Hyundai Veloster review (08/08/2012)

TIME WAS when the Hyundai Coupé was a major hit among certain elements of the driving community and it would not be a lie to say that women drivers formed a very large proportion of those numbers. Indeed, demand for the Coupé once hit such heights that owners were being contacted by their local dealers to see if they wanted to sell, such was the demand for them as a secondhand purchase.

The car did not sell in vast numbers, but Hyundai dealers certainly made money out of those that were brought to Ireland and found willing homes among a band of enthusiasts for whom the car represented ‘affordable chic’. It was not a momentous machine in any shape or form, but it was a fairly revolutionary one for Hyundai, particularly as it proved so popular. But the Coupé was not exactly an original car; certainly it was nicely styled and drove well, but there was nothing in it which differed greatly from what many other manufacturers were doing.

However, time has moved on and so has Hyundai. The company is now in a completely different stratosphere compared with 10 years ago and its current well-being in terms of standard car offerings has given it the confidence to be a little more daring when it comes to its other models.