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Saturday, February 16, 2013

CLOSE UP+Test drive: Hyundai Veloster 1.6 Premium

In this blog entry, I'm posting a Close up with MEGA (50+) Photo galleries along with a Brief 6km test drive report on Hyundai Veloster 1.6 Premium.  The Veloster is a one-of-a-kind 2+1 door hatchback.  Ie. 2 door on left side and 1 door on right side and rear hatch.  The 1.6 Premium's priced at RM132,888 OTR including insurance.  But this buys you plenty of kits...

They are:
Colour coded 2 tone Leather seats (front semi-buckets), 18" colour coded alloy rims with 215/40R18 Hankook tyres (17" alloy rims for Standard), 8 Premium Speakers with Subwoofer sound system (Normal spec only 4 speakers) mated with Bluetooth Handsfree with steering control, Electric tilt-slide panoramic sunroof, Reverse camera (on the integrated 7" TFT Screen), Digital Climate Control with ionizer.  Premium also comes with Rear LED Combination lights.

The manual is the entry-level offering of the range priced at RM116,888, and in terms of equipment have almost the same kit as the standard auto model priced RM5,000 more at RM121,888.

Common to both are 17-inch five-spoke alloys wrapped with 215/45 series tyres, smart key with push start/stop ignition, fog lamps and 4 speakers audio system.

Both versions also comes with manual air-conditioning and fabric seats (add RM2,000 more for 2 tone leather), and in terms of safety the manual makes do with dual airbags and ABS. The auto version adds Advanced Traction Control in the form of VSM (vehicle stability management), ESP+ABS+EBD+BA and HAC (hill-start assist control).  Last item which is standard across the range are high mounted rear spoiler.


 The Veloster is available in six colours.  It consists of solid White Crystal, Sleek Silver, Sonic Silver (both metallic), Veloster Red, Green Apple and Vitamin C, the last three are pearl-effect metallic.

DRIVE TIME:

The Veloster in Malaysia's powered by the same 1.6 DUAL CVVT Gamma engine (photo above) as the Elantra 1.6 but with better tuning.  It has 2ps and 1Nm torque more at 132ps@6300rpm and 158Nm@4850rpm.  Note that this is a REV-Happy engine.  The Veloster is almost 100kg lighter than the Elantra hence it's nippier.  

As I enter the car, I noticed that the Veloster has EXCELLENT built quality.  There's no uneven gaps and the plastics quality are GREAT.  Obviously, since it's CBU from South Korea.  Don't take my word!  Come to my showroom and judge for yourself!

I had a short 6km spin at the Veloster.  But this is a "Complete" test drive as I drove from my showroom in Damansara Perdana across to Penchala link and U-turn back.  The test route's complete with Uphill-climb, hairpins, straight roads and cornering.  The Ride and handling's EXCELLENT with minimal bodyroll.  The ride's a bit stiff but more on Comfort side.  Note that the Premium which I tested's fitted with ultra-low profile 215/40R18 rims and tyres.  Good job, Hyundai!

Acceleration wise?  Let's put it this way, this car LOVED to be REVVED!  If you drive pussy-footed (light-footed), you'll have the perception that it's underpowered!  NO, IT'S NOT UNDERPOWERED!  You meant to REV all the way to almost 5000rpm (peak torque @ 4850rpm remember?).   I timed the 0-100km/h in 9.98 seconds (ie. Slightly below 10 secs).  Not bad for a 6-speed Automatic car.  I reckon the 6 Speed Manual's 0.7 seconds faster like the Elantra 1.6 Manual.  Oh! This Veloster RUNS WELL on RON95.  

OVERALL "HONEST" Rating:
1.6 Std 6/10 (too basic), 1.6 Premium 7/10 (not really full spec - no Power adjustable driver seat, No GPS/DVD player - Cannot add on, No paddle shift, No Auto-cruise and finally EXPENSIVE for a Naturally Aspirated 1600cc Hatchback).  Both = Poor rear headroom but decent legroom.

There you have it, a NON-Biased review.  

Well, there's a saying a picture's worth 1000 words!  Here are WHOOPING 50+ of them!  Enjoy! (Please Double click to enlarge).
 Premium gets Projector headlights with DRL.






 Above: 440litres boot space.  Below: Decent legroom but POOR Headroom.




























































 Standard across the range is this 7" TFT Colour screen.  It displays Screensaver, theme, Temperature, Gracenote (sync with Iphone), ECO Driving guide/interface.  For PREMIUM the same screen adds Reverse camera, Bluetooth and Automatic Climate Control.




If you want to buy this ONE-OF-A-KIND Veloster, please call YOURS TRULY (me), Jeff Lim at 012-6852-718.  Best service assured.  Location, Damansara Perdana.  Currently, we have AT LEAST 2 months waiting lists for this car depending on Colour.  So far 7/10 bookings goes to Premium spec.  Popular colours are Vitamin C (Orange), Green Apple, White and Velocity Red.  Test drive available from Early March Onwards.  


That's all folks, thanks for having the time and patience to read this blog entry.  An original Jeff Lim's production.  If you want to copy, please give me credit or "SOURCE" or "Links to this blog".   Copy like a man, Don't plagiarise!


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