N Hot Hatch Spared, Other Hyundai Veloster Trims Axed
Photo: Hyundai
After a 10-year run, the Veloster hatchback will disappear from Hyundai’s lineup in 2022 — with one important exception.
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According to Road and Track, five Veloster trim levels will be discontinued: 2.0, 2.0 Premium, Turbo R-Spec, Turbo, and Turbo Ultimate. However, Hyundai plans to keep making the critically acclaimed Veloster N hot hatch.
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Over its lifespan, the Veloster distinguished itself with affordable pricing, fun-to-drive dynamics, and a quirky three-door design — one on the driver’s side, two on the passenger’s side. For 2021, customers can choose between a 147-horsepower engine and a 201-horsepower turbo variant.
Although Veloster sales were strong throughout the model’s first half-decade, they’ve fallen dramatically since 2016. In the U.S., fewer than 1,400 were sold over the first six months of 2021.
Demand for the Veloster also fell victim to Hyundai’s increasing focus on its SUV lineup. Over the past few years, customers have flocked to compact SUVs like the Venue and Kona. These are essentially lifted hatchbacks that sell for a similar or slightly higher price compared to the more traditional Veloster.
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Photo: Hyundai
As a model for high-performance enthusiasts, the Veloster N fills a different niche than the rest of the Veloster lineup. That’s most likely why Hyundai spared it.
The Veloster N boasts a 275-horsepower engine, track-friendly tuning, all sorts of special performance-oriented features, and N-specific branding inside and out. It also costs thousands of dollars more than other Veloster models.
Over the past few years, Hyundai has been hard at work building its N lineup. Models like the Kona N and Elantra N will be joining the Veloster N soon at dealerships across the country.
See our coverage here at The News Wheel to keep up with the latest news on the Veloster, the Veloster N, and other Hyundai models.
A longtime editor/writer and recently transplanted Hoosier, Caleb Cook lives in Xenia, Ohio. His favorite activities are reading and listening to music, although he occasionally emerges from the heap of books and vinyl records in his basement to stand blinking in the sunlight. Once fully acclimated to the outside world again, he can be observed hanging out with his wife, attempting a new recipe in the kitchen, attending movies, walking the dog, or wandering into a local brewery to inquire about what’s on tap. See more articles by Caleb.