Hyundai Veloster N Named 2020 Road & Track Performance Car of the Year
The Road & Track Performance Car of the Year Award is one of the most prestigious and competitive honors in the industry — and for 2020, it belongs to the Hyundai Veloster N.
The Veloster N distinguished itself among Road & Track’s editors with its superior value and its joyful driving dynamics.
The magazine’s editors praised the car’s sub-$30,000 price tag, which immediately set it apart from the other award competitors. The Veloster N was up against expensive and powerful models like the McLaren 600LT Spider, the Lamborghini Huracan Evo, the Porsche 911 Carerra, and the Lexus RC F Track Edition, making its victory even more striking.
Editors also loved the Veloster N’s manual-only transmission and its accessible drivability, citing the model’s sheer capacity for fun.
Experience It for Yourself: See photos and specs for the exciting Hyundai Veloster N
“Never has the disparity been greater between the capabilities of a modern fast car and what is legally possible,” the editors wrote. “The new definition of performance isn’t what a car can do, but what it will do on a good road. The Veloster N is what a great front-wheel-drive car should feel like, a delight that welds a smile to your face every time you drive it. It cheers you on, treating you like the hero.”
In evaluating models for its annual award, Road & Track’s editors kept several criteria in mind: power and speed vs. emotion, a balance of track capability and roadworthiness, technology that enhances the driving experience, and unique elements unlikely to be replicated by other automakers.
Beyond its intangible qualities, the Hyundai Veloster N carries a responsive 2.0-liter turbo engine that makes up to 275 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Drivers at all skill levels can make the most of this power with a variety of advanced performance features. These include N Grin Control drive modes, a short-throw six-speed stick shift with downshift rev-matching, a multi-mode electronically controlled suspension, and an available torque-vectoring N Corner-Carving limited-slip differential.
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