most interesting and attractive sports cars on the market. The Elantra N in particular received a ton of praise. The Elantra was preceded by an equally noisy hatchback called the Veloster N. It delivers the same engaging driving experience, and five-year-old models are now less usable than lackluster base options like the Corolla.
2021 Hyundai Veloster N average list price
|
Model |
Average list price |
|---|---|
|
Veloster N |
$18,799 |
When new, a Veloster N came with a starting MSRP of $33,595. That means you’re saving yourself close to $15,000 in depreciation. By comparison, if you bought yourself a brand new Toyota Corolla, you’d spend $23,125, which is more than $4,000 more than the 2021 Veloster N.
The Veloster N ran from 2019 to 2022, with the 2021 model receiving the last batch of changes. There are fewer 2021 models available than 2022 models, but they can generally be had for a bit less. If you can’t find a clean 2021 Veloster N, the 2022 model currently has an average list price of $23,509, which is the same price as the new Corolla. Either way, you get a ton of standard features and a lot of performance on tap.
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 the N models are because they are Korean. This happened when the likes of Toyota and Honda tried to enter the market, and now it’s happening to Hyundai. Look past the reputations and get behind the wheel and you’ll see that the Veloster N is one of the best driving hatches of its era.
Hyundai Elantra N performance and efficiency
- Main Trim Engine
-
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
-
6-speed manual
- Basic Trim transmission
-
Front wheel
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
275 horsepower
- Main Trim Torque
-
260 lb-ft @ 1450 rpm
- Fuel economy
-
22/28 MPG
- to do
-
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 transmitted only to the front wheels. It comes standard with a six-speed manual gearbox or a well-tuned eight-speed wet DCT. DCT-equipped models come with an overboost feature that temporarily boosts torque to 278 pound-feet.
Hyundai has equipped the Veloster N with a host of performance-oriented features, including a limited-slip differential, adaptive cruise control, and adaptive cruise control. All of this can be customized, along with steering weight, throttle response and exhaust sound. You can also switch between Eco, Normal, Sport and N drive modes. In its sportiest setting, the exhaust sounds fantastic and produces plenty of crackle and bangs.
In terms of performance, the Veloster N is incredibly sharp. It steers well and loads well through corners. It is also more sociable than many of its competitors. Match that with a 5.1-second zero-to-60 time and you’ve got a machine like this more enthusiast-friendly than most hot hatchbacks of this era.
The N’s cabin is a bit boring, but it’s still easy to live with
It clearly shows its budget-oriented roots
Although it looks like a better driver’s car than the Volkswagen GTI or even the new GR CorollaThe Veloster N doesn’t have a very nice interior. You get enough modern features that it doesn’t feel outdated, and the design isn’t terrible, but you’ll be able to feel where the costs have been 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 has three doors but seats four, which is part of what gives it such a fantastic silhouette. Unfortunately, this means that the rear seats are a little tighter than other options in this segment, especially in the headroom. Cargo space is quite reasonable and more spacious than other competitors.
Aside from the blue buttons on the steering wheel and some other blue accents, you’d be hard-pressed to tell that this isn’t a regular Veloster on the inside. While everything is neatly assembled and easy to use, many touchpoints have scratchy plastics that give away the Veloster’s budget roots. We will say, however, that we really like the seats in this hot hatch, which hold you in nicely even in very spirited driving conditions.
- Kind
-
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 it’s just to inflate your tires a little, and this heavy duty loader from WOLFBOX will meet all your needs.
Infotainment and technology
Unless you’re looking for state-of-the-art luxury features, the Veloster N’s tech offerings won’t disappoint. It comes with a reasonable eight-inch infotainment system which is quite average. The gauge cluster is mostly analog, but we actually prefer it.
You get the modern features you 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 lets you control many of the cars functions from your phone. You also get a pretty impressive standard Infinity sound system, one of the better sound systems for this price.
At $20,000, this enthusiast-focused hot hatch is a steal
If you are looking for cheap used sports carbut 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 attractive front-wheel-drive cars out there. It might not offer the same peace of mind you get from something as regular as a new Corolla, but it’ll never fail to put a smile on your face, and that’s worth a lot in our books.
