• The Hyundai Veloster is an innovative and unique entry in the compact coupe segment. It's a sleek hatchback that is highly functional and includes a convenient rear passenger-side door. A new Turbo trim is available for 2013.
• The Veloster is powered by a 138-hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with gasoline direct-injection and variable valve timing combined with a six-speed manual transmission. A 201-hp turbocharged version of the 1.6-liter engine powers the Veloster Turbo and is also mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Optional for non-turbo models is a six-speed dual-clutch auto-shift transmission, with a conventional six-speed automatic available for the Turbo. Safety equipment includes six airbags, traction control, stability control, tire pressure monitor, and a Blue Link telematics system. Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, a 7-inch LCD touchscreen, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, and a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The Turbo adds 18-inch wheels, front fog lights, heated leather seats and proximity key entry with push button start. Available options include a panoramic sunroof, backup warning sensors and a navigation system with rearview camera.
• The Hyundai Veloster is a carryover for 2013, with the addition of the new Turbo trim.

For 2013, the Veloster Turbo joins the lineup. The new 2013 Veloster Turbo uses a turbocharged version of the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine for a peppy 201 hp and 196 pound-feet of torque, along with bigger brakes and tires.

Like the base Veloster, the Turbo gets a standard 6-speed manual gearbox. A traditional 6-speed automatic with Shiftronic is optional. The naturally aspirated Veloster, meanwhile, uses a dual-clutch automatic.

The Turbo's increased performance predictably takes a toll on gas mileage, but still achieves a respectable 26 mpg City and 38 mpg Highway EPA rating with the manual and 25/34 mpg with the automatic.

The Veloster Turbo distinguishes itself from the naturally aspirated model with a huge front grille, a body kit, different front and rear bumpers, a rear spoiler and upgraded standard features such as leather upholstery, heated front seats and pushbutton start. All turbos ride on larger, 18-inch wheels.

Perhaps most interestingly, the Veloster Turbo is available in a matte gray paint color, which costs an extra $1,000 and, like other cars with flat paint colors, must be taken care of meticulously by hand. The paint is so fussy that customers must sign a release form that states they won't take it through an automated carwash. Those who pop for the high-maintenance paint will receive a car-care kit with cleaning products they can use at home.

The Veloster's styling gets a lot of looks on the highway, although we think it looks a tad overdone. As a three-door coupe, it totally pulls off the two-door roofline. The third door is on the passenger side, hinged at the front like a real door. With other three-door compacts, the third door can be awkwardly hinged; not so with the Veloster. It's easy to climb in and out of the back seat, and total interior volume is best in the sporty compact class, blowing the Mini Cooper Clubman out of the water.

Much of the Hyundai Veloster was designed and developed in the U.S., most notably the rear suspension that gives Veloster an excellent all-around ride that's dialed-in but still comfortable. Steering is solid, secure, and gives great feedback; cornering is stable.

Interior details include nice console support at the right thigh, good feel with the three-spoke leather steering wheel, pleasing uncluttered gauges, and digital information that's easily accessed. There's a blind spot at the C-pillar over the driver's shoulder, and the horizontal structural support in the fastback glass liftgate restricts visibility, but it still offers better visibility than most other coupes.

The Hyundai Veloster's competitors include the Fiat 500, Honda Civic hatchback, Mini Cooper Clubman, Volkswagen Beetle and Volkswagen Golf, while the Veloster Turbo goes up against sportier, more powerful versions of these compacts like the Fiat 500 Abarth, Honda Civic Si, Mini Cooper Clubman S, Volkswagen Beetle Turbo and Volkswagen GTI. The Veloster might not have the cachet enjoyed by some of the competition, but it offers excellent value for the money and superior fuel economy.

But take a couple of steps back, and the Veloster doesn't look so bad. The nose is low, and from a three-quarter rear view, it looks tough on its haunches. The standard Veloster's mouth is as wide as an Audi's, but it's filled in with body-colored plastic, shaped to resemble wings, but maybe looks more like Superman's shoulders while flying, with a chrome cape and silver H for a face.

The Veloster Turbo gets an even bigger, all-black mouth that looks to be all air intake, different fog lights, LED accents around the headlights and side mirrors with integrated turn signals. In back, the Turbo sports a rear spoiler, LED tail lights and large dual exhaust tips. All Turbos ride on 18-inch wheels. Inside, pushbutton start, leather upholstery and heated seats come standard, as well as an upgraded audio system.

A new Matte Gray color for the Veloster Turbo is a gamble for Hyundai. The special clear coat that gives the matte appearance must be taken care of meticulously. Buyers who plunk down the extra $1,000 for this color will receive a car-care kit, since the matte paint can't go through a traditional brush car wash, and most detailing products are designed to make paint shine. Customers must also sign a release form that acknowledges that the paint must be taken care of in a particular way. Hyundai execs admit they can't vouch for long-term longevity and say second owners could prove to be a challenge. This isn't unique to Hyundai, however, as other cars, including expensive luxury cars, with flat paint colors face the same challenges. They look really neat when in good condition, though.

As a three-door coupe, the Veloster totally pulls off the two-door roofline. On the passenger side, the third door is hidden save the seam. Rakish upsweep meets a racy roofline, invisible door handle in the window corner. Thankfully, the window trim is black.

The single center exhaust on the standard Veloster is like Siamese twin trapezoids, outlined by chrome, while the Veloster Turbo gets dual, side-by-side exhaust tips in the same spot. Both versions are boxed in by a big black plastic fascia that makes the rear end look almost frog-like. But in a good way.

We drove the Veloster hard through some of our favorite corners and found the car planted and stable. The engine in the naturally aspirated version is solid and smooth, and is capable in most everyday driving applications. However, those looking for a more performance-oriented sport compact may find it lacking in power.

We weren't crazy about the optional 6-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). The DCT shifts aren't as sharp as Volkswagen's DSG; they're almost too smooth, stealing feeling from the car. It feels like an automatic, not a manual transmission with some invisible person making perfect shifts for you. Plus, the paddles feel cheap and aren't designed with care. Seeing as how the DCT costs another $2250, we'd stick with the sweet 6-speed manual.

The Veloster Turbo ups the ante considerably with its turbocharged, 201-hp engine, complete with bigger brakes and tires. It packed enough punch to get us around twisty turns while climbing up steep terrain, and was torquey enough to let us pass pokey trucks on two-lane straightaways. However, we would have liked to hear a beefier growl from the exhaust, which left us feeling uninspired.

On Turbo models equipped with the 6-speed automatic, drivers can choose a sport mode that changes the shift pattern. While we found it shifted at higher revs and held gears nicely through the corners, we still preferred the manual transmission for more spirited driving. We were also disappointed to learn that the Turbo's sport mode did not modify other elements of the car such as steering feel or suspension.

Fuel economy is one of the most compelling reasons to buy a Hyundai Veloster. The naturally aspirated version gets an EPA-estimated 28/40 mpg City/Highway with the manual or 29/38 mpg with the DCT. In a hard couple hundred miles, including two-lanes, freeway and city, we averaged about 29 mpg, with both the 6-speed manual and DCT.

The Veloster Turbo, meanwhile, is rated at 26/38 mpg with the manual and 25/34 mpg with the automatic.

Hyundai says the interior design was inspired by shapes on a sport bike. They say the A-pillars are like a helmet visor, the center stack resembles a fuel tank, the console mirrors a motorcycle seat, and air vents are inspired by tailpipes. Mostly we noticed overkill on the trapezoidal trim pieces.

On the standard Veloster, we noticed terrific fit and materials of the Style Package seats, nice console support at the right thigh, good feel of the three-spoke leather steering wheel, pleasing uncluttered gauges, and digital information accessed easily. A 7-inch touch-screen is standard, with three interface layouts to choose from. Features include Bluetooth, Pandora internet radio via iPhone, and Gracenote music connectivity. A 196-watt six-speaker audio system is standard, while the 450-watt eight-speaker system comes with the Style package.

The Veloster Turbo adds extra touches including aluminum pedals, pushbutton start and heated front seats. Leather upholstery is standard, but it felt more plastic than plush, and we noticed that stitching around the driver's seat had already begun to buckle in some places.

Rear visibility has a couple of problems. There's a big blind spot at the C-pillar over the driver's shoulder, which is typical for cars with this type of roofline. And the structural support in the fastback glass liftgate blocks rearview visibility, but overall it's still better than some hatches on the market such as the Toyota Prius and Honda CR-Z.

The backseat is easy to get into, thanks to the Veloster's front-hinged third door. Rear legroom measures 31.7, which is scant for those who regularly carry backseat passengers, but good for the compact segment. Total interior volume is best in its class, beating the Scion tC and blowing the Mini Cooper out of the water. It even beats the Mini Clubman, by 105.3 to 89.2 cubic feet.

Sam Moses filed this NewCarTestDrive.com report after his test drive of the Veloster in the Pacific Northwest, with Laura Burstein reporting on the Veloster Turbo from San Diego.