Hyundai’s entry in the hot hatch league with the Veloster N means that they have to prove themselves against the class benchmark, which is no other than the Honda Civic Type R.
Edmunds brought the two hot hatches together for a comparison test in order to find out if the Honda’s more expensive sticker price is justified over the more affordable Hyundai. Since the two rivals are separated by a considerable $6,700, it’s a question worth asking.
Also Watch: Honda Civic Type R Vs. BMW M2 Competition In Track Battle
The Civic Type R is the more powerful car here, featuring a 2.0-liter turbo four with 306hp and 295lb-ft of torque, whereas the Hyundai Veloster N uses a similar engine that, at 275hp and 260lb-ft (with the Performance package), is down on power.
Both come with a six-speed manual transmission with automatic rev-matching and a limited-slip differential and performance-tuned suspension. There are areas where the Hyundai’s lower price shows, but the Veloster N comes with a surprisingly fruity exhaust and, more importantly, better steering.
Honda’s extra power and lower weight translate into faster times on both the test track and the circuit compared to the hot Hyundai, but the question posed here is whether the Civic Type R really is nearly $7k better. Let’s see what Carlos Lago and Kurt Niebuhr have to say on the video linked below about that…