The thrill of racecar feels in the streets of the City

There are very few things that come close to driving a sports car: playing with my doggies, eating lots of chocolate, and lifting weights at the gym, I guess.

When I sit in the cockpit of a car I immediately imagine myself as a racecar driver with a mission.  That’s how I felt when I test-drove the Hyundai Veloster, recently. 

With the Veloster it is true that small engines deliver maximum power. The Veloster is loaded with a 1.6 T-GDi Turbo gasoline direct injection DOHC engine.    

I really like that this hatchback sport-coupe is a little smaller than other sports cars on the market, but its T-GDi engine is lightweight and quiet, making it super responsive when putting the pedal to the metal.

As I pondered on where to take the Veloster from its cockpit, I revved the engine to get that exhilarating feeling of racecar driving.

After all, the Veloster’s engine is powered by a 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) with paddle shifters that provide enhanced fuel efficiency, improved driving quality, reduced noise, and better durability while giving you the performance-enhancing exhilaration of a Formula 1 car when gear-shifting. 

Finally, it was decided that I would take the Veloster out for a drive in the traffic-laden streets of Metro Manila for a day.

As I left the village where I live, I felt comfortable right away because of the responsive steering feel of the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS).  Using an electric motor, MDPS reduces steering complexity and engine load, delivering excellent steering response, and helping improve the car’s fuel economy, respectively.  The steering wheel also has manual tilt and telescopic function to help adjust it to a level that is most comfortable.  

Look, Look

Yes, they did look — the drivers in the other cars beside the Veloster, trying to guess the make of the vehicle. Because beyond its performance technology, the Veloster is designed just like a sports car should be. 

It is playful like a coupe, and yet boasts functionality just like the dependable hatchback that it is.

But what commands a second look is the Veloster’s — what I like to call — “secret door” of asymmetrical door configuration. From the front the Veloster may look like a coupe with its two front doors, but there is a third rear passenger door on the right side with one door handle hidden from view, and can only be opened from the corner of the passenger side window. Neat. The door is built in a seamless way so that it can hardly be seen. It looks like one smooth, uninterrupted bodywork.  

As I drove the Veloster out to EDSA, I smiled to myself as I fell in love with the interiors of this beauty. The Veloster has great space inside and is loaded with high-tech features, sporty convenience, and smart finishing touches that make for an assertive presence. 

There is the 7-inch LCD touchscreen that displays all the information of the sound system, a built-in CD/MP3 player, and Aux-input for your entertainment or plug in external devices via USB connection, and make that call hands-free with that Bluetooth-connection.    

Did I tell you about the seats? Well, I did enjoy sitting in the bucket leather seats that are relaxing.  At the front, the driver’s seat is fitted with height adjustment and recline functions, headrest with up/down adjustment, plus power seat with electric lumbar support for excellent back support.   

In EDSA, traffic was building up on the southbound lane. I had my driving set on a mid-day, middle-of-the-week test drive to Tagaytay. No need for Waze that as I drove where my gut led me (after all, my driving companion for the day is oh-so comfy and cool, too).

As I moved slowly down EDSA, I fiddled with the V-shaped dashboard on a seating position that was low but natural with the three-spoke steering wheel offering a good amount of adjustment. The front sport seats are excellent as well as comfortable but supportive even for extended periods of driving.

I picked up some speed when I got to SLEX, with a 100-kph hit in no time. I smiled because on SLEX that day traffic was light heading out of Metro Manila.

I tried out the brakes and felt comforted by the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Program (ESP), which keep the wheels from locking and determine the brake pressure and engine output. 

The Veloster is also equipped with Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), a safety technology that maintains brake pressure to prevent the car from slipping backwards on inclined slopes, or when the car is starting off uphill.

I made it to Tagaytay with a stopover at Bag of Beans for some bread and a cool drink. I loved the fact that parking the Veloster is easy because of its size.

Before I headed back to Manila, I looked at the Veloster and knew that I have made a fast friend.

After all, the Veloster is an intelligent and eye-catching sports car that took my breath away with its compact yet powerful engine and performance features.  

So, if you like a hatchback that feels like a sports car, then the Veloster is just what the doctor in me would recommend.

Time to drive back home.