Skip to main content

Starting under $20,000, the 2019 Veloster shows Hyundai can still deliver value

2019 Hyundai VelosterThe 2019 Hyundai Veloster sports a new face and more power in the form of an optional turbocharged engine, adding to the quirky hatchback’s appeal. Newly-released pricing information for the 2019 Veloster shows Hyundai hasn’t lost its ability to deliver a good value, either.

When it hits U.S. showrooms later this year, the Veloster will start at $18,500, although a mandatory $885 freight charge (included in all prices listed here) bumps that price to $19,385. That buys a base model with a six-speed manual transmission and 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which produces a healthy 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. Standard equipment includes LED daytime running lights, lane keep assist, and a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Recommended Videos

Hyundai also offers a six-speed automatic transmission, which is a $1,000 option. Automatic models can be equipped with a Premium Package that adds blind-spot monitoring, automatic climate control, heated seats, eight-speaker Infinity audio system, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen display. That bumps the price up to $23,635.

Buyers looking for more power can step up to the 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which produces 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque (202 lb-ft on overboost). This engine can be paired with the manual transmission in the Veloster Turbo R-Spec model for $23,785, or a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission in the Veloster Turbo for $26,285.

The Turbo R-Spec also adds model-specific interior and exterior trim, a system that pipes fake engine noises into the cabin, and sport-tuned suspension. The Veloster Turbo adds back the heated seats and automatic climate control, which aren’t available on the R-Spec.

Hyundai also offers a range-topping Turbo Ultimate model, which includes the turbocharged engine and additional features like leather seats, wireless phone charging, navigation, adaptive cruise control (on dual-clutch models only) and a head-up display. The Turbo Ultimate starts at $27,535 with the manual transmission, and $29,035 with the dual-clutch gearbox.

Missing from the pricing announcement is any information on the Veloster N, a hot-rod version from Hyundai’s new N sub-brand with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 275 hp and 260 lb-ft. The N will likely hit U.S. dealerships sometime after the other Veloster variants, which will go on sale here within the next few months.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
This week in EV tech: Audi exemplifies auto industry’s EV holding pattern
Close-up of 2025 Audi SQ5 grille, headlight, and badge.

The road to the future runs through the present, and it’s not a straight line. This week, we’re focusing on how Audi is negotiating the twists and turns on the way to an electrified future. EVs are here to stay at Audi, but a gasoline crossover SUV is still the automaker’s bestselling model, and it’s not ready to risk those sales just yet. That’s why the 2025 Audi Q5 received a top-to-bottom overhaul for this model year, bringing its tech features and styling up to date without altering the what has proven to be a very popular package. By maintaining parallel lineups of electric and internal-combustion cars, Audi hopes to give customers more choices. But that doesn’t completely level the playing field. The new Q5 may have yesterday’s powertrain, but Audi isn’t holding back on tech. It features the same electrical architecture, operating system, and three-screen dashboard display as the latest Audi EVs, like the Q6 e-tron. So aside from a little engine noise, there’s little difference in what you can see and interact with from the driver’s seat. It’s not just the infotainment systems. The Q5 and Q6 e-tron are close in size, with similar space for passengers across their two rows of seats. The Q6 e-tron has a bit more cargo space, but not as much as you’d think given the lack of a bulky engine, transmission, and driveshafts. The two SUVs also have similar styling but, having now driven both, we can say that the Q5 is the more pleasant of the two.

More than a difference of powertrain tech

Read more
Take a peek inside the factory making tomorrow’s ride
A Zoox robotaxi.

Amazon-owned Zoox has opened its first facility producing fully autonomous robotaxis. 

A video (above) released by the California-based company offers a peek inside the factory, which, when it reaches full capacity, could roll out as many as 10,000 autonomous vehicles per year.

Read more
The week in EV tech: 900 miles, 12 minutes—EV charging just hit warp speed
byd 900 miles 12 minutes seal

Welcome to Digital Trends’ weekly recap of the revolutionary technology powering, connecting, and now driving next-gen electric vehicles. 
If you’re hesitant about electric vehicles (EV), it’s likely that your top concerns include how far you can drive in a single charge, how long it takes to charge the battery, and how much this advanced tech will cost you. And you're not alone.
According to Deloitte’s 2025 Global Automotive Consumer Study, nearly half of U.S. consumers (49%) still say that available battery driving range is their biggest worry about EVs. That’s followed closely by the time required to charge (46%) and the lingering cost premium (44%) associated with battery electric vehicles.
But that narrative may finally be flipping. Just this past week, two developments showcase how much EV technology has evolved over the past decade: China’s BYD is breaking new grounds on just how far you can drive an EV on a single 12-minute charge. Meanwhile, the Nissan Leaf, seen as the first mass-market EV in 2010, is getting an impressive upgrade even as it remains one of the most affordable options on the market.

BYD’s bold battery bet
Chinese auto giant BYD, already the world’s top-selling EV manufacturer, may have just redrawn the limits of battery performance. According to Chinese media, and other reports, the company is testing a new solid-state battery that can add 900 miles of range in just 12 minutes of charging.
Let that sink in. That’s nearly four times the range of many current EVs—enough to drive from New York to Chicago —and charging that’s as fast as a coffee stop.

Read more