2012 Hyundai Veloster
- Fuel economy: 32 mpg combined
- Starting price: $17,300
- Zero to 60: 10.2 seconds
The 2012 Hyundai Veloster is a hatchback with a three-door design -- two front doors and a rear passenger-side door -- which gives it the look of a sporty coupe and the function of a sedan with the added utility of a hatchback.
It has a 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine with dual continuously variable valve timing under the hood that gets 138 horsepower. The Veloster gets an estimated 28 mpg city, 40 mpg highway and 32 mpg combined with the six-speed manual transmission. An optional six-speed EcoShift dual-clutch transmission with shift paddles alters the fuel efficiency to 29 mpg city, 38 mpg highway and 32 mpg combined. The automatic lacks a bit in acceleration compared to other models on the list, reaching 60 mph in about 10.2 seconds, according to Edmunds, but it makes up for lackluster pickup with sporty handling.
On the Veloster, you'll find antilock disc brakes, stability control, traction control and six air bags as standard safety features. Standard performance items include 17-inch alloy wheels, sport-tuned suspension and an active eco system (a system that automatically improves fuel economy).