Veloster ($17,450) uses a 6-speed manual gearbox, while cars equipped with the automatic ($18,700) get an automated dual-clutch transmission. Standard equipment includes cloth upholstery, six-way adjustable driver's seat, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, power accessories, manually operated air conditioning, a six-speaker audio system with 7-inch touch screen, CD player, satellite radio capability, iPod/BSB port and auxiliary audio/video jacks; Bluetooth handsfree phone system with voice recognition, 60/40 split folding rear seats and 17-inch alloy wheels.

The Style package ($2,000) upgrades to leatherette upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, eight-speaker audio, alloy pedals, power sunroof, chrome grille trim, foglights and bumps wheel size up to 18 inches. The Tech package ($2,000) adds pushbutton start, 115-volt outlet, navigation with rearview camera, rear backup sensors, automatic headlights, unique 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlamps, push-button start, and 115V outlet.

Veloster Turbo is available with either the 6-speed manual ($21,950) or 6-speed manual transmission with Shiftronic ($22,950). Standard features include the comfort and convenience features found in the standard Veloster plus leather upholstery, driver's power lumbar support, heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, alloy pedals, 8-speaker audio system with external amp and subwoofer, pushbutton start, unique interior trim, a unique front grille, front fog lights, LED accents on headlights, LED rear taillights, side mirrors with integrated turn signals, a sport tuned suspension ground effects bodykit and 18-inch alloy wheels. The Veloster Turbo Ultimate Package ($2,500) adds navigation, 115-volt power outlet, rearview camera, power sunroof, backup sensors and automatic headlights. Special color body color options include Elite White ($200) and a special Matte Gray ($1,000), which includes an in-home car-care kit.

Safety equipment on all models includes six airbags (frontal, front side impact, curtains), stability control with traction control, ABS, tire pressure monitor.

But take a couple of steps back, and the Veloster doesn't look so bad. The nose is low, and from a three-quarter rear view, it looks tough on its haunches. The standard Veloster's mouth is as wide as an Audi's, but it's filled in with body-colored plastic, shaped to resemble wings, but maybe looks more like Superman's shoulders while flying, with a chrome cape and silver H for a face.

The Veloster Turbo gets an even bigger, all-black mouth that looks to be all air intake, different fog lights, LED accents around the headlights and side mirrors with integrated turn signals. In back, the Turbo sports a rear spoiler, LED tail lights and large dual exhaust tips. All Turbos ride on 18-inch wheels. Inside, pushbutton start, leather upholstery and heated seats come standard, as well as an upgraded audio system.

A new Matte Gray color for the Veloster Turbo is a gamble for Hyundai. The special clear coat that gives the matte appearance must be taken care of meticulously. Buyers who plunk down the extra $1,000 for this color will receive a car-care kit, since the matte paint can't go through a traditional brush car wash, and most detailing products are designed to make paint shine. Customers must also sign a release form that acknowledges that the paint must be taken care of in a particular way. Hyundai execs admit they can't vouch for long-term longevity and say second owners could prove to be a challenge. This isn't unique to Hyundai, however, as other cars, including expensive luxury cars, with flat paint colors face the same challenges. They look really neat when in good condition, though.

As a three-door coupe, the Veloster totally pulls off the two-door roofline. On the passenger side, the third door is hidden save the seam. Rakish upsweep meets a racy roofline, invisible door handle in the window corner. Thankfully, the window trim is black.

The single center exhaust on the standard Veloster is like Siamese twin trapezoids, outlined by chrome, while the Veloster Turbo gets dual, side-by-side exhaust tips in the same spot. Both versions are boxed in by a big black plastic fascia that makes the rear end look almost frog-like. But in a good way.

Hyundai says the interior design was inspired by shapes on a sport bike. They say the A-pillars are like a helmet visor, the center stack resembles a fuel tank, the console mirrors a motorcycle seat, and air vents are inspired by tailpipes. Mostly we noticed overkill on the trapezoidal trim pieces.

On the standard Veloster, we noticed terrific fit and materials of the Style Package seats, nice console support at the right thigh, good feel of the three-spoke leather steering wheel, pleasing uncluttered gauges, and digital information accessed easily. A 7-inch touch-screen is standard, with three interface layouts to choose from. Features include Bluetooth, Pandora internet radio via iPhone, and Gracenote music connectivity. A 196-watt six-speaker audio system is standard, while the 450-watt eight-speaker system comes with the Style package.

The Veloster Turbo adds extra touches including aluminum pedals, pushbutton start and heated front seats. Leather upholstery is standard, but it felt more plastic than plush, and we noticed that stitching around the driver's seat had already begun to buckle in some places.

Rear visibility has a couple of problems. There's a big blind spot at the C-pillar over the driver's shoulder, which is typical for cars with this type of roofline. And the structural support in the fastback glass liftgate blocks rearview visibility, but overall it's still better than some hatches on the market such as the Toyota Prius and Honda CR-Z.

The backseat is easy to get into, thanks to the Veloster's front-hinged third door. Rear legroom measures 31.7, which is scant for those who regularly carry backseat passengers, but good for the compact segment. Total interior volume is best in its class, beating the Scion tC and blowing the Mini Cooper out of the water. It even beats the Mini Clubman, by 105.3 to 89.2 cubic feet.

We drove the Veloster hard through some of our favorite corners and found the car planted and stable. The engine in the naturally aspirated version is solid and smooth, and is capable in most everyday driving applications. However, those looking for a more performance-oriented sport compact may find it lacking in power.

We weren't crazy about the optional 6-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). The DCT shifts aren't as sharp as Volkswagen's DSG; they're almost too smooth, stealing feeling from the car. It feels like an automatic, not a manual transmission with some invisible person making perfect shifts for you. Plus, the paddles feel cheap and aren't designed with care. Seeing as how the DCT costs another $2250, we'd stick with the sweet 6-speed manual.

The Veloster Turbo ups the ante considerably with its turbocharged, 201-hp engine, complete with bigger brakes and tires. It packed enough punch to get us around twisty turns while climbing up steep terrain, and was torquey enough to let us pass pokey trucks on two-lane straightaways. However, we would have liked to hear a beefier growl from the exhaust, which left us feeling uninspired.

On Turbo models equipped with the 6-speed automatic, drivers can choose a sport mode that changes the shift pattern. While we found it shifted at higher revs and held gears nicely through the corners, we still preferred the manual transmission for more spirited driving. We were also disappointed to learn that the Turbo's sport mode did not modify other elements of the car such as steering feel or suspension.

Fuel economy is one of the most compelling reasons to buy a Hyundai Veloster. The naturally aspirated version gets an EPA-estimated 28/40 mpg City/Highway with the manual or 29/38 mpg with the DCT. In a hard couple hundred miles, including two-lanes, freeway and city, we averaged about 29 mpg, with both the 6-speed manual and DCT.

The Veloster Turbo, meanwhile, is rated at 26/38 mpg with the manual and 25/34 mpg with the automatic.

Sam Moses filed this NewCarTestDrive.com report after his test drive of the Veloster in the Pacific Northwest, with Laura Burstein reporting on the Veloster Turbo from San Diego.