Can the Hyundai Veloster N Actually Hang with the Civic Type R?
Honda Civic Type R offers more performance, but the Hyundai Veloster N undercuts the Type R’s price tag. Is that enough to sway buyers?
It’s an interesting time in the sport compact world, as the Kelley Blue Book Youtube video says. Models like the Civic Type R, introduced in 2017, have upped the ante, offering a level of performance in your daily driver that was once reserved for bonafide sports cars. However, that Type R has gone largely unchanged in those two years, and the competition, at least in KBB’s opinion, is catching up. So, how does the latest entrant, the Hyundai Veloster N, compare?
Host Micah Muzio leads us into his description of the Civic Type R via it’s outward appearance. The wings and things aesthetic can be polarizing for some, with Muzio opining that “It’s abundantly clear this is no lowly hatchback. Beneath the fender flares, vortex generators, wing and hood scoop, are all the ingredients for a tasty, high-performance stew.”
After knocking out a few key Type R stats, like the 306-horsepower turbocharged engine, he segues into the Hyundai. The Veloster N also features a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, though it trails behind the Type R, producing just 250 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Though, an optional performance pack bumps the power figure to 275 horses. Like the Civic Type R, it features a 6-speed manual transmission, and an electronically-controlled suspension system.
ALSO SEE: Honda Civic Type R Track Tested!
Stats out of the way, it’s time to compare the two, and right away, the Type R holds the edge in straight line acceleration. The brawnier powertrain and identical curb weights take care of that. Though, the snap, crackle and pop from the Veloster N tailpipes does give it the edge in the sound department. When the going gets twisty, the advantage, again, goes to the Type R, with Muzio musing that the “zippiest of Civics is a stickier, faster race tool.
Amusingly, the Veloster N “wins” the styling category, though, that’s obviously very objective. Meanwhile, when it comes to inside the cars, the Civic Type R handily beats the Veloster N in storage space, and quality of materials.
The price point is where things are definitely one-sided. The Type R rings in at $35,595, including destination, which, the KBB team admits, is still a “smokin’ deal,” when it comes to the level of performance it offers. Of course, the Veloster N starts at under $28,000, though, this performance pack model is right around $30,000.
That’s a massive price discrepancy, but would it be enough to sway you one way or another? Even KBB is split on the matter. We know where we would put our hard earned dollars.
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