2021 Hyundai Veloster N sport compact Car Walkaround (USA)
7The 2021 Hyundai Veloster N is a raucous sport compact that provides plenty of driving fun and impressive performance for the money. Its N badge represents Hyundai’s high-performance subbrand, meaning it is the most powerful and aggressive version of the quirky three-door Veloster hatchback. A turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four with 275 horsepower is standard equipment, and the suspension is stiffened for sharper handling. Previously available only with a manual transmission, the Veloster now offers a dual-clutch automatic transmission option to broaden its appeal. The N’s cheeky appearance is a cherry on top of an appealing overall package.
What's New for 2021?
The Veloster N is now available with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission; a six-speed manual was previously the only transmission choice. This new transmission promises quicker shifts and comes with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The previously optional $2100 Performance Package also becomes standard. This means every model makes 275 horsepower and has all the upgrades that came with that kit. Other newly standard and optional features include more aggressively bolstered sport seats that are lighter than the ones they replace, a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, and upgraded touchscreen infotainment software. Hyundai says that driver-assistance features including forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring are newly available.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Veloster N feeds the front wheels via a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 275 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. While a six-speed manual transmission is standard, choosing the optional eight-speed dual-clutch automatic adds an overboost function that temporarily increases torque from 260 to 278 lb-ft. Every N has a drive-mode selector includes Eco, Normal, Sport, and N drive modes. The N Custom mode allows you to custom-tailor settings for the engine's throttle response, the standard adaptive dampers, the limited-slip diff, the selectable engine rev matching, the stability control, the steering weight, and the exhaust. In the manual-transmission 2019 Veloster N that we had in our long-term fleet, we found that turning most of those dials up to 11 while taming the dampers and the exhaust is particularly effective at balancing the N's performance for commutes around southeastern Michigan. Unfortunately, the N's adaptive dampers make for a firm and choppy ride; we took to leaving them in their softest default setting to make it more agreeable. In our testing, the Veloster N ripped to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds and completed the quarter-mile in 13.8 seconds at 102 mph. We have yet to test a Veloster N with the newly optional automatic transmission, but we think it will be slightly quicker than the manual.